Some Wiltshire moths
By Charlie • September 2, 2009 • 10 commentsSo, here I am, propped up in bed, my back spasmed again (the last time it was this bad I dropped my old blog and joined 10,000 Birds - so some good comes out of the pain eh?), it’s pouring with rain, and I was wondering whether anyone who visits 10,000 BIRDS would be interested in some of the MOTHS I’ve been recording around the ‘Wiltshire Wonderland’ I now call home?
There’s only one way to find out I suppose…
Having said that, more and more birders are (apparently) looking at moths than ever before. Recent ID guides are superb (which makes things so much more easier when you’re looking at some of the more admittedly tricky species), there is a huge amount of information online (for anyone in the UK who hasn’t done so before have a look at the superb UK Moths website), and there are forums/fora chock full of helpful experts who are ready to help with ID queries (of which I have many most nights) - besides which once you realise how attractive many moths really are and what fabulous names they have how could anyone with an interest in natural history not want to dip their toes in mothing waters…?
The following small selection of photos were all taken in situ by our front door this August, using the light from a moth lamp, a small hand-held torch, and/or the flash from my Canon 40D. The lens I used is a Tamron 100mm Macro. The assorted backgrounds include the flagstones by the door, the lichen covered stones that make up the old walls, and an old sheet. No moths were harmed in the making of this movie gallery (I don’t collect them, just photo them either before they fly off or I stagger up to bed at some ungodly hour). It would all probably be more relevant if you could hear the Tawny Owls that are usually somewhere in the trees by the Manor (or maybe see the bats that sweep over the garden at the edge of the light)…but, you know, maybe next time…
Angle Shades
Scorched Carpet
Black Arches
Brimstone Moth
Flame Shoulder
Iron Prominent
Burnished Brass
Marbled Green
Blood-vein
Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing
Lychnis
Pebble Hook-tip
Rosy Footman
Canary-shouldered Thorn
Gold Spot
Grey Dagger
Lesser Swallow Prominent
Mocha (apparently this moth has been recorded only about ten times
in Wilts, but is probably under-recorded!)
Turnip Moth (or possibly Pearly Underwing - can anyone tell me?)
You’ve got some species there that I’d love to find in my trap!
I’m definitely interested. These moths are brilliant, and by this I refer to both the bugs and their descriptive names. I’ve seen daggers and underwings before but never any of the rest. Thanks, Charlie. Hope your back improves.
Moths are just so beautiful. There is such a fantastic range of colour and pattern. someone came here and had a moth trap it was just amazing the variety.
Your rain has arrived here on the east coast of Suffolk (Minsmere you might have heard of). Its the first real wetting since june and everything is a bit stressed on our sand. Even the green woodpeckers that come on the lawn for the ants are not here so much. I wonder what they feed on, they dont use the peanuts like the greater spotted woodpecker. They do wedge hazel nuts into cracks and hammer them open. (How do I post pics?) I thought I would try putting peanuts into similar logs where the green woodpeckers go to see if I could teach them about this useful source of food.
Hope your back gets better. If its muscle spasm my back used to seize up I would lie on the floor and put wedges under one hip and do everything to relax it. I got a rather vigorous massager thingy after having a magical cure with a demo after getting an attack at a County Show. Just shuffling round and standing watching events all day was murder after the cure I went off round the show again and it started to come on again and I went back for another demo and it worked again so I bought one. I never get attacks now.
Scorched Carpet, oh, my! We don’t get those over here in NJ (at least, not lepidopterally). My sympathies for your laid-up non-birding condition, but I must confess I’m enjoying a mothy post. I’ve gotten to be quite a fan of them over the past few years.
Oh Charlie, not the back again?
All the best of course, and you remember how much seeing Roughies helped your back improve?
I always thought the reason why so many birders in the UK (but not at all in Germany) enjoy moths was the moths’ nice and (in contrast to birds) creative and interesting common names.
Then I learned about the existance of Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing.
Was this species discovered and named by an ornithologist?
So Charlie’s back is out and I have a swamp-thing-infected leg. Mike, I would be very careful if I were you…
It is already too late:
Charlie - Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing
Corey - mystery bird quiz without birds
Mike - visual Empid identification
We don’t know what fate it was that Mike met, but we can safely surmise that the hat-trick is done.
Martin: I’ve been quietly impressed so far I must say, but you must get all those amazing Fen moths I’ll never see…
Mike: Cheers, and getting better slowly!
Andy: Thanks for the comments - what’s the name of your magic massager? I need all the help I can get these days…Re posting pics: I’m afraid because we can’t watch out for what gets posted 24 hours a day the only way to have a photo posted is to email it to us and we’ll post it. Cheers.
Jennifer: Thanks for the sympathies
Jochen: Same old problem, yes, darn it…I know Lesser Broad bordered Yellow Underwing - rubbish name eh…
Guys, we’re cursed…we’re cursed I tell you…
Can’t see a confirmation but your last moth is definitely a Turnip.
Martin
Martin, many thanks.