BCNI Outing

On Saturday we spent a very enjoyable morning & afternoon on a joint trip with BCNI and Glenarm Wildlife Group.
We visited the cliffs south of Glenarm for Common Blue. Our first search did not locate any, due to no sunshine.This did not effect Six spot Burnett's, of which approx. 100 were recorded.
About 1 hour later the sun came out and this had an immediate effect on butterflies. Two Common Blues and two Small Coppers where found.
Two moth traps had been setup the night before. Nothing of major note was found. Though two Lime Speck Pug were trapped.
After lunch we headed to the Glenarm UWT reserve (only accessible for UWT members) for the main draw – Silver washed Fritillary. We where not to be disappointed.
Within 100 yards of the car park we found the first Frit, gliding in the coppiced wood in the sunshine. 

This is the largest butterfly in Northern Ireland, and well worth looking for. Glenarm reserve is probably the best location.

Further down the track we found a larger opening with lots of Knapweed. Approx. 14 Silver wash Frits where flying about. A stunning sight.

In total 20 Sliver washed Fritillaries were found.
Lots of other wildlife was present, Dipper on the river, Long-tailed Tits and Treecreepers all calling. Numerous flowers in bloom – this give a number of us a challenge to ID. Plenty of various hoverflies, including this rather large specimen.

Any ideas on its identity?
Finally a freshly emerged Common Hawker was found within the Knapweed.

A great day out with BCNI and Glenarm wildlife group.

Sea Kale

Today was a journey to Garron Point in search of a couple of rare plants. One, Rock Samphire is rare in County Antrim, the other, Sea Kale is just rare.

Rock Samphire

This is a rare plant in Co. Antrim, according to the Co Antrim Plant register there has only been 3 recent records, once at Kebble, Rathlin Island 1991and twice at Garron Point Harbour - 1903 & 2005. 

Rock Samphire Flower

Since 2005 Rock Samphire has been recorded at Garron Point Harbour every year. I recorded 2 plants at the harbour today.

Sea-Kale

Sea Kale

This plant is very rare in NI, never mind Co. Antrim.

There is only one record for Co. Antrim recorded in the register.

Church Bay, Rathlin Island – shingle above high

water mark; transplanted into garden and seen by

J. Templeton there

Sea Kale Flower

This single plant was recorded in 1794. Hence it was with surprise that a local botanist was given information in 2009 as to the location of Sea-Kale on the Co Antrim coast. The site had been known about for approx 20 years. Over 100 plants where located on that visit.

Today we recorded approx 8 plants, but we did not cover all the chalk shingle beaches. We have arrived a couple of weeks late and the plants had virtually finished flowering. To the right is a photo of the only flower found today.

Moth with Antlers

Moth trap left out on the 9th July. Another new species was recorded for the Garden, Antler Moth...

Antler Moth

Buff-Tip

Species	Qty
Bright Line Brown-eye	5
Buff Tip	1
Dark Arches	2
Willow Beauty	2
Heart & Dart	1
Antler Moth	1
Ghost Moth	1
Double Square Spot	1
Swordgrass	1
Riband Wave	1
Foxglove Pug	1
July High flyer	1
Common Quaker	1

Killard Point - 3rd July

Headed out to Killard point, rare for us to head south of Belfast. Main goal was  Frog Orchard and I was not to be disappointed.

Six Spot Burnet

On the way out to the reserve, Meadow Brown and Ringlets where obvious. At the entrance a Whitethroat was on guard, scolding us as we walked past. Once into the reserve you are assaulted with a massed array of colours, from the wildflowers and Orchids. Amongst them Six Spot Burnet's where busying themselves.

Common Blue

Other butterflies included a large number of Common Blues..

Getting to the Point, it did not take long to see Frog Orchid, once you got our eye in it was obvious just how abundant they are. We stopped counting after 400 individual plant!

Frog Orchid

Looks like a Frog?

 Other Orchids of note included Bee Orchid, past their best, Pyramidal Orchid and Common Twayblade.

Bee Orchid

Pyramidal Orchid

Common Twayblade

 The whole area is covered with flowering Kidney Vetch (no small blues!), Eyebright and Wild thyme.

Eyebright & Thyme

Kidney Vetch

 Surprisingly, some Wild Pansys are still in flower...

On returning to the car, I found a Hare in the field next to where I had parked. A great way to end.

New Garden Moths

MV light trap setup last night, 1st July. The list is as follows,

Silver Y 1 

Dark Arches 2 

 Peppered Moth 1 

 Bright-line Brown-eye 2 

 Large Yellow Underwing 1 

 Heart & Dart 1 

 Garden Tiger 1 

 Mottled Beauty 1 

 Ingrailed Clay 1 

 Garden Carpet 1 

 Small Angle Shades 1 

 Spruce Carpet 1

There are two new moths for the garden list.

1: Garden Tiger

GARDEN TIGER

This was by far the best of the catch.

2: Spruce Carpet

SPRUCE CARPET

Here are photos of some of the other....... 

Heart & Dart

Small Angle Shades

Garden Carpet

On Saturday 25th we joined the BCNI outing to Peatlands Park. Target species Large Heath, Forester and Red Tipped Clearwing.

We arrived at 10.30,BCNI members had been present from early emptying the 13 moth traps which had been setup.

An impressive variety had been trapped. See the BCNI website for more details. Personal favourites being The Drinker and Beautiful Snout - no photos...

Large Heath - Peatland Park

After the traps where empty we all headed out onto the bog looking for Large Heath. This is the best and most reliable place in NI to see this species.

It didn't take long to put this species up,but get a photo was a different story. They are very flighty and combined with the strong wind they are not the easiest to photograph.

3 Forester Moths - Peatlands

After lunch we headed to the fen area for Forester and Clearwing. This involves a bit of cross country through very wet ditches. Even with people using pheromones,the Clearwings did not appear. On the other hand the Forester moths where fantastic.

No sooner had we arrived on the fen, when the green blue metallic sheen of these day flying moths was obvious. At least 15 where present, mostly feeding on the Common Spotted Orchids.

Mothing 18th June

The following moths were recording during a 6hr period from10.30pm to 4.30am in the garden on the 18th June.

Num.	Species
1	Map Winged Swift
1	Small Square Spot
4	Bright Line Brown Eye
1	Middle Barred Minor
1	Willow Beauty
4	Heart & Dart
1	Large Yellow Underwing
1	Pug sp