The rare Spurge Marble moth, Brown Argus and Common Blue

Brown Argus, Aricia agestis

to view a gallery with more photos, click here

The recent good weather has given me great moth sightings, including some rarities. Our Littlehampton balcony had Brown House Moth, Rusty Dot Pearl, and Diamond-back Moth which I also saw in Rewell Wood. We had a great invasion of the latter from the continent a couple of years back. Rewell Wood on May 21st had Thistle Bell, Silver-ground Carpet, Drinker larva and the rare Spurge Marble: http://bit.ly/2KNCHFp. 

 Afterwards I visited Kithurst meadow and found a Duke of Burgundy flying at 4:40pm. Also lovely specimens of Brown Argus and Common Blue. Moths seen at the site were Dark Strawberry Tortrix and Plum Tortrix.

Rewell Wood:

Drinker larva, Euthrix potatoria

a sad Peacock, Inachis io 

Roe Deer, Capreolus capreolus

Silver-ground Carpet, Xanthorhoe montanata

Spurge Marble, Lobesia occidentis

Thistle Bell, Epiblema scutulana

White Crab Spider with bee, Misumena vatia

from Wikipedia: 'These spiders may be yellow or white, depending on the flower in which they are hunting. Especially younger females, which may change color "at will".'

Kithurst meadow:

Brown Argus, Aricia agestis

Common Blue, Polyommatus icarus

Common Blue

Common Blue

Cranefly with Red Mites, Trombidium breei

Dark Strawberry Tortrix, Celypha lacunana

Duke of Burgundy, Hamearis lucina

unidentified micro moth

Plum Tortrix, Hedya pruniana

unidentified spider

Wasp Beetle, Clytus arietis

White Crab Spider, Misumena vatia

Littlehampton:

Diamond-back Moth, Plutella xylostella

Brown House Moth, Hofmannophila pseudospretella

Rusty Dot Pearl, Udea ferrugalis

Ichneumon species

Dukes, Knot Grass and a Garden Midget

Duke of Burgundy, Hamearis lucina

to view a gallery with more photos, click here

I made my second butterfly trip of the year yesterday afternoon, to Kithurst meadow. There were plenty of Brimstones, Green-veined Whites & Orange-tips plus a Holly Blue, a Red Admiral, 3 Duke of Burgundies, Dingy Skippers and some moths: Cinerous Pearls & Common Carpets. A Kestrel hovered overhead.

 The moth season is gathering pace on our Littlehampton balcony. Last night I had 5 species: another Narrow-winged Grey plus Brown House Moth, Garden Midget, Knot Grass and Light Brown Apple Moth.

Cinerous Pearl, Anania fuscalis

Common Carpet, Epirrhoe alternata

Dingy Skipper, Erynnis tages

Duke of Burgundy, Hamearis lucina

Germander Speedwell, Veronica chamaedrys

Green Lacewing, Chrysopa perla

Green-veined White, Pieris napi

Orange-tip, Anthocharis cardamines

balcony moths:

Brown House Moth, Hofmannophila pseudospretella

Garden Midget, Phyllonorycter messaniella

Knot Grass, Acronicta rumicis

Light Brown Apple Moth, Epiphyas postvittana

Narrow-winged Grey, Eudonia angustea

Balcony moths and a garden event

Brimstone Moth, Opisthograptis luteolata

to view a gallery with more photos, click here

Moths are starting to appear on our balcony now that warm weather has returned. I had a Brimstone Moth (above), Yellow-backed Clothes Moth and a Narrow-winged Grey during the past few days.

 On Saturday morning Aunt Bea and Jackie joined me at the Murray Downland Trust annual garden event. This is held in the renowned sculptor Philip Jackson's garden at Cocking. It was very enjoyable, many new sculptures were in the garden and delicious cakes were consumed and bought for later. I purchased some thrift plants for the balcony as they should survive the salty south westerlies, we'll see.

 On Saturday afternoon I had a SusSAR call-out and headed to Haywards Heath to join the search for a vulnerable missing person.

 Sunday was a club detecting day, nothing exciting found by anyone, my best finds were a George V 1920 shilling and a Tudor buckle.

Yellow-backed Clothes Moth

Narrow-winged Grey, Eudonia angustea

Murray Downland Trust garden event:

 

forest bird feeder in East Sussex

metal detecting finds