EREBIDAE 45 - END

72.045 Common Footman larva collected from North Dean top, Greetland on May 8th 2014. Sometimes there can be dozens present, sunning themselves on the dry stone boundary wall.

72.045 Common Footman on June 2nd 2014. Reared from the larva pictured above.

72.045 Common Footman larva spinning a cocoon, May 8th 2009. It incorporated pieces of grit for camouflage and protection. Originally found at North Dean wood top the previous month.

72.045 Common Footman feeding on the garden Marjoram at Skircoat Green on July 27th 2021.

72.046 Scarce Footman to MV light at Turgate Delph, Norland on July 17th 2022.

72.046 Scarce Footman details as above. Wings wrapped tightly around its body and a full orange collar.

72.049 Orange Footman to MV light at Hollin hall, Hardcastle Crags on May 25th 2023. One of five that night of this recent arrival in Calderdale.

72.053 Fan-foot netted at dusk at Bankhouse wood, July 7th 2010. One of two individuals netted during the month at this site.

72.053 Fan-foot nectaring on the garden Buddleia at Skircoat Green, July 30th 2017.

72.055 Small Fan-foot to light in my garden at Luddenden Foot on July 20th 2022.

72.055 Small Fan-foot, a daytime observation on Bramble at North Dean wood, July 5th 05.

72.061 Pinion-streaked Snout, netted at dusk at Bankhouse wood, July 21st 2010. Very similar to some Pyralid moths and surely overlooked by those not used to recording micros.

72.061 Pinion-streaked Snout to actinic light at the lagoon at Cromwell Bottom on Aug. 27th 2023.

72.063 Blackneck  to MV light at Clock Face quarry, Krumlin on July 24th 2024. One of two that morning.

72.063 Blackneck  to MV light at the Cabin, Cromwell Bottom, June 30th 2018.

72.069 Beautiful Hook-tip to light at the cabin at Cromwell Bottom, June 26th 2021. Once a rarity in the borough but nowadays it hardly raises an eyebrow.

72.076 Clifden Nonpareil to MV light at Clock Face quarry, Scammonden on Sept. 16th 2023.

What a sight for sore eyes on a damp and murkey morning high up in the Pennines as Anthony removes the star catch of the year!

Perhaps it has moved from rare immigrant status in Yorkshire to a rare and increasing resident?

72.076 Clifden Nonpareil, details above. When gently coaxing it out for some photos it flashed those stunning, blue banded hindwings.

It absolutely dwarfs the nearby Rosy Rustic and Brown-spot Pinion.

72.076 Clifden Nonpareil details above.

With a gentle breeze in the air it instinctively moved around to the leeside of the post where it was quite happy to pose for the cameras.

72.076 Clifden Nonpareil details above.

As the light failed to improve and the drizzle started to fall I resorted to using the flash, not ideal but it adds a little atmosphere to the photo along with those out of focus raindrops.

I hope that once darkness fell it carried on its way none the worse for its short stay at Clock Face quarry.

72.076 Clifden Nonpareil to MV light at Bower's Mill, Barkisland on Sept. 8th 2024. 

Who would have thought it, less than a year after Calderdale's first and then a second one turns up. This one settled in the grass next to the trap and after a couple of quick photos it took off and landed in a nearby Sycamore tree.

72.076 Clifden Nonpareil to MV light at Bower's Mill, Barkisland on Sept. 22nd 2024. Two weeks on from the one pictured above and yet another blue underwing turns up in exactly the same spot. This one is much less worn than the first which clearly indicates it's a different moth.

After a quick photo shoot it took off and in flight it appeared to be the size as a small bat!

It landed in exactly the same sycamore tree as the last one.

72.078 Red Underwing, one of two roosting on Crowther Bridge by day at Cromwell Bottom NR, Aug. 8th 2019. I did gently poke it with a stick to see if it would reveal it's striking underwings but it just took flight and landed in pretty much the same spot - hindwings still covered!

72.084 Mother Shipton at North Loop, Cromwell Bottom, May 16th 2019. Typically skittish and landing in dense vegetation made for difficult photography but the "old hag's" face can easily be seen. There was another on Tag meadow earlier in the day.

72.084 Mother Shipton at Tag Loop, Cromwell Bottom, June 6th 2019. Another skittish one which at least had the decency to land in the open.