11 moths of 5 species

Last night was the best night for moth numbers so far with 11 macro moths of 5 species in the light trap.  Just one new species for the year though, which was a rather beaten up Small Engrailed Moth (Ectropis crepuscularia).  I’ve included a photograph of this moth from last year.  Other moths recorded were:

Small Engrailed Moth (Ectropis crepuscularia)    x1
Lappet Moth (Phyllodesma americana)              x2
False Pinion Moth (Litholomia napaea)              x1
Orthosia segregata (Orthosia segregata)            x3
Speckled Green Fruitworm (Orthosia hibisci)      x4

Off to Waterton now.  I think it may be too windy for a light trap tonight.

8 moths of 4 species

There were 8 moths of 4 species in the light trap last night.  The one new species for the year was a Lappet Moth (Phyllodesma americana).  Other species seen are as follows:

Lappet Moth (Phyllodesma americana) x1
False Pinion Moth (Litholomia napaea) x1
Subdued Quaker (Orthosia revicta) x2
Speckled Green Fruitworm (Orthosia hibisci) x4

I’m off to Waterton area for a few days so my blog entries may become a little intermittent until next weekend.  I will be taking my light trap with me so hopefully I will get some interesting moths.

5 moths of 4 species

There were 5 moths of 4 species in the traps last night.  A slightly damaged Large Grey Pinion (Lithophane georgii) was the only new backyard moth for the year.  The latter was also the only moth in my bait trap.  Other moths were as follows:

False Pinion Moth (Litholomia napaea)
Gooseberry Stretchia (Stretchia muricina) x2
Speckled Green Fruitworm (Orthosia hibisci)

I’ve included a photograph of a Purple Sandpiper that was taken at the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary in Calgary.  It was discovered by a birder, photographer, Eddy Matuod on Thursday.  I’m not sure if this is the first documented sighting of a Purple Sandpiper in Alberta but it is certainly an extreme rarity for our area.  I spent an hour photographing this very cooperative Sandpiper on Friday.

6 moths of 6 species

There were 6 moths of 6 species in the traps last night.  5 macro moths in the light trap and one micro which was only 4mm in length!  I’ve asked for help with the micro ID.  The two new macro species for the year were American Swordgrass Moth (Xylena nupera) and Orthosia segregata (Orthosia segregata).  The Swordgrass was in the bait trap.

3 macro moths

Just 3 moths of 2 species in the light trap last night.  2x Speckled Green Fruitworm (Orthosia hibisci) and 1 new backyard species for the year, a Willow Dart Moth (Cerastis salicarum). 

3 macro moths

Just one each of 3 macro moth species in the light trap last night:

Nameless Pinion (Lithophane fagina)
Gooseberry Stretchia (Stretchia muricina)
Hoary Pinion (Lithophane fagina)

No new moth species for the year but I’m adding another photograph of the Hoary Pinion as it shows the white stripe along the costa more clearly.  I photographed two butterfly species at a local wood.  I haven’t identified many butterflies but I’m fairly confident that they are Brown Elfin (Callophrys augustinus) and Moss's Elfin (Callophrys mossii).

A windy night

At 3am I heard some very gusty winds outside so I decided to empty the light trap and put it away.  Although I was half asleep, I managed to find 4 macro moths 2 of which where new backyard species for the year. The new species were a somewhat worn, Hoary Pinion (Lithophane fagina) and a Western Swordgrass Moth (Xylena thoracica).  The other species were:

Plush-naped Pinion (Lithophane pexata)
Speckled Green Fruitworm (Orthosia hibisci)

While at Glenmore today I think I managed a better photograph of the Spring Azure (Celastrina ladon).