Clearwing moths - what a week!!

After seeing my first Clearwing Moths in 2020, I was eager for more and some pheromone lures were obtained for those likely to be found in Shropshire? Never mind Shropshire, in the past week I've had two species (to lure) in my garden! I suspect there are a few apple trees and blackcurrant bushes in nearby gardens

First up garden surprise was Red-belted Clearwing (Synanthedon myopaeformis)...

Simply stunning no matter what the angle!

Two days later, also in the garden, a Currant Clearwing (Synanthedon tipuliformis)! 

The finale came on Sunday during the local 'Invertebrate Group' field outing to Severn Valley Country Park. 

No lure was involved this time, just pure luck as Nigel Jones worked his magic catching two Six-belted Clearwings (Bembecia ichneumoniformis) with a random sweep of the net! Bird's-foot Trefoil and other grasses / flowering plants grew nearby including lots of Hawkweed on this sloping gravelly area by the main path to the river.

This is probably the easiest of the lot and I suspect any more local Clearwings will be a trickier proposition but watch this space...

Long Mynd - Birds and Moths

 Almost to the day, in glorious sunshine a trip to Wildmoor Pool with Dave Chapman was in the offing and with Emperor moths being reported everywhere, hopes were high...

First off were some obliging local birds starting with Meadow Pipit...

Then one of at least 5 Wheatears...

A marauding Hobby was also after moths, must be one of the earliest in the county? Breaking the skyline now and then, just one chance for a pic and even that was 100m or so away!!

And yes, Emperor Moths came to the part, all these were taken in flight so unlike the 2018 visit, all four eyes were visible!

Star prize went to a moth I hadn't seen before spotted by Dave! Day flying, it looked like one of the carpet moths but not in the WildGuides day flying book... 

Rob Stokes came up with the ID - Water Carpet now that what I call a start to the moth season and it's an honorary Day Flier added to the list!...

Shropshire - day Flying Moths part 2

To start off part two, here's the highlight of 2020 - two Six-belted Clearwings at Venus Pool!

Silver Ground Carpet at Clunton Coppice in 2013...

Silver Y seemed to be everywhere during 2020 and the main event was finding several at Aston Locks,

No shortage of Six-spot Burnet each year but as I tend to ignore them, I don't appear to have any Five-spot variants!

Treble Bar from Prees Heath this year...

You need water to find Brown China-mark and the pool at The Bog delivered several of these in 2020. Always on the  aquatic vegetation...

Amongst the Micro-Moths, they don't come stranger than the weird Brown Plume present at Venus Pool. Obviously tiny, n a dry grass habitat, they become invisible once landed!

From 2010, Common Wave at Whixall Moss...

And finally, another one from Venus Pool this year - Common Yellow Conch.

Looks like that's another challenge is lined up for 2021 - there's many more of these Day Fliers to find!

Maesbury - Hawkmoths!

Caught up with Anthony Griffiths over at Maesbury this morning. He is riding high with his UK year list having just reached the magical 300 barrier by the end of June!! The sky's the limit for the final total and I look forward to sharing several new year birds with him on the Scilly Pelagics!

He also keeps me posted with 'new' Hawkmoths in his trap and today was yet another new one for me and only the second eve for him? A Small Elephant Hawkmoth! Shame about the wear but they all count ...

No shortage of the larger Elephant Hawkmoth and here's the most pristine of the bunch!

And a nice smart Poplar Hawkmoth to complete the trio...

Well camouflaged on the release birch tree, the Buff Tip has a good chance of avoiding predation!

Plus this Peppered Moth chancing his luck on the greener parts...

Silver Y of which there were two colour forms.

There were many more small grey and brown jobs. I'm concentrating on the attractive and unusual but can see how addictive these guys can become! But... I'm not getting a moth trap - ever?