Pretty sure it's an Elephant Hawkmoth - see Ukleps.org

I visited Catfield Fen on 17th July - it was a bit like London buses - had to wait 20 minutes and then 3 turned up at once. I thought one looked fresh, but i only photographed it at distance, and I can't verify its condition from my photos at present. The RSPB mink catcher was hopeful of a second br...

Looks like an Oak Eggar.

The adults are emerging in the South, but reading Waring, in the North they pupate over a second winter and then emerge earlier the following year, from late May.

cheers
Rob

No one seems to be sticking their neck out on this one, so there's uncertainty with both. I would say that Jason's is Essex Skipper, but not totally confident. The critical point is the underside of the antennae, which must be black with the Essex. The Small Skipper can be brown or orange, and the t...

And another in Essex at Walton-on-the-Naze on Monday 21st, 10am. No photograph but the description is very good. Came in off the sea and settled briefly to nectar for 15 seconds before heading inland.

Rob

I've seen some dark Small Tort larvae this spring. The spotting pattern looks more Small Tort than Peacock and the head 'cheeks' look wider than on a Peacock larva. Caterpillars are hard enough without these sort of variations!

Hi Angie,

Yes, they are Swallow-tailed. A common moth but very striking and they do breed in gardens. I would guess the fat-bodied one is the female and the one lower down is an exhausted or sleeping male.

It could be either the common 'Narrow-bordered 5-spot' or the local '5-spot' burnet, depending where you were. But I'm not sure whether anyone could diagnose which it is from the photo. I certainly can't!

It's most probably Dichrorampha alpinana, especially if Ox-eye Daisies are nearby. But an outside chance of D. flavidorsana

The flight period seems to be nearing its end already.

I think it's a Gypsy moth - a pest species, possibly notifiable to DEFRA? Does anyone know?
(As if England losing wasn't bad enough)

They can cause an allergic reaction if handled.

I've just had news from Little Haven of an 'event'. Many hundreds of larvae seen in early spring

If it was taken recently, it could be an Oak Eggar. I saw a couple final instar cats about 3 or 4 weeks ago in Essex.

The best place for the Heath Fritillary in South Essex in recent years has been Starvelarks Wood, aka Little Haven Nature Reserve. This is very close to Hadleigh Great Wood. Park in or just off Daws Heath Road and look in the area of TQ811891. If you do go to Hadleigh Great Wood then try the area k...

Yes, that's a Slow Worm. Lovely Chequered Skipper photos on the sightings page and good total seen. That's Pinemarten country too if you're really lucky.
Cheers
Rob

I'm no moth expert myself, but it looks good for Vapourer - larvae, and egg batch is right. http://www.ukleps.org/CommNamesAlphabetical.html
Scarce Vapourer is wrong on timing.

regards
Rob

The last one looks like a male Adela reaumurella. A. cuprella is the other possibility but is more golden and a lot less common.

Heath Fritillary sites in Essex

I'll have another crack at this noctuid-

Lesser Yellow Underwing, and The Gothic also has possibilities.

Rob

I think the first one is a noctuid, in the Chestnut/Square Spot Rustic/Lunar Yellow Underwing area, but not sure how prone they are to variation. I think I saw the second one yesterday. I turned it over and it only had the 3 pairs of front legs, so it's not a caterpillar. Possibly a beetle larva? re...