My post below mentions that I've seen nine different butterflies in the garden this year. Meet number 10, who I saw on Sunday. Later on I saw three in the garden at the same time - I've never seen more than one at any time before.
Tuesday, 22 September 2009
Number 10
My post below mentions that I've seen nine different butterflies in the garden this year. Meet number 10, who I saw on Sunday. Later on I saw three in the garden at the same time - I've never seen more than one at any time before.
Sunday, 6 September 2009
Autumn in almost here
I've neglected my blogs recently so here's a few creatures spotted in my garden the last month. First butterflies and their caterpillars.
A Comma on the comfrey.
A comma caterpillar on the hops. I discovered I had at least two. This one is probably at the latest instar stage and I didn't see either much longer after this.
Another peacock on the buddleia, which hopefully will have many more flowers and butterflies next year.
A Painted Lady (with a honeybee). I'd never seen one before this year.
A Small Tortoishell. I always remember these from when I was a kid at the old house. The marigolds do well for me in attracting butterflies.
A Speckled Wood on the plinth. This makes nine different species spotted in my garden this year. Missing from last year are the Red Admiral and Meadow Brown.
An earlier blog mentions the large white caterpillars on the cabbage that hatched mid-to-late July. This photo was taken on 19th August and shows one pretty much fully grown, with some relatively new hatched ones.
The cabbages are pretty much gone now with just a few small caterpillars doing their best. Many caterpillars have moved on to search out other plants.
A Comma on the comfrey.
A comma caterpillar on the hops. I discovered I had at least two. This one is probably at the latest instar stage and I didn't see either much longer after this.
Another peacock on the buddleia, which hopefully will have many more flowers and butterflies next year.
A Painted Lady (with a honeybee). I'd never seen one before this year.
A Small Tortoishell. I always remember these from when I was a kid at the old house. The marigolds do well for me in attracting butterflies.
A Speckled Wood on the plinth. This makes nine different species spotted in my garden this year. Missing from last year are the Red Admiral and Meadow Brown.
An earlier blog mentions the large white caterpillars on the cabbage that hatched mid-to-late July. This photo was taken on 19th August and shows one pretty much fully grown, with some relatively new hatched ones.
The cabbages are pretty much gone now with just a few small caterpillars doing their best. Many caterpillars have moved on to search out other plants.
Autumn is almost here (part 2)
Some other creatures:
A Migrant Hawker Dragonfly that posed nicely for me.
A Green Bottle that I'm pleased with.
A couple of spiders.
A Buff-Tailed Bumblebee (could be a white tailed but this seems to have a bit of colour on the tail)
One evening I spotted loads of caterpillars on a young hornbeam. I identified them as Buff-tip moths. They stick together eating a leaf at a time until they are in the latest instar stage and then all split up. I counted about 50 and wondered how much damage they would do - as it happened quite a lot, but the tree still has a few leaves and buds getting ready for next year. The caterpillars have gone, some were spotted around the garden. They pupate over winter in the soil.
Here's a couple I caught shedding their skins. The hairs are probably irritating.
A Migrant Hawker Dragonfly that posed nicely for me.
A Green Bottle that I'm pleased with.
A couple of spiders.
A Buff-Tailed Bumblebee (could be a white tailed but this seems to have a bit of colour on the tail)
One evening I spotted loads of caterpillars on a young hornbeam. I identified them as Buff-tip moths. They stick together eating a leaf at a time until they are in the latest instar stage and then all split up. I counted about 50 and wondered how much damage they would do - as it happened quite a lot, but the tree still has a few leaves and buds getting ready for next year. The caterpillars have gone, some were spotted around the garden. They pupate over winter in the soil.
Here's a couple I caught shedding their skins. The hairs are probably irritating.
Ladybirds
I don't get many ladybirds. I think I've seen three or four 7-spots and one 15-spot this year.
But back in July I was in for a surprise. I found 10 of these ugly looking things on the silver birch.
The are larvae of the Harlequin Ladybird, the much hated foreign invader. I was lucky enough to see this one shedding its skin as the pupa emerged.
A pupa that has darkened.
This one has not long emerged from its pupal stage.
They don't look like ours do they?
