Sunspots- MVCP

I took this photo with my 100-400mm lens through thick fog early in the morning. If you look at the full-size image you should be able to see some sunspots, particularly on the lefthand-side of the sun. Photograph by Martin Green.

Prairie Dogs

Prairie Dogs at Broom, 6th May 2012.  Up to four of these beasties are currently residing in a field edge near the gravel pits.

Chinese Water Deer - MVCP

 

This Chinese Water Deer was photographed by Martin Palmer from the MVCP access track.

A Tumble of Toads

I went past one of the ponds in Maulden Woods at the end of March and came across large numbers of toads making their way to the toad equivalent of speed dating. Not sure what the collective name is for this particular activity but a "tumble" seems suitable for what I was watching.
An orgy and a voyeur... ?

Ashy Mining Bee

Found a small number of males buzzing around a patch of sand at the lodge on Tuesday. Hopefully some females will make an appearance soon. From the distribution map on the BWARS handout they seem to be quite scarce this far east.

Scarce Bordered Straw larva

Diana McCarrick found this caterpillar on some locally bought Carnations she was throwing out on 7th Feb. We identified it as a Scarce Bordered Straw from a photo Mick, her husband, had sent us and Andy and I collected it this afternoon to breed through. It's the first larval record of the species in the county. All previous records refer to migrant adults but this larva has arrived on the Carnations. Although the origin of the flowers is unknown they are most likely to have been imported from Kenya. Thanks to Diana and Mick for allowing us to take custody of it. Photos Melissa Banthorpe

Stoat and Hare

I came across this around lunchtime today after three hours or so in the field searching for Hooded Crow south of Harlington. The hare was close to moribund with the stoat taking frequent bites around its neck area. Captured on Nokia N73 mobile phone after a few minutes of stalking to get within suitable range. Apologies for image quality. Andy Grimsey 4th Dec 2011

The Moon

A photo of the Moon taken with my Canon S95 compact camera attached to a Nikon ED50 scope (27x) via an adaptor. Photo by Martin Green.

The Streak

One of six trapped at Maulden Wood last night (31st Oct) by Andy and myself. Photo: Melissa Banthorpe

Phyllocnistis saligna leaf mines

Melissa found these leaf mines of Phyllocnistis saligna on Crack Willow on the bank of the River Ouse at Great Barford today (14th). This is the only the second record of this species in the county and the first time the leaf mine has been found. The first county record was an adult caught by us at Chicksands Wood in 2010. The mine here is up the main rib of the leaf and also down into the petiole.
Scan by Andy Banthorpe

Autumn Colour!

Merveille du Jour

These 2 turned up in my Upper Caldecote trap 1st October. First ones seen since 2009.

Mompha terminella new to VC30

After finding out from David Manning that an adult of the micro-moth Mompha terminella had turned up in Northamptonshire recently, Melissa and I went into Chicksands Wood on 4th September to see if we could find the leaf mines of the larvae in Enchanter's Nightshade.
We were successful and also found it is present in Maulden Wood. Scans of mines in leaves of Enchanter's Nightshade from Chicksands Wood below by Andy Banthorpe.

Raising little beauties

It all started with Ma Lilac Beauty above, who was trapped at Marston Thrift on 25th June. She laid a batch of eggs, which hatched on 9th July. I lost quite a few of them. I think the larvae could be cannabalistic as a couple grew quite large, while others disappeared. In the end I ended up with six, which I separated and now five out of six have pupated with one still to go.

A couple of shots of the larvae, which are quite distinctive.

A couple of shots of pupae

If you are lucky a male will emerge, this one was trapped in Wales in July.

All photos by Melissa Banthorpe

1719 Oblique Carpet

15/08/11: Garden, Leighton Buzzard, SP9326.
Twin 15w Skinner.
FW: 12mm

Frequents damp, marshy areas; the larvae feed on bedstraws. A complete surprise as the last Bedfordshire record was 1973 !

Synaphe punctalis

Saw this on the wall at work today. Not one I've personally seen before but trapped at the Lodge before.

Small Red-eyed Damselfly

Tandem pair ovipositing at DSTW 12/08/11

Small Red-eyed Damselfly

Picture taken this afternoon at DSTW (9/08/11)

Webb's Wainscot - Kempston

This Webb's Wainscot was in Martin Palmer's moth trap in Kempston. Photograph by Martin Palmer.

Satin Beauty

A scarce moth in the county. This one came to MV light at Maulden Wood on 3rd August. Photo: Melissa Banthorpe

Ethmia quadrillella

...which seems to be called funerella too? Trapped last night in Eaton Ford. According to the book, seems to be quite rare. Any thoughts from the recorders. Certainly a smart moth!

Another Crescent

Obvious really, but I was a bit confused by this beast when I caught it. Melissa has confirmed this is another Crescent, but very different to the one the week before. I thought it might be a Common Rustic but was bigger. Seems to be a good corner of the county for them up here with I think, five of the nine records.

The Crescent

Trapped 3rd August in my Eaton Ford garden.

Brown Hawker - Kempston

This Brown Hawker came to Martin Palmer's moth trap in Kempston. Photograph by Martin Palmer.

Recurvaria leucatella new to Bedfordshire

This micro-moth turned up in our garden moth trap in Lower Stondon on 11th July. The id was confirmed by David Manning and he also confirmed that it was a new addition to the county list.

Its the wrong clearwing!

I went to Dunstable Downs today to try and get some clearwing records for the site using pheromone lures. My targets were Orange-tailed, Red-belted and Six-belted. I failed on all three but the VES lure which is used for Orange-tailed attracted a male Yellow-legged Clearwing instead. This is the species the lure is made for but it was still a surprise to get one at this site as it is a species of Oak stumps. The closest record is from Sewell Cutting in 1978 by Vic Chambers - also an odd site for the species.

Aberration of the White Admiral, with reduced white markings, at West Wood yesterday (6th July).

Might these be...

...Lunar Hornet Clearwing exit holes? All in Willow within the reserve.

Small Ranunculus - Kempston

This Small Ranunculus came to Martin Palmer's moth trap in Kempston. Photograph by Martin Palmer.

Down by the river

Took the lures out the back of the house in Eaton Ford - nothing came to them but we did find this on a riverside poplar.

Silver-washed Fritillary

Silver-washed Fritillary of the form valezina, College Wood, 1st July 2011

This unusual form of Silver-washed Fritillary was in College Wood on 1st July 2011, photographed by Martin Palmer.