late post

I'm afraid I haven't been doing much mothing recently, partly due to strange work schedules but also feeling the effects of last year's health crisis. (It's ironic that I did far more mothing when I was on sick leave than since I went back to work full-time!) But I thought I'd stick a couple of photos on here for the record.

These photos have been taken over recent months... they are all common except for Argyresthia cupressella, which is the only photo ever taken of this species in Surrey (and I apologise that it's not that great - my camera is reaching the top end of its resolution on a moth that is only 6mm long). How do I know that it's the only photo? Because the moth has only been recorded four times in Surrey, and all the records were in my garden! Incidentally, look out for Smaller moths of Surrey - the ultimate guide to Surrey's micros, which should be out in 2012. I've seen some of the photo plates and they look good!

Speckled wood

common blue


six-striped rustic


oak lutestring


feathered gothic


Argyresthia cupressella

Out of county

I realise its not Surrey, so I hope people don't mind me mentioning it in passing.

Went to Noar Hill, Hants, today, and managed the following:

Common Carpet

Holly Blue

Pyrausta aurata

Early Purple Orchids

Tree Pipit

Lesser Whitethroat

and......

Adela reumurella (there were vast swarms of these!)

Speckled Wood

female Orange Tip

Green Hairstreak

Dingy Skipper

Duke of Burgundy

butterflies

I took advantage of the sunshine yesterday to photograph a few butterflies - and a dragonfly

green-veined white

ringlet

gatekeeper

silver-washed fritillary

comma

speckled wood

red admiral

black-tailed skimmer