www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

My butterfly season has definitely come to an end for this year now, I have not seen any at all this month with a couple of walks down to my local spot at Wagon Lane on the most promising days producing absolutely nothing.

The garden moths are still turning up though, although it must be said that overall numbers are low with many nights being poor for trapping with low temperatures and/or blustery winds. Despite that, some species seem to be doing well. I mentioned in my last garden moth update that I usually get one or two Red-line Quakers each year but so far this year I have had half a dozen with three turning up together on the night of October 16th.
Spruce Carpet is another species that I am seeing more of than usual this year with two or three appearing nearly every time I have run the trap recently.
The most numerous species overall lately has been Common Marbled Carpet in it's numerous variations.
The Brick is another regular at this time of year which has started appearing over the past week.
A sure sign that we are well into autumn is when the November Moths start turning up here. These usually start flying from mid October and actually consist of a group of three very similar species - November Moth, Pale November Moth and Autumnal Moth - all of which are quite variable and cannot be reliably separated on appearance alone and are usually recorded as aggregates (aggs.)
With Wurzel's favourite photos threads now started I reckon it is time for me to start looking back at my season and put some thoughts together for a 'looking back' post or two.

Bye for now and stay safe,

Neil.

Nice collection of Moffs Neil - particularly like the under wing view of the November moth Looking forward to your 'Look Back'

Have a goodun and stay safe

Wurzel

Neil Freeman wrote: ↑Wed Oct 21, 2020 8:06 am I had this book as a present last Christmas which contains lots of interesting info on the names of butterflies and moths and where they (may) have originated.
https://www.nhbs.com/emperors-admirals- ... epers-book

Thanks for that link, Neil. I have Rainbow Dust by the same author, which was a fascinating read. Perhaps the Emperors-Admirals-Chimney Sweepers should go on my own Christmas wish list.

Thanks for the comments Wurzel and David, appreciated as always

I think the 'look back' will be a while yet, I need to check up on what I did and remind myself of what I saw and where.

It is now that time of year when I start taking a bit more notice of the birds in the garden. All the usual stuff has been coming to the feeders but instead of taking the same old shots I have been trying to get some of when they come a bit closer to the house, still taken through the window from the comfort of the back room
I have only had the moth trap out once this week, last night which was mild but turned quite blustery. Nevertherless, a result of 15 moths of 8 species was not bad considering the wind and included a couple more NFYs, Blair's Shoulder-knot and the dark form of Green-brindled crescent.
I also had six examples of The Brick which was notable for me, these usually only turning up in ones or twos here.
It looks like it is 'batten down the hatches' time over the next day or so maybe a good time to start doing that reminding myself of what I saw to start my 'look back'.

Bye for now and stay safe,

Neil

Nice to see the Blairs Shoulder Knot and the Green Brindled crescent Neil ,i always look forward to seeing a few of the latter in the
Autumn ,sadly my trap has "bit the dust " and have really missed the Autumn species ,good to see yours ! suppose i can,t really complain ,i,ve had
a few good-uns ,mainly Jersey Tiger , Cryptic fern , Vine moth, Restharrow probably being the best . but overall numbers in general have been well down . Regards Allan.W.

Great shots Neil - you must have very clean windows to get those sharp shots through it

Have a goodun and stay safe

Wurzel

Thanks Allan. Sorry to hear of the demise of your moth trap. Do you plan to replace it?

Allan.W. wrote: ↑Fri Oct 30, 2020 8:41 pm ...i,ve had a few good-uns ,mainly Jersey Tiger , Cryptic fern , Vine moth, Restharrow probably being the best . but overall numbers in general have been well down ...

Good-uns indeed, all species I have never seen here although I have come across a few Jersey Tigers in past years down in Dorset. Overall numbers have been down here too this year but species numbers are actually up.

Thanks Wurzel. I must admit that the only cleaning that the windows have had recently is the heavy rain we had last week

Cheers,

Neil.

With my 60th birthday coming up next year, I had been contemplating an early retirement and over the past couple of years have been making plans that would hopefully make this a reality. With the covid pandemic this year, after an initial period of working from home, I was furloughed which in effect gave me a bit of a practice run at retirement, even if there were some restrictions in place for some of it. With the end of the furlough scheme at the end of October, I returned to work. Initially this was actually back to working from home although from next week I will need to spend some time back in the office in order to catch up on some stuff that I cannot do from home.

Anyway, on returning to work the other week, it did not come as much surprise to be informed that the company were offering a limited voluntary redundancy program. Well, from my perspective, this could not have come at a better time so I immediately put an application in and have heard this afternoon that this has been approved with a leaving date at the end of this month.
So then, I will soon be joining the ranks of those with plenty of time to go butterflying (he say's quietly in case Jane is listening )

Back to the present and I have put the moth trap out a couple of times recently and had a few moths including a couple more autumn favourites. A slightly worn December Moth on the night of the 8th November, a species which despite it's name usually flies from late October and through November into December.
And a Feathered Thorn, one of the chunkier moths to be seen at this time of year.
Looks like a bit of a wet and windy weekend ahead but next week is looking like it may be quieter and milder again so the trap will probably be out again then.

