Clockwork Moth

My Clockwork Moth came two nights ago, the neat grey Pale Eggar which I first mistook for one of the Kittens, Sallow or Poplar, with their distinctive pattern faded. It has the same light grey tones and crouching habit when at rest with its wings spread broadly over its back like a cloak. It was very dozy and allowed me time to take plenty of photos while I pondered what it might be.

My nickname for it comes from its regular habits; it first called here in 2015, then 2020 and 2023 and now in 2026. After the initial five year gap, it seems to have settled for an appearance every three years, perhaps because its caterpillars are known to overwinter for a second time, although not always. It cannot feed as an adult insect and therefore leads a short life. I am grateful to be included in its rounds.

By contrast, I have learned a little more about a different visitor, the Lime Hawk which I mentioned two posts ago after iRecord responded with an initial 'Out of season' automatic message. Similar visits have since appeared on the Upper Thames Moths Facebook page, all of them new to their recorders at this time of year. The long hot Summer has clearly brought us a second brood which is very unusual for this fine species.

The trap continues to attract welcome new visitors for the year such as the Toadflax Pug below, a very small but beautifully patterned member of a family whose other members can be dull and infuriatingly difficult to tell apart.

 

One of its companions was a Purple Thorn whose delicate mauve is an absolute delight, and no fewer than six Oak Hook-tips, one of my moth success stories of 2026.

Meanwhile the butterflies continue to be out in force although they must be having a hard time finding nectar, a problem at least avoided by the Pale Eggar. Lawns and borders everywhere are shrivelled and brown or sandy-straw coloured. Last night, we were lucky enough to visit friends whose boat is moored at the end of the beautiful community garden of St Ethelwold's in Abingdon which is watered from the Thames and not affected by the hosepipe ban. What a relief and delight it was to enjoy a fabulous display of flowers and a green, green lawn.  I often think about the intensity of colour in everyday things like the sky on a clear day or the English countryside in normal conditions. This was another example and hugely refreshing.

On the butterfly front, here's another of my examples of a not terribly good picture of the underwings of a Holly Blue which was flitting around our patio yesterday, sipping any moisture it could find and resolutely refusing to show its glorious azure topwings although you can enjoy them indistinctly when it is in flight.  And a fantastic photo of a Large Copper by a friend of my older sister's with a wonderfully toning background. Thank you for the treat!

I'll just round things off with three more of Friday/Saturday night's moths: a Poplar Hawk in fresh condition, a Latticed Heath in its usual 'Let's pretend I'm a butterfly' mode and a lovely bright Centre-barred Sallow.