Garden Moths and Birds and First Butterflies

Moths

In the trapping sessions I have had since my last post on moths, catches have been low (just a few Common Quakers and Hebrew Characters) but this Brindled Beauty was nice to see and a new tick for the year. Sexton Beetles have started to appear in the trap!

I've brought in the remaining Emperor Moth cocoons (from the caterpillars I raised two years ago). The adults can take up to 4 years to emerge so I am hoping I may get some females this year - the few that emerged last year were all male.

Birds

The Blue Tit's nest seems finished and she has roosted overnight in the box recently - in the past this has suggested that egg laying is imminent so fingers crossed. Blackbirds and Robins are feeding young and House Sparrows are collecting nest material. The wren is in the garden frequently so I am hopeful that the nest in the ivy will be used.

First Butterflies

A Holly Blue was seen briefly on 18th April and a Green-veined White 2 days later. Sorry, no photos - by the time I had been indoors and fetched the camera both had disappeared.

Garden Moths and Nesting News

Friday, 1st April

Min Temp 7.2 degrees Centigrade

15w Actinic Skinner Trap


Common Quakers (Orthosia cerasi) x 5

Hebrew Character (Orthosia gothica) x 2

Twin-spotted Quaker (Anorthoa munda) x 1 (New for Year)

Oak Beauty (Biston strataria) x 1

If you were visiting my Ragged Robins Nature Notes blog 2 years ago you'll remember that I was given some Emperor Moth eggs and raised the caterpillars to pupae stage. A few males emerged from the cocoons last Spring but, as they can take several years to emerge,in the Summer I put the cage back in the coal house where its cooler to bring back indoors this Spring. Yesterday I noticed from Martin's Moth blog see here that his Emperor Moths had started emerging already. None of mine have appeared so far but I have now brought them indoors and placed the cocoons in a larger cage. I really do hope some females appear this year so I can try "assembling" to see if they attract some males. Alternatively, if I get just one female and male I will let them mate and raise some more caterpillars! Fingers crossed there will be some news soon!


Garden Birds

We had a visit from a Jay yesterday - a new garden species for the year.

Blue Tits appear to be lining the nest so will check the camera later to see if the female is roosting overnight as this is often a sign she will soon be laying eggs. Wren nesting activity continues, House Sparrows are collecting nesting material, the Robins appear to be feeding young and Blackbirds have built a nest in one of the shrubs.

Garden Moths and Books

I put out the moth trap last weekend - and trapped the following - all New For the Year


Oak Beauty (Biston strataria) - one of my favourite moths

Clouded Drab (Orthosia incerta)

Chestnut (Conistra vaccinii)

As always if any of my id's are incorrect please let me know. Overnight temperatures are forecast to be milder this weekend so will hopefully be trapping again.



Garden Birds

A pair of Blue Tits are taking nesting material into the nestbox (which has a camera) and a Collared Dove visited the garden (a new species for the year).



Frog spawning activity went on for days - a good year for frogspawn :)




A Spring posy of flowers picked from the garden for Easter Sunday

Books (for Amanda)

I picked up a couple of book bargains at the Nurseries when I went looking for birthday presents for my friend last week.

The AA Book "Exploring Britain's Churches and Chapels" was greatly reduced to £6.99! In fact, I saw it at the same price yesterday in a National Trust shop. It features various churches region by region and has articles on features such as towers and spires. It's well worth buying if you are interested in churches.


This charming bee book was half price!

Will try and resist sneaky book purchases for a while and catch up on some of the books in my vast pile of "waiting to be read"!

Frogs in the Garden Pond

Common Frogs (Rana temporaria) were very active in the garden pond again this morning with several more clumps of spawn added. I estimated up to around 10 frogs.

A few photos

I've taken better photos in the past using a tripod with the Olympus and 70-300 lens but its a precarious business trying to manoeuvre a tripod and camera from the rockery!


Leaking pipe hopefully is now fixed so Easter baking is back on track :)

B's home-made Hot Cross Buns

Frogspawn, Moths and Flowers

Frogs have been active in the pond - we finally have frogspawn - 3 clumps in the pond this morning :)

Sorry poor picture - low light and it was raining. Hopefully, may be able to get some photos of the frogs in action tomorrow.


I put out the moth trap a couple of times last weekend - 2 Common Quakers and a

Hebrew Character (Orthosia gothica) (New for Year)

We bought this pot of red daisies as a joint Valentine's Day present and the daisies are still flowering well.

Our neighbour's camelia is flowering profusely whereas

we have just one flower on our red one and one flower on the white.

I bought this Euphorbia a few years ago and, although it did well for a year or two, it then "disappeared" so I was pleased to see it re-appear this year. Although from the look of old seedheads on it, it must have flowered last year too. Feeling rather unobservant!

There are lots of daffodils in flower.

The Hellebore I bought last year is still flowering

as are Snowdrops.

Primroses have been flowering since before Christmas and

Primulas have now appeared too.

The bluebells we inherited when we bought the house in 1978 are coming into bloom.

Lungwort is still in flower - I have another plant further up the garden which flowers later in the year.

Grape Hyacinths are appearing.

B's attempts to eradicate couch grass in the wildflower meadow do not appear to be going well :( He planted loads of Yellow Rattle in the autumn so it will be interesting to see what, if any effect, that has. I have a horrible feeling we won't get many wild flowers this year :(

Still no sign of any butterflies in the garden and no droneflies yet. I have seen a few bumble bees whizzing past the kitchen window and a Blue Tit has started taking nesting material into the nestbox with a camera.

I hope everyone has a lovely Easter.

I am off out to buy some bottled water as B is attempting to repair a leaking hot water pipe (which suddenly got a lot worse yesterday) in the bathroom and we currently have no running water :( The water I put in jugs and kettle etc. is rapidly being used up. So much for making a Simnel Cake today!

Garden Moths and Birds Update

I put out the moth trap for the first time this year last weekend as the Garden Moth Scheme was starting again.

I trapped 2 new species for the year -

Common Quaker (Orthosia cerasi) and

Common Plume (Emmelina mondodactyla)

Its a shame the Common Quaker had laid eggs in the pot - it doesn't happen very often but I will keep the eggs in the hope they will hatch. We have Birch, Hawthorn and Hazel which the larvae eat.



I will put the trap out again this weekend.





Common frogs and Smooth Newts are moving about in the pond but no frogspawn yet.....

We saw a Grey Heron (new bird species for the year) on the lawn this morning making its way to the pond and no doubt on the hunt for frogs. No photo I am afraid it didn't stay long.

Nesting activity has commenced with Blue Tits checking out the nest boxes, female blackbirds collecting nest material and taking it into one of the holly bushes and a wren is making a nest in ivy on the patio wall. The male wren makes several nests and the female will finish the one of her choice.


I saw my first bumble bee (one of the white-tailed species) whizzing past the kitchen window on Wednesday but still no butterflies.

Garden Moth Trapping Session - Monday, 7th March

Min Temp -3.2 degrees Centigrade

15w Actinic Skinner Trap

Moths 0!


Will try running the trap again this weekend - looks as though it may be a little milder!