Tuesday 7 June 2016

Grassland Moths etc

Pale (left) and dark form of Diamond-back moth- I did the southern mound, across to 100 acre and then bikers and the field north of bedzed- there are 1000s!!! of diamond backs. The southern mound was mental today- not just diamonds but a whole assemblage of grassland moths including Agapeta hamana, crambus perlella, chrysoteuchia culmella, Blood vein, Burnet Companion, Yellowshell, homoeosoma sinuella, Coleophora trifolii, Celypha lucunana, Aethes sp and a few others (below) that I haven't identified yet. Also 3 Painted Ladys and several Common Blues up there. Literally 1000s and 1000s of moths!
Provisional ids as usual corrections welcome 
Aethes sp?
Homoeosoma sinuella
Sitochroa verticalis
?
Yellowshell
Celypha lacunana
Notocelia sp?
Female Common Blue- a beautiful bright one. Also three Painted Ladys on the southern mound.

At least two flocks of Long-tailed tits today with family parties and young birds. Probably 20+ birds in total.
Some mid-summer duck movements occurring with 3 male Teal on 100 acre and 3 Pochard on North Lake. Also the Mallards are beginning to moult into eclipse plumage. Also 3 Shoveler a couple of days ago. 
Most surprising was the number of Gadwall around- over 20 on Jims Bed on 100 acre 

This doesn't do it justice but the diamond-backs were coming up in 10s with every foot step- right across the mound. The farmlands is 400 acres which is 1618742.57 m2- even if there was 1 diamond-back per m2 there would be 1.5 million moths?? That can't be right??  

2 comments:

Unknown said...

Hi Pete , Its Steve Wood ex beddington Hobby watcher , great blog and very informed, keep up the good work mate

Peter Alfrey said...

Hi mate- great to hear from you!