PINK ELEPHANT

Still conditions overnight into Saturday 9th resulted in a rich assortment of moths. Up with the lark at 4 o'clock to check both traps that had been running in the park overnight attracted 170 moths of 45 species. Whilst sorting out one of the traps I glanced up at a barn owl passing just a few metres from me as it made one last sortie into the park during the early daylight period. It carried rapidly past me and silently flapped its way over to the areas of long grass. I was also pleased to hear the soft purring sound of a turtle dove from the car park whilst in the distance I could hear the cuckoo calling.

The most striking moth found was this very colourful elephant hawk-moth with its near day-glow pink markings. When you rise bleary-eyed early in the morning, finding this big gem of a moth makes you open your eyes wide with admiration. It is reasonably widespread and was caught several times last summer in the park. The fully grown caterpillars with big "eye" markings, have a passing resemblance to the trunk of a elephant.
Two poplar hawk-moths and a privet hawk-moth were also found in the morning.

This moth above is the six-spot burnet - and he's one moth that hasn't read the rule book about the difference between moths and butterflies. Moths are supposed to be dull, brown, night-fliers and with feathery antennae. Butterflies have bright colours, fly during the day and have knobs on the end of their antennae. The six-spot burnet is a colourful day-flier amongst the long grass at the park during the sunny days of summer. Compare this burnet's antennae with the last picture below - now that's real feathery! I was surprised to stumble across this burnet resting in the long grass, as I don't normally see them here until later on into July.
Two other day-flying moths seen in recent days has been the yellow shell and also the interestingly named Mother Shipton whose markings resemble the face of the famous witch.

The large areas of long grass are perfect for butterflies and the sunshine brought out lots of meadow browns. Within a couple of weeks they should be at their peak here of a few hundred individuals all fluttering over the grasslands. There was a colourful sight on some tall cotoneaster bushes in the park of at least 12 painted lady butterflies. This is probably the best spring count at the park and it bodes well for the next generation that should be on the wing in late summer.

Back to the moths that were found in the early morning. Above is the green silver lines which certainly stands out in a trap full of brown moths. Watch it fly into a bush and it becomes instantly camouflaged amongst the green leaves.
This big brown moth is a female fox moth, in the process of rapidly beating its wings ready for take-off. This is the first time I have seen the adult although I normally see every September, one or two large black hairy fox caterpillars crawling across paths.
This elegant and almost fragile looking moth is the bordered white holding its wings in typical butterfly fashion. Four were caught during the night and no sooner had this one posed for a photo, he was off rapidly heading for the nearest spot of cover.