Great Moth-night

20:th of July 2011
Excellent conditions for a night out with Moths. 5 crazy guys put out 6 mercury lamps and canvas in a multi habitat with oaks, aspens, grassy areas and stony slopes on an island. Dyring 6 intense hours (finishing at 3.30(!) we identify and photograph no less than 70 species of macro moths: Scarce Silver Y, Small Chocolate-tip, Oak Nycteoline, beautiful Garden Tigers, Lime–, Elephant– and Poplar Hawk Moths, Rosy Footman, Lempkes Gold-spot, Dark Arches, Green Arches, Lunar-spotted Pinion, V-Moth, Brussels Lace, to mention but a few. Even some without english names: Diachrysia tutti, Eilema lutarellum and Paradrina selini. This Elephant Hawk-moth sat in a thistle the whole night from dusk til dawn.

Light Crimson Underwing

20:th of July 2011
A Light Crimson Underwing (Catacola promissa) is slightly torn but still a jewel.

Small Chocolate-tip

20:th of July 2011
Small Chocolate-tip (Clostera pigra) is one of many good species tonight.

Sociable Plover in Stockholm

22:nd of July 2011
Goes to Stockholm to see a Sociable Plover (Vanellus gregarius) standing in a flock of Lapwings not far from Drottningsholms castle on Ekerö. Nice bird. Have a look at these pictures!

Large Tortoiseshell

15:th of July 2011
After 4 attempts during the last 3 years I finally get to see my first ever Large Tortoiseshell (Nymphalis polychloros) on northern Öland. It´s the very first butterfly I lay my eyes on as I arrive to the site and it´s such a miracle. Yellow-legged Tortoiseshell was seen too on the same site a few days ago but not today. Note the dark legs.

Furry and fresh

15:th of July 2011
The Large Tortoiseshell soon lands on a hazel leaf and spreads out basking in the sun, looking really furry and fresh.

Well spread cat

15:th of July 2011
Only when fully spread reavealing it´s "cat´s face-pattern". Note the bright brick-red colour and no white in the pale patches on the forewing.

Second Tortoiseshell

15:th of July 2011
Judging from the incomplete trailing edge of the back wings, this is a second individual.

Large Blues

11:th of July 2011
Today I make an excursion to the major site for Large Blue butterflies in the area. A real hotspot for butterflies and flowers. The hillside is in full bloom with wild thymes painting the ground purple. A good set of Butterflies are flitting around, including a bunch of Large Blues. This is a male.

Large Blue female

11:th of July 2011
Here´s a female with the diagnostic set of black spots on the forewing.

Marsh Carpet

30:th of June 2011
Last night produced excellent conditions for attracting Moths to my mercury lamp and canvas. + 20° c and a light overcast. Elephant Hawk Moths where all over my Jasmine bushes and after only 15 minutes a real rarity - a Marsh Carpet (Perizoma sagittata) – Piltecknad fältmätare in swedish – sat on the deck. I got 2 pictures and went away to do an ID-check in some books. When I got back it was gone. Then it started to rain so I had to abort the session. Marsh Carpet is known to be rare and hard to find since it´s not very attracted by light. I had the theory it would fly in the Black River area for some years so it feels good for several reasons. Handsome creature too.