Night of 24/7/10 : Diamond-back (3), Rush Veneer (2) Silver Y (80+).

Migrant Dragonfly Alert!

7+ Southern Migrant Hawkers Aeshna affinis still present today until early evening at Hadleigh Castle Country Park, Benfleet, Essex (see photo). N.B. they do roost quite early in the evening. Also Scarce Emerald Damselfly Lestes dryas and Small Red-eyed Damselfly Erythromma viridulum present on site. Directions as yesterday's posting.

In Kent, at Cliffe Marshes this afternoon two Southern Migrant Hawkers present. Park at the second viewing ramp and take stony track North for 75 yards to view ditches. Also at least one Southern Emerald Damselfly Lestes barbarus in the same area.

We would welcome good photographs of the Southern Migrant Hawkers from either locality for publication in the Atropos journal, please email to atropos.editor@zen.co.uk

A single Humming-bird Hawk-moth today at The Maund nectaring on pelargonia.

Just prior to the eagerly anticipated kick off of the historic "opening" football match (Chesterfield versus Derby County) at Chesterfield's brand new stadium (3pm Sat 24 July 2010 ) a Red Admiral flew across the pitch.Many of the"sell out"
crowd would have failed to notice this spectacle
but thankfully there was one sharp -eyed lepidopterist in attendance !!

Dark Sword-grass in moth traps at Maentrog,Snowdonia ......July 20th(2),July 21th ,(3),July 22nd (5).
Humming-Bird Hawk-moth at Great Ormes Head, Llandudno on 21st July.

Night of 24 July (all at MV light):

Tree-lichen Beauty - 1
Diamond-back Moth - 25
Willow Ermine - 3
Rusty-dot Pearl - 3
Rush Veneer - 1
European Corn-borer - 1
Silver Y - 1,200 (inc. 354 in a single trap)
Dark Sword-grass - 5

Hummingbird hawkmoth seen briefly nectaring on Lavender in the garden this morning (24th July 2010).

Migrant Dragonfly Alert!

7+ Southern Migrant Hawkers Aeshna affinis this afternoon at Hadleigh Castle Country Park.

Use Benfleet Station car park, then follow central path east for 2/3 mile to pond just north of railway and south of ridge. View vegetated ditch running south TQ788857.

We would welcome good photographs for publication in the Atropos journal, please email to atropos.editor@zen.co.uk

Night of 23 July (all at MV light):

Diamond-back Moth P. xylostella (10)
Willow Ermine Y. rorrella (5)
Rush Veneer N. noctuella (2)
Silver Y (237)

Also 100+ Silver Y and a Small Ranunculus nectaring on Buddleia at dusk.

After weeks of just one or two Silver Ys a sudden increase to 12 also 4 Rush Veneers were surpringly the first of the year here.
Upto 50 Yponomeuta rorrella a night following good numbers of Yponomeuta evonymellas(numbers dropping now) are all immigrants from lower down the valley. This is now an annual event.