Uploads from Blurmeister

Dark/Grey Dagger - Acronicta tridens/psi

nobody@flickr.com (Blurmeister) — Tue, 21 May 2013 04:56:02 -0700

I was pleased to find my first Dagger of the year this morning. My problem here though is that the Dark Dagger & the Grey Dagger species are almost indistinguishable (at least to me anyway), so I'm hedging my bets here & labeling this guy as 'an either or'...
Trapped in my Suffolk garden - May 2013.

Common Quaker - Orthosia cerasi

nobody@flickr.com (Blurmeister) — Tue, 21 May 2013 04:56:01 -0700

Blurmeister posted a photo:

Another common & fairly widespread Woodland Moth, which will also inhabit gardens. Flying earlier in the year, it can usually be seen between March & mid May, though small numbers can emerge during milder Autumns.
This is a montage made up of three shots of an individual that I trapped in my Suffolk garden - May 2013.

Garden Carpet Moth - Xanthorhoe fluctuata

nobody@flickr.com (Blurmeister) — Mon, 20 May 2013 01:35:53 -0700

Blurmeister posted a photo:

A common species that can be seen from April through to October. As it's name suggests, it is often found in gardens. They certainly seem to favour mine at the moment, as I came down to eleven individuals in my little home-made trap this morning. Not much else in there though, save for what looked to be a little Woodworm Pug which, unfortunately, 'puggered off' before I could get a decent shot of him.
Taken in my Suffolk garden - May 2013.

Koi

nobody@flickr.com (Blurmeister) — Sun, 19 May 2013 08:44:01 -0700

Blurmeister posted a photo:

Another shot of some of my fish, at the surface looking for food. After a long Winter, lying dormant on the pond bottom without feeding, I guess that it's natural that they will have built quite an apetite.
May 2013

Muslin Moth - Diaphora mendica

nobody@flickr.com (Blurmeister) — Sun, 19 May 2013 05:35:32 -0700

Blurmeister posted a photo:

Muslin montage MKII. After finding another Male Muslin in my trap this morning, I've updated this shot to include a face on view.
Trapped in my Suffolk garden - May 2013.

Nut-tree Tussock - Colocasia coryli

nobody@flickr.com (Blurmeister) — Wed, 15 May 2013 14:48:34 -0700

Blurmeister posted a photo:

This Moth has two generations in southern Britain, flying from late May to early June and then again in late July to early September. Fairly common & widespread, it's favoured habitat is broad leaved woodland, where it's larvae feed on the foliage of a range of broad leaved trees.
The Moth pictured in this montage is a Male, as he has broad, feathery antennae, which aren't apparent in these shots, unfortunately.
Trapped in my Suffolk garden- May 2013.

Hatching Vapourer Moth caterpillars

nobody@flickr.com (Blurmeister) — Sun, 12 May 2013 10:13:09 -0700

Blurmeister posted a photo:

Although tiny & fairly nondescript at the moment, in their later stages of development, these caterpillars will become very striking, with bright spots of colour & bizarre tufts of bristles.
Taken in my Suffolk garden - May 2013.

Vapourer Moth eggs hatching

nobody@flickr.com (Blurmeister) — Sun, 12 May 2013 10:13:07 -0700

Blurmeister posted a photo:

I've been keeping an eye on the small patch of Vapourer Moth eggs that I found in my garden recently, tucked under the rim of a garden planter. On noticing a darker patch on the underside of the egg cluster, I Knelt for a closer look & spotted these tiny little guys.
Taken in my Suffolk garden - May 2013.

Vapourer Moth eggs

nobody@flickr.com (Blurmeister) — Wed, 08 May 2013 11:13:07 -0700

Blurmeister posted a photo:

An unusual species in that the Female is flightless & only the Male has the ability to fly. This species overwinters as an egg, which are laid on the outside of the Females empty cocoon. After hatching, which can sometimes be staggered, the caterpillars disperse, feeding on a wide variety of food plants, until pupation. On emerging from their cocoons, the Males fly off in search of a Female, which they locate by following her scent. The adult flightless Females remain attached to their cocoon for the remainder of their short lives and as the adults also don't have the ability to feed, their lives are understandably brief.
I photographed these eggs under the rim of a pot in my garden, which contained a plant that was home to a Vapourer caterpillar last year. Looks like it turned out to be Female.
Suffolk- May 2013.

Muslin Moth - Diaphora mendica

nobody@flickr.com (Blurmeister) — Tue, 07 May 2013 13:47:29 -0700

Blurmeister posted a photo:

The Male & Female of this species are very different, visually. The Male being this warm chestnut brown, verging to grey, whilst the Female is white. Interestingly, the Females are also day flying & are often seen visiting flowers during daylight hours. Conversely, the Males are nocturnal, so it's a wonder that they ever manage to get it together really.
Montage of an individual trapped in my Suffolk garden - May 2013.