Bye for now and stay safe,

Neil.

Love the colour combination of the December Moth Neil Congratulations on the early retirement, also I'm reminded of the catch phrase of teh Prisoner from Life of Brian 21 more years for me

Have a goodun and stay safe

Wurzel

Hi! Neil, love your Moth and Bird shots, I'm trying to get rid of some pigeons that keep arriving and take over the feeder chasing all the small birds a way, they're not Wood Pigeons, I even stopped putting food out for a few day's , thought I'd got rid of them but back they came
I must admit to nearly using the hose once or twice Goldie

Congrats. on your early retirement Neil, I'm sure you won't regret it.
I packed up early too, on the last working day of June 2012. On the following
Monday I was in Chiddingfold forest looking for Purple Emperors.

Never looked back!.

Keep safe and well,
Trevor.

Neil Freeman wrote: ↑Fri Nov 13, 2020 7:30 pm...Anyway, on returning to work the other week, it did not come as much surprise to be informed that the company were offering a limited voluntary redundancy program. Well, from my perspective, this could not have come at a better time so I immediately put an application in and have heard this afternoon that this has been approved with a leaving date at the end of this month. So then, I will soon be joining the ranks of those with plenty of time to go butterflying...

Good for you, Neil.

The magic words 'voluntary redundancy' would be music to my ears too, even though working from home since March has felt rather like being retired anyway.

You'll be able to devote more time to what you enjoy doing most. Let's hope by the time spring comes we'll all be less restricted than we are now and that you can do justice to your first season à la retraite.

Cheers Wurzel. 21 years eh! The thought makes me shudder

Thanks Goldie. I get a lot of Wood Pidgeons here. I must admit they not my favourite birds, flying dustbins with their insatiable appetites for anything green and growing. They can look comical though, the way they waddle about after each other around the lawn.

Thanks Trevor. I'm looking forward to next year, although I had plenty of spare time this year with being on furlough for a large part of it, the circumstances were somewhat restrictive for half of the season.

David M wrote: ↑Tue Nov 17, 2020 6:02 pm
...even though working from home since March has felt rather like being retired anyway...

Indeed David, and my extended period of being on furlough gave me a good practice run at it. In fact it was this that convinced me to take the opportunity if it arose, which I am happy to say it did

Cheers,

Neil

Neil Freeman wrote: ↑Fri Nov 20, 2020 7:32 pm...Indeed David, and my extended period of being on furlough gave me a good practice run at it. In fact it was this that convinced me to take the opportunity if it arose, which I am happy to say it did

If the vaccines prove reliable, you could be in for an annus mirablis in 2021, Neil.

I wish you all the best and will look forward to seeing your first reports 'post-travail'!

I've just caught up with your news about being able to retire early, Neil. Many congratulations!

It really is very liberating and no more of that frustrating gazing out of the office window at hours of spring and summer sunshine. I'm sure you'll make the most of it and take the opportunity to travel (even more than you already manage to do!) once the pandemic starts to recede as eventually it will. It's time I bumped into you again somewhere...

All the very best,

Dave

Thanks David and Dave.

I ended up missing quite a few species this year and with a bit of luck I will see some of them next year now.
To be honest, I won't be chasing all over the country too much, I will still have limits on the distance I am prepared to travel for a day trip. My current long distance travelling usually revolves around the breaks away for a few days in B&Bs that we have done for the past few years and I intend to carry on in much the same way, just with more freedom of timing now without having to plan around work holidays Also I have really enjoyed spending more time around my local patch this year and this is something that I want to continue doing.

I am only putting the moth trap out in the garden on average once a week now to see what will turn up. This has just resulted in a few Bricks, Red-lined Quakers and Common Marbled Carpets, mostly worn and faded now but a nice December Moth showed up on the night of 24th November.
I really like this small relative of the Oak Eggars which looks like it is wearing a fur coat against the cold.

Having finished work this Friday (27th), I should now have time to get on with my 'look back' at this past season.

Bye for now and stay safe,

Neil.

That's a very smart looking moth Neil - I checked the image out first and thought "looks like it's wearing a fur coat" and then I read the text and now I'm left wondering if it's a case of 'great minds' or the other?

Have a goodun and stay safe

Wurzel

Hi! Neil, retirement is great, you can do just what you please I've not seen too many Moths this year, in fact I think I've only taken a couple of shots of them, roll on the Vaccine Goldie

Wurzel wrote: ↑Sun Nov 29, 2020 7:22 pm That's a very smart looking moth Neil - I checked the image out first and thought "looks like it's wearing a fur coat" and then I read the text and now I'm left wondering if it's a case of 'great minds' or the other?

Have a goodun and stay safe

Wurzel

Oh! Great Minds Wurzel

Cheers Neil.

Goldie M wrote: ↑Mon Nov 30, 2020 2:17 pm Hi! Neil, retirement is great, you can do just what you please I've not seen too many Moths this year, in fact I think I've only taken a couple of shots of them, roll on the Vaccine Goldie

Yes Goldie, I'm definitely looking forward to having more freedom with my time.

Cheers,

Neil.