August Moths Revisited

Just downloading a few moth images from the garden August moth sessions - here are some of my favourites. The best & possibly the rarest micro moth was this beautifully patterned Ethmia bipunctella, a Red Data Book Species restricted to coastal shingle habitats in the south-eastern counties. The Bullrush Wainscot was a 'large' & impressive Wainscot. We have had 2 tiny migrant 'Rush Veneers' and a good few Small Dusty Waves. The Striped Hawkmoth was taken a Portland Bird Observatory (they have since had Silver-striped & Convolvulus Hawkmoth). The Star-wort was another striking moth, similar to a 'Shark' moth in shape & found locally in the south-east of England on coastal saltmarsh habitats.

Bank Holiday Birding - August 2009

Just back from a really enjoyable long weekend at Portland Bird Observatory with Phil Harris and Alan Bull. The weather conditions were not perfect and it was very quiet bird and moth wise over the weekend but what a great place to spend the bank holiday! The arrival of a Melodious Warbler early on Monday morning however, really made the weekend! Melodious Warbler was exactly what we had been hoping for at Portland & was a welcome ringing tick for Alan after a 15 year wait! Other highlights over the weekend were a smart Striped Hawkmoth at the Obs, an Elephant Hawkmoth Caterpillar at Radipole (& a dodgy looking Hooded Merganser still present), Hobby, Peregrine, numerous Belearic Sheatwaters & the odd Sooty & Manx. Yesterday lunchtime we left Portland & twitched our way through the traffic back to Suffolk, stopping off at the Blue-winged Teal in Hampshire & the Black Tern, American Black Tern & White-winged Black Tern in Oxfordshire. Quite a weekend!