Clifden Nonpareil

19:th of August 2010
The Clifden Nonpareil (Catocala fraxini) is one of the largest and most beautiful August flying Moths. Tonight it gets attracted by my bait made from red wine, honey and raisins. What a beauty! (Blåbandat ordensfly in swedish)

Orache Moth

19:th of August 2010
Orache Moth (Trachea atriplicis) is a large and beautifully bright green Moth, a quite exciting find. Mållfly in swedish.

Feathered Gothic

19:th of August 2010
Feathered Gothic (Tholera decimalis) – Vitribbat fältfly in swedish – is another of tonight´s dominating Moth species.

A Farr visit

14:th of August 2010
Today a group of three generations basically from the Farr family pays a visit to the Black River Valley. Lovely bunch of people! Here all lined up in the monument "The lifelie" by Lars Vilks. (Standing in the sculpture park at Engelsberg). A place not only a world heritage but quite worth a visit.

Crane sunset

14:th of August 2010
The sunset over Fläcksjön is just amazing tonight and Black Terns, many hundred Swallows and about 200 Cranes are coming in to roost.

Kitten Moth night

12:th of August 2010
The hot summer in Sweden has a good influence on the Moths. Several spring-flying species are flying in a 2:nd generation now. For the Alder kitten/ Snövit gaffelsvans (Furcula bicupsis) - quite a beauty - that is quite rar on this latitude.

Kitten face

12:th of August 2010
Alder kitten/ Snövit gaffelsvans (Furcula bicupsis) - nice face!

Kitten from side

12:th of August 2010
Alder kitten/ Snövit gaffelsvans (Furcula bicupsis) from the side

Peregrine project visit

7:th of August 2010
Today a bunch of people from around Västerås visit the release of 2 captivity-raised Peregrine falcons in nearby county Närke. It is the first step for us to get to the point where we can start our own Peregrine project in Västmanland. Here you can see them being placed in the cage where they safely can spend the first days before the total release. After the cage is opened they come back to get fed for a period of up to 6 weeks.

Peregrine for release

7:th of August 2010
Leif Bertilsson is holding the bigger of the lovely 2 Peregrine chicks.

Downy Peregrine

7:th of August 2010
and the smaller one..

Cameo

5:th of August 2010
Set off to try a Moth night on my own. It´s warm and a quite good night. A bit to starry perhaps. Black Arches, Canary-shouldered Thorn, Pebble Hooktip and Purble bar, are some of the nice species. Cameo (Polymixis gemmea) – Vitfläckat ängsfly in Swedish – is today´s little surprise and a new species to me. Quite a striking wingpattern.

Cameo side

5:th of August 2010
Quite alright from the side too.

Cameo face

5:th of August 2010
And another unique face-pattern.

Swallow prominent face

5:th of August 2010
The Swallow Prominent (Pheosia tremula) is quite a crafty, little creature.

Swallow prominent

5:th of August 2010
Swallow prominent (Pheosia tremula) from the side.

Scarce Chaser kingdom

5:th of August 2010
Recently David Andersson discovered the first breeding population of Scarce Chaser in Västmanland. Not a few, but at least 70 individuals (!) where seen on this lovely spot along Hjälmare kanal. The species is currently increasing/ spreading in central Sweden or has it just been overlooked?

Scarce Chaser

5:th of August 2010
After a boat safari deep into the waterways of Hjälmare kanal we finally stumble upon ONE single Scarce/ Blue Chaser! (Libellula fulva). What luck! The last flyer for the season in this population perhaps, but doesn´t even look worn. Unfortunately all my pictures got totally overexposed so this is the best I could do, lacks the blueish colour though.