I am pretty sure this is the penultimate post of my month-long series of 'catch-up' posts! Apologies you have had to wait a little longer for this one, and appreciate that all those who come to this blog for bird news will likely be disappointed by the subject...
Saying that though, it's been a really good year for insects, which is something the bird-only lovers amongst us should be keen to read bout. More insects = more birds! I will deal with them order by order...
Moths
It's been a cracking year for moth immigration, especially during the hot weather in June/July. Even my moth trap was turning up good numbers of many immigrant moth species, although I never did manage a mega. I was hoping for an Eastern Bordered Straw as several were trapped during an influx in June, and again a month or two later when the next generation of the first influx were on the wing. I caught plenty Bordered Straw and Scarce Bordered Straw, just not their rarer relative.
Although not a mega nationally, I did get a massive highlight, literally. On 23rd June I trapped my 11th species of Hawkmoth in Seaton since I began trapping here 15+ years ago (13+ years at Mum and Dad's and this is the second year at my new house). It's one that I didn't realise was quite so rare in Devon (about the 13th county record from what I can see), a cracking Pine Hawkmoth. It's a species I have been hoping for, for so many years, but learning how rare they are in Devon it now makes sense why I had to wait so long...
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| Pine Hawkmoth - a little worn but still a cracker, and I love those black stripes! |
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| A better view of its 'go faster stripes' |
I trapped three Striped Hawkmoth during the year, which is nothing compared to what many others were catching, but a great result for my garden. Always a cracking moth to come across...
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| A thrilling sight when this is looking at you from an egg box! |
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| So beautifully marked |
As well as plenty of the usual migrant species, Small Mottled Willows have had a freakishly good year, I caught them nightly in July/August, and often in double figures. My highest count was 27 on 13th August, and I caught my latest on 3rd October. Amazing stuff!
Small Rufous and Small Marbled kept appearing in my trap this year, just a small number of both in all, but still more regular than usual...
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| The very small, Small Marbled |
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| Not quite so small, but still fairly small, Small Rufous |
A nice garden first, first ever for me in fact, was a Ni Moth that I caught on 30th May. Amazingly though by the end of the season I caught a total of six! Sums up how good this year has been for immigrant moths - none to six in the space of a month!
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| My first ever Ni Moth on 30th May |
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| Caught two Ni Moth together on 17th July |
Other new moths for the garden this year have included...
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| Scarce Silver-lines on 16th June |
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| Large Emerald on 10th July |
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| This is the second Dewick's Plusia I have trapped in Seaton, but the first in this garden, on 16th July |
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| Dog's Tooth on 19th July |
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| Bulrush Wainscot on 20th July |
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| Southern Wainscot on 28th July |
I did just want to mention this Gem too, which is another immigrant species. I have caught a few over the years, but this individual was the best coloured one I have ever seen, just so red...
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| A very red Gem caught on 4th August |
It's not just moths from the moth trap that have been great, but I've never seen so many Hummingbird Hawkmoths as I have this year! This includes three I've had to rescue from our conservatory, a treat to get such close views and to then release all three unharmed...
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| The only this one wasn't flying is because it thought it was still trapped in my pot! Such great insects |
Butterflies
Just like moths, what a year for immigrant butterflies! Saying that I don't recall exceptional numbers of Painted Ladies at any point this year, just ok to good numbers, Clouded Yellows on the other hand! Although I've seen more than I ever have, I didn't witness numbers quite like those that a Sidmouth friend (Dan) did, as he counted 250 in a single field at Stantyway Farm (Otterton) in mid-September! There are still plenty about now, I saw six during a brief lunchtime walk just last week. There's been so many about I would say they've been the most numerous butterfly species on the wing at some points of the year.
The patch has also hosted some Long-tailed Blues this year (for the second time, following several at Axmouth Harbour in August 2019). Funnily enough the day they were found along Seaton Down Road I had spent an hour checking the site at Axmouth Harbour thinking one or more were on the cards. The Seaton Down Road ones were present from 11tt August and seen for a good ten days or so.
Local birder Phil A had one in his garden too, on 22nd August, and no doubt there were a few more about. Pity I never did find a Queen of Spain Fritillary though, they have had an good year across the south of the UK like L-t Blues.
Numbers of the resident species seem to have been pretty healthy too across the year, including all the spring species like Orange-tip and Brimstone which can suffer some years if it's been a cool spring. The one species I am concerned about though is Small Tortoiseshell, not sure why their numbers have plummeted so drastically!?
Dragonflies
This year felt like the year it all changed with some former rarities on patch. Although Lesser Emperors and Norfolk Hawkers have become way more numerous across the southwest over the last couple years, they have always remained rare or at least scarce here...well until this year! I didn't manage to get to Lower Bruckland Ponds as much as usual this summer, however others reported numerous of both species present, and Tim W finally saw a mating pair of Norfolk Hawkers - something we've failed to witness even though the species has been here annually since 2023. I did get to the Ponds three times during the main summer season and saw several Lesser Emperors and two Norfolk Hawkers myself which was nice.
The patch's first Lesser Emperor away from Lower Bruckland Ponds was also recorded this year, with Kev photographing a female on Beer Head on 10th August.
Although I didn't manage to see any Red-veined Darters on patch this year, they've had a spectacular year a bit like Lesser Emperors. I couldn't believe how many I saw at a random bog on north Dartmoor in July, mingling with Black Darters. Really does seem like these and Lesser Emperors are here to stay now - in good numbers too!
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| Red-veined Darter male |
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| And again - such a distinctive shade of red! |
And that's that! It has taken me ages to get this post together, not really sure why as it's hardly a work of art. Still, I hope you have enjoyed it even for those who are insect-averse.
My next post I plan to publish tomorrow or Friday, so check back soon for that and I promise it will be bird-based...