Shoulder stripe - Anticlea badiata

nobody@flickr.com (Blurmeister) — Sun, 05 May 2013 22:19:51 -0700

Blurmeister posted a photo:

The Shoulder stripe is an early Moth that has a flight season that runs from March to May. My reference book says that this species favours 'woodland, hedgerows and other scrubby places', which reminds me that I really need to crack on with a spot of gardening!
Trapped in my Suffolk garden - May 2013.

Early Thorn - Selenia dentaria

nobody@flickr.com (Blurmeister) — Sun, 05 May 2013 10:03:04 -0700

Blurmeister posted a photo:

Here's a close up photo of the freshly emerged, first generation Early Thorn Moth that I found in my trap this morning. Not the most brightly coloured species, but subtley beautiful none the less. I tried for a shot of the upper wing pattern, but this fella wasn't having any of it.
Trapped in my Suffolk garden - May 2013.

Early Thorn - Selenia dentaria

nobody@flickr.com (Blurmeister) — Sun, 05 May 2013 06:57:47 -0700

Blurmeister posted a photo:

I was pleased to find this first generation Early thorn in my trap this morning. Although they are a fairly common species, this was a first for me. When at rest, this species holds it's wings together, rather like a Butterfly. The second generation, which emerge later in the Summer, are usually smaller & have a more rusty red colouration.
Montage of three shots of a Moth caught in my Suffolk garden - May 2013.

Small Quaker - Orthosia cruda

nobody@flickr.com (Blurmeister) — Sat, 04 May 2013 09:56:25 -0700

Blurmeister posted a photo:

Measuring just under 15mm in length, the Small Quaker is readily distinguished from other early spring noctuids by it's smaller size. At first glance, these 'little brown jobs' appear to be a rather drab, monotone beige. On closer inspection, however, their subtle wing pattern becomes evident.
Being quite common & widespread, it flies from February to early May & is often found in woodland, hedgerows & gardens.
This is a montage made up of fours shots of a Moth that I trapped in my Suffolk garden - May 2013.

Hebrew Character - Orthosia gothica

nobody@flickr.com (Blurmeister) — Sat, 27 Apr 2013 04:04:45 -0700

Blurmeister posted a photo:

This Moth gets it's name from the black mark in the centre of it's forewing. It's fairly common, regularly visiting gardens and flies from March - mid May in the South of the country, but a little later in the year further North. Small numbers can sometimes be seen again during the late Autumn, if the weather is mild enough.
Montage of five separate shots of a Moth trapped in my Suffolk garden - April 2013.

Yellow Shell

nobody@flickr.com (Blurmeister) — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 13:34:31 -0700

Blurmeister posted a photo:

Here's one from last year that I didn't get around to posting. Wasn't entirely sure of the ID, but have since been advised that it's a Yellow shell (Thanks Jack & Dave, much appreciated) .
Trapped in my Suffolk garden - Aug 2012.

Brimstone Butterfly

nobody@flickr.com (Blurmeister) — Sun, 21 Apr 2013 06:27:49 -0700

Blurmeister posted a photo:

I found it a bit frustrating yesterday, trying & failing to photograph a Brimstone that was flitting up & down a footpath, as I was out walking my dog. In the garden this afternoon, I was photographing something else entirely, when I inadvertently captured this Female, sitting camouflaged in the background of the frame I'd just taken. Typical really...
My Suffolk garden - April 2013.

Early Grey

nobody@flickr.com (Blurmeister) — Sat, 20 Apr 2013 13:25:51 -0700

Blurmeister posted a photo:

My first Moth of the year. I spotted this Early Grey, Xylocampa areola, on my garage wall this afternoon, so I brought him inside for a spot of Moth modelling.
As it's name suggests, the Early Grey is active early in the year, with it's usual flight season running from March to May.
Often found in gardens, it's caterpillars will readily feed on cultivated Honeysuckle.
This is a montage made up of fours shots of the same individual.
Found in my Suffolk Garden - April 2013.

Rummy Nose Tetra

nobody@flickr.com (Blurmeister) — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 12:40:50 -0700

Blurmeister posted a photo:

The Rummy nose (Hemigrammus rhodostomus) is a fresh water shoaling fish originating in South America. At around 2 inches long when fully grown, this peaceful & relatively easy to cater for little fish is a popular addition to the aquarium.
Interestingly, this species acts rather like a mine Canary in the aquarium, alerting the fish keeper to potential pollution problems. In the presence of critical levels of metabolic wastes, such as ammonia & nitrates, the intense ruby-red colouring on the head fades away.
April 2013

And this years award for the 'Worst Waxwing through a window' catagory goes to....

nobody@flickr.com (Blurmeister) — Sun, 07 Apr 2013 02:14:07 -0700

Blurmeister posted a photo:

This guy was feeding on Cotoneaster berries less than two feet from the window, so, as I stalked up to the glass, I felt certain that I could get a decent shot of it, even with my little compact camera. This shot was definately going to put me up there among my fellow Flickr contributors as a 'Proper wildlife photographer'. .......If I told you that it was a garden gnome in a cabbage patch, you'd be none the wiser, would you? :-) Lol.