Common Heath, Glasson Moss, 29 April 14
Common Heath moth in the Glasson Moss NNR, 29 April 14.
What a difference a week makes! The last time I visited Drumburgh and Glasson Mosses the only moths I saw were small and nondescript micros, which I didn't bother with. Today there were hundreds of Common Heaths (and perhaps also some Latticed Heaths) flitting around - and as it's so early in the fight season, all of the ones I got a proper look at were in good nick.
Yet again the main purpose of the day was to find - and if possible, photograph - an Emperor Moth. But despite spending about six hours in total at the two sites I had no luck at all.
The first photo from Drumburgh is a male Common Heath (note the elaborate feathered antennae) and the other two are females. Both of the Drumburgh shots were taken with the SX50HS at full zoom (1200mm equivalent) from distances of about 1.5m; whereas the Glasson shot is a macro taken a distance of just a few cm.
Common Heath, Glasson Moss, 29 April 14
Common Heath moth in the Glasson Moss NNR, 29 April 14.
What a difference a week makes! The last time I visited Drumburgh and Glasson Mosses the only moths I saw were small and nondescript micros, which I didn't bother with. Today there were hundreds of Common Heaths (and perhaps also some Latticed Heaths) flitting around - and as it's so early in the fight season, all of the ones I got a proper look at were in good nick.
Yet again the main purpose of the day was to find - and if possible, photograph - an Emperor Moth. But despite spending about six hours in total at the two sites I had no luck at all.
The first photo from Drumburgh is a male Common Heath (note the elaborate feathered antennae) and the other two are females. Both of the Drumburgh shots were taken with the SX50HS at full zoom (1200mm equivalent) from distances of about 1.5m; whereas the Glasson shot is a macro taken a distance of just a few cm.