Mossmorran 29th July, lunchtime, Ingrailed Clay

Adding to a surprising list of daytime species this lunchtime was this Ingrailed Clay, nectaring on Creeping Thistle. A new one for me at Mossmorran, though we had one at Cullaloe last weekend.

Cullaloe, 24/07/2015 (Pinion-streaked Snout)

A nice list of 60 spp with TB, running three MVs and an acticnic heath trap. Sadly I forgot my camera so only weak phone cam pics available. Best of the night was a Pinion-streaked Snout, which I think is only the 3rd Fife record and a new hectad record. There were 12 new species for the reserve and a fair few for me.

Here's a selection:

Poplar Hawk

Buff Tip

Com White Wave and Campion

P-streaked Snout

Swallowtail

Single-dotted Wave

Barred Red

Suspected

Six-striped Rustic

Peppered

Pebble Prominent

Garden Tiger

Iron Prominent

July Highflyer

Large Emerald

Mottled beauty

Purple Bar

Mossmorran, 21/07/2015

22:00-23:00 headtorch

Gold Spangle (1)
Common Wave (3)
Light Emerald (1)
Yellow Shell (3)
July Highflyer (1)
Snout (5)
Riband Wave (1)
Small Fan-footed Wave (1)
Clouded Border (3)
Shoulder-striped Wainscot (1)
Small Dotted Buff (2)
Gold Spot (1)
Shaded Broad-bar (3)
Garden Carpet (1)
Silver-ground Carpet (2)

One interesting thing about guerrilla mothing with a headtorch is that you observe behaviour rather than just a box full of moths. The Snouts were all over a patch of young birches, but if they had been in a trap I would have just known there were a lot of Snouts about. Clouded Border likes to hang out on low leaves, even during the day, but a couple were noted on Tufted Hair Grass flowers. The golden spotted species were flying low amongst the grasses. The Light Emerald was hiding between birch leaves, inactive, and I remember that this species became active much later on during a previous visit.

Interestingly far more species were picked up around the birches and the grasses than the willows. Shame I didn't get a pug now I've converted from loathing to loving them.

One for one - Hill of Beath Cabbage Moth, 21/07/2015

For the second time this year I have caught one moth in my garden and it has been a new hectad record. This time it's the turn of Cabbage Moth. When I got up at 4 to empty the trap it was very, very cold.

By contrast I spent one hour with a headtorch at Mossmorran and recorded 15 species of macro - see later post

Day nectaring MBM at Cullaloe, 21/07/2015

This is the second time I've had nectaring Middle-barred Minor this year. The previous one was at Mossmorran on Ground Elder. This time Cullaloe on Hogweed

Double Square-spot versus Triple-spotted Clay

Not my post at all so I won't take any credit for it except for showing where to look:

http://trappingsofsuccess.blogspot.co.uk/2011/07/double-square-spot-vs-triple-spotted.html

Hopefully I remember where this is when that moment comes!

Here's my own from the other night that I called Double Square spot. Phew!

Hill of Beath, 10th July - Currant Pug

Spectacle (1)
Dark Arches (2)
Marbled Beauty (1)
Ghost Moth (1f)
Snout (1)
Currant Pug (1)
Grey Dagger (1)
Double-square Spot (1)
Map-winged Swift (1)
Flame Shoulder (1)
Heart & Dart (2)
Small Angle Shades (3)

Current Pug - new hectad record