I moved one to the nasturtiums that were being destroyed by blackfly. Unfortunately they were too few too late.
But back in July I was in for a surprise. I found 10 of these ugly looking things on the silver birch.
The are larvae of the Harlequin Ladybird, the much hated foreign invader. I was lucky enough to see this one shedding its skin as the pupa emerged.
A pupa that has darkened.
This one has not long emerged from its pupal stage.
They don't look like ours do they?
I moved one to the nasturtiums that were being destroyed by blackfly. Unfortunately they were too few too late.
Sunday, 2 August 2009
Even more butterflies
Two hours after posting my blog bemoaning about not being able to photograph the Peacock butterfly, I'm locking up the shed and spot a dark butterfly in the garden. I take the camera out for a while before going to my mum's and spot this beauty on the Buddliea aka Butterfly Bush.
I then go out the front door and see at least eight Gatekeepers on these yellow weeds/plants. I also saw a Meadow Brown. The front is mostly grass that I only strim a little, and last time I decided to leave these plants growing.
I then go out the front door and see at least eight Gatekeepers on these yellow weeds/plants. I also saw a Meadow Brown. The front is mostly grass that I only strim a little, and last time I decided to leave these plants growing.
Butterflies and moths
The Sunday after I posted my last blog entry I noticed that a lot of the Large White caterpillars had gone, and by Monday they had all disappeared - either off to pupate or taken by birds. Since then the cabbages started to recover and I've since spotted eggs
With some ready to hatch
So I knew where to look for these on July 25th
They are still quite small
I thought I was going to spot two Large White butterflies mating today, but they turned out to be female Large and Small Whites.
The Small White flew over to the cabbages where I caught her laying an egg.
The Small White lays eggs singly and I think this is a young caterpillar - it was on the cabbages anyway.
And I'm certain this is a fully grown Small White caterpillar. I almost didn't spot it despite its size. It wasn't there the next day.
A few days ago I found this caterpillar which I'm fairly sure is of a Comma. It is on the hops, one of the preferred foods. I've seen a couple of Comma butterflies in the garden.
It's normally hidden from view, curled up and looking like bird poo, but I turned the leaf back to get the photo. I don't think it liked the sun and was on the move.
Today I saw my first Peacock butterfly in something like 40 years. Unfortunately I wasn't able to get a photo. However a few weeks ago I was on a bike ride and met my daughter and family out for a walk. As we chatted the kids spotted this Peacock caterpillar.
On another bike ride I spotted a Speckled Wood butterfly - another first for me.
Back home and today I saw my first identified blue butterfly - a female Common Blue.
A couple of days ago I spotted this. I think it might be a Skipper (a kind of butterfly) but am not certain. It's hiding its antennae so I can't tell if it's a butterfly or moth.
Edit: it's a Yellow Shell Moth. Thanks to Lynmiranda for identifying it.
And finally a Common Plume moth.
With some ready to hatch
So I knew where to look for these on July 25th
They are still quite small
I thought I was going to spot two Large White butterflies mating today, but they turned out to be female Large and Small Whites.
The Small White flew over to the cabbages where I caught her laying an egg.
The Small White lays eggs singly and I think this is a young caterpillar - it was on the cabbages anyway.
And I'm certain this is a fully grown Small White caterpillar. I almost didn't spot it despite its size. It wasn't there the next day.
A few days ago I found this caterpillar which I'm fairly sure is of a Comma. It is on the hops, one of the preferred foods. I've seen a couple of Comma butterflies in the garden.
It's normally hidden from view, curled up and looking like bird poo, but I turned the leaf back to get the photo. I don't think it liked the sun and was on the move.
Today I saw my first Peacock butterfly in something like 40 years. Unfortunately I wasn't able to get a photo. However a few weeks ago I was on a bike ride and met my daughter and family out for a walk. As we chatted the kids spotted this Peacock caterpillar.
On another bike ride I spotted a Speckled Wood butterfly - another first for me.
Back home and today I saw my first identified blue butterfly - a female Common Blue.
A couple of days ago I spotted this. I think it might be a Skipper (a kind of butterfly) but am not certain. It's hiding its antennae so I can't tell if it's a butterfly or moth.
Edit: it's a Yellow Shell Moth. Thanks to Lynmiranda for identifying it.
