Interesting micro moths from King's Wood

Three interesting tortrix micro-moths caught in King's Wood Heath & Reach on the Beds Moth Group field trip on 26th May 2012

Capua vulgella - new to Bedfordshire

 Lobesia reliquella - the first Beds record since publication of the Victoria County History in 1904

Epinotia tetraquetrana - the 3rd Beds record (the other two were at Sutton Fen in 1982)

Totternhoe and Bison Hill butterflies

Had an excellent day in the sun this weekend, seeing 13 butterfly species although unfortunately Duke of Burgundy wasn't amongst them. Highlights included:

Small Blues at Totternhoe Quarry



Green Hairstreaks at both Totternhoe and Bison Hill


Grizzled Skipper at Bison Hill

Dingy Skipper which took a brief break from chasing off the small blues.

Argyrotaenia ljungiana?

I caught the above named species last year and was wondering if this is also this species - seems similar but not exactly the same.

Brown Hare - Woburn Rd wetlands

 

A Brown Hare at the Woburn Road wetlands. Photographs by Martin Palmer.

Aethes smeathmanniana

My first micro of the year - yes its that good in my garden...  Thanks for confirmation Ben

MVCP - 12th May 2012

 

Common Lizard, Dingy Skipper & Large Red Damselfly at the MVCP today. The Common Lizard was the star of the show for me. I've not seen many on the park and this one, which was found on the board walk by a couple of young girls, was so tame if even walked under one of my boots at one point. The Dingy Skippers were the first I've seen this year with around 8 -10 seen between the boardwalk and the area around the bridge at the Stewartby Lake outlet of the sewage works stream. Bob Hook and I also looked for Grizzled Skippers and Green Hairstreaks in this area with no luck. Photos by Martin Green.

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.