And finally a Common Plume moth.
Saturday, 4 July 2009
Butterflies
A week ago I went for another bike ride, part of which was along the Nutbrook trail. There were loads of butterflies, which I later identified as Ringlets. It was hard to get close to them.
A few days ago I went to deadhead the nasturtiums in my garden and apart from millions of blackfly I also spotted loads of caterpillars. As they were very familiar I guessed they were Large Whites. I read that gardeners will plant nasturtiums near cabbages because the butterfly prefers them.
Ironically I had cabbages growing trying to attract the same. So Thursday morning I rehoused about a dozen, and in the evening it was obvious they liked their new home.
So that evening and Friday as well I rehoused the rest. Today I counted 31. I can find 27 in this photo.
While I was out this morning I spotted another butterfly I didn't know. It was hanging about the hops plant but the best photos I got were when it landed on my shirt. I couldn't tell exactly what the camera was pointing at so was quite pleased with the result. It's a Comma and I've read that they like to lay their eggs on hops.
A few days ago I went to deadhead the nasturtiums in my garden and apart from millions of blackfly I also spotted loads of caterpillars. As they were very familiar I guessed they were Large Whites. I read that gardeners will plant nasturtiums near cabbages because the butterfly prefers them.
Ironically I had cabbages growing trying to attract the same. So Thursday morning I rehoused about a dozen, and in the evening it was obvious they liked their new home.
So that evening and Friday as well I rehoused the rest. Today I counted 31. I can find 27 in this photo.
While I was out this morning I spotted another butterfly I didn't know. It was hanging about the hops plant but the best photos I got were when it landed on my shirt. I couldn't tell exactly what the camera was pointing at so was quite pleased with the result. It's a Comma and I've read that they like to lay their eggs on hops.
Moths
On my bike ride mentioned above I also saw quite a few of these moths. I thought I knew what they were because Lynmiranda (see blog link in my Birdwatching blog) had photos of similar moths. But I noticed they weren't the same. This is actually a Narrow Bordered Five Spot Burnet.
I spotted this moth on the (dirty) window today. Three hours later it's still there. I managed to identify it quite easily as a Small Magpie Moth.
The moth is outside - the fence, hedge, house and sky are reflections.
I spotted this moth on the (dirty) window today. Three hours later it's still there. I managed to identify it quite easily as a Small Magpie Moth.
The moth is outside - the fence, hedge, house and sky are reflections.
Damselflies
On the same bike trip I stopped off at Manor Floods and saw these damselflies.
A Common Blue.
I assume a female but I have no idea what.
A Common Blue.
I assume a female but I have no idea what.
Friday, 26 June 2009
Bike rides
I've bought a second hand bike. A week ago I took it out for the first time riding from Heanor Road in Ilkeston, through Shipley Wood, down past the old American Adventure Theme Park car parks and onto the Nutbrook Trail. When I got to near the Quarry Hill Industrial Estate I turned off and road to my sister's.
After a couple of drinks I then went back to the Nutbrook Trail and on to the Erewash Canal, which I took all the way back to The Bridge at Cotmanhay and then home. The Erewash Canal part is about 3.75 miles. I didn't take a camera with me as I was just trying out the bike. I hadn't ridden one for more than 10 minutes for over 30 years.
Wednesday, after work, I went for another ride - this time from The Bridge and along the Erewash Canal up to Langley Bridge (also known as the Great Northern Basin) where the Cromford and Nottingham canals (both disused) also meet. It's about 2.25 miles and is effectively a dead end. This time I took my Fuji.
The Erewash Canal runs pretty much north-south and I was travelling north in the evening. The first part of the journey is on the east bank so any photos on or across the water are taken into the sun.
I must admit I struggled with the camera and will have to consider taking the Nikon next time. There were quite a few swallows about and this was where the Nikon would have been useless. I aimed the Fuji and set it up for continuous mode. It will take 15 photos in about 2 seconds at 4 megapixels (even faster at 2 megapixels) because it doesn't refocus or check light levels. I aimed the camera and waited. In about 10 attempts at various times I managed to catch 3 swallows, 1 in consecutive frames.
There are three locks along this section, the first being Shipley Lock.
Several times I saw this dark coloured duck, sometimes with ducklings. I think it's a tufted duck but I never saw any evidence of a tuft. And this is the best photo I could get.
I saw plenty of mallards and ducklings.
Over here!
There were a couple of moorhens - again struggling to find a good photo.
The next lock is Eastwood lock where you cross to the other bank. I wondered why it was called Eastwood because I thought that town was a long way off. I also wondered why the traffic noise so so loud until I looked on Google maps back home. Sometimes my geographical awareness is awful. For most of the way now I'm in the shade of trees and haven't got the sun in my eyes or camera.
I was just about to sit down for a drink and snack when I spotted a flash of orange and blue flying into some low hanging branches. It didn't stay long before flying over the water again in the opposite direction. Almost certainly a kingfisher. Other birds I think I saw were sand martins (seemed too brown to be house martins which I also saw) and a kestrel (photo is inconclusive). I also saw this reed bunting.
I didn't know it was until I got home and even at x18 it is tiny. Must remember binoculars next time. These two were very friendly.
The last lock is Langley Bridge, which is actually the 14th lock on the old Cromford Canal. When I saw KFC I realised whereabouts I was. There are lots of boats here but it's a private mooring and no access for me. I headed back home, with just a couple of stops, finally managing to get a half decent photo of some coots. I'm back on the east side of the canal here.
I didn't know how far I was going to be able to get so had set my phone to go off after an hour. I was enjoying myself too much to return then, and was gone 2 and a half hours in the end.
After a couple of drinks I then went back to the Nutbrook Trail and on to the Erewash Canal, which I took all the way back to The Bridge at Cotmanhay and then home. The Erewash Canal part is about 3.75 miles. I didn't take a camera with me as I was just trying out the bike. I hadn't ridden one for more than 10 minutes for over 30 years.
Wednesday, after work, I went for another ride - this time from The Bridge and along the Erewash Canal up to Langley Bridge (also known as the Great Northern Basin) where the Cromford and Nottingham canals (both disused) also meet. It's about 2.25 miles and is effectively a dead end. This time I took my Fuji.
The Erewash Canal runs pretty much north-south and I was travelling north in the evening. The first part of the journey is on the east bank so any photos on or across the water are taken into the sun.
I must admit I struggled with the camera and will have to consider taking the Nikon next time. There were quite a few swallows about and this was where the Nikon would have been useless. I aimed the Fuji and set it up for continuous mode. It will take 15 photos in about 2 seconds at 4 megapixels (even faster at 2 megapixels) because it doesn't refocus or check light levels. I aimed the camera and waited. In about 10 attempts at various times I managed to catch 3 swallows, 1 in consecutive frames.
There are three locks along this section, the first being Shipley Lock.
Several times I saw this dark coloured duck, sometimes with ducklings. I think it's a tufted duck but I never saw any evidence of a tuft. And this is the best photo I could get.
I saw plenty of mallards and ducklings.
Over here!
There were a couple of moorhens - again struggling to find a good photo.
The next lock is Eastwood lock where you cross to the other bank. I wondered why it was called Eastwood because I thought that town was a long way off. I also wondered why the traffic noise so so loud until I looked on Google maps back home. Sometimes my geographical awareness is awful. For most of the way now I'm in the shade of trees and haven't got the sun in my eyes or camera.
I was just about to sit down for a drink and snack when I spotted a flash of orange and blue flying into some low hanging branches. It didn't stay long before flying over the water again in the opposite direction. Almost certainly a kingfisher. Other birds I think I saw were sand martins (seemed too brown to be house martins which I also saw) and a kestrel (photo is inconclusive). I also saw this reed bunting.
I didn't know it was until I got home and even at x18 it is tiny. Must remember binoculars next time. These two were very friendly.
The last lock is Langley Bridge, which is actually the 14th lock on the old Cromford Canal. When I saw KFC I realised whereabouts I was. There are lots of boats here but it's a private mooring and no access for me. I headed back home, with just a couple of stops, finally managing to get a half decent photo of some coots. I'm back on the east side of the canal here.
I didn't know how far I was going to be able to get so had set my phone to go off after an hour. I was enjoying myself too much to return then, and was gone 2 and a half hours in the end.
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