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11 July - Bempton RSPB

A trip with the kids to this excellent seabird city on the East Yorkshire coast. The birds probably increased in numbers as they came to see all the visitors. It is funny how warm fine weather increases numbers along the coast. Last time I came here it was raining and there were only a handful of keen birders who got somewhat closer views and did not have to fight through the crowds to get near the fence to see.

Narrow-bordered 5-spot burnet (Zygaena lonicerae)

Crambus perlella

I only took photos of insects as I do not carry large lenses when with the kids as they are enough to look after. These photos were all taken with a Canon 40D, 180 macro lens with 25mm extension tube and fill flash from an MT24EX.

Narrow-bordered 5 spot burnet (Zygaena lonicerae)

The 5 year old is already identifying some common moths and butterflies and knows all the bords at Bempton. The 3 year old is showing interest and likes to help photographing moths.

Mating 6-spot burnets (Zygaena filipendula)

Small skipper (Thymelicus sylvestris)

11 July - Muston moths

Minimum temp 9.4 Centigrade
Moth species count 23
Total moth count 49

The coldest night for several weeks reflected in a lower moth count all round. No new species. Here are some nice ones though:

Light arches (Apamea lithoxylaea)

Crambus perlella

Close-up of the plumage of a light emerald ()

Barred fruit-tree tortrix (Pandemis cerasana)

Light-brown apple moth (Epiphyas postvittana)

Agriphila tristella

10 July - Muston moths

Minimum temp 11.2 Centigrade
Moth species count 30
Total moth count 68

New for the garden was this Freyer's pug (Eupithecia intricata arceuthata)

Clay (Mythimna ferrago)

Plume moth (Platyptilia pallidactyla)

Map-winged swift (Hepialus fusconebulosa)

Paraswammerdamia lutarea

Hedya ochroleucana

Bramble shoot moth (Epiblema uddmaniana)

Riband waves (Idaea aversata) banded and non-banded forms (Idaea aversata f. remutata)

06 July - Fordon

On the way home from work I drove by this field and just had to stop. Then whilst setting up to take the landscape shots I saw several butterfly and moth species including one of my favourites: the marbled white (Melanargia galathea).

There were also ringlets, red admirals and meadow browns.

A pair of mating six-spot burnets (Zygaena filipendulae stephensii)

05 July - Muston moths

Minimum temp 15.4 Centigrade
Moth species count 60
Total moth count 125

A great night for moths. A lifer in the shape of a gold spangle (Autographa bractea).

Swallow-tailed moth (Ourapteryx sambucaria)

Small fan-footed wave (Idaea biselata)

Small magpie (Eurrhypara hortulata)

Barred yellow (Cidaria fulvata)

05 July - Scarborough at sunrise

After a night in the operating theatre I finished just after sunrise and with a pink hue still in the sky I headed for St Mary's church. This is such an inspiring structure and the views it commands across Scarborough south bay are well worth a visit at anytime of day.

This is an HDR image to allow colour in the sky and detail in the church.

A minimalist image of a fishing boat in North Bay.

The castle look good in any light!

More images in the North Yorkshire Coast gallery

05 July - Images added from Rudston

I am on call at the local hospital again and so image taking is limited again.

I have managed to add images to the blog entry from Rudston on 20 June and I have added more images to the main website galleries - see latest photos gallery.

The churchyard, Rudston

04 July - Muston

I was in the garden and looked up whilst under a sycamore tree. Never before have I seen the like - millions of greenfly on the underside of the leaves, every leaf. The ash tree and beech next to the sycamore were unaffected. Where are the ladybirds? There seems to be fewer around my locality so far this year.

03 July - Muston moths

Lime-speck pug (Eupithecia centaureata)

Minimum temp 14.3 Centigrade
Moth species count 57
Total moth count 132

Highlights included a lime-speck moth which is new for the garden, as was a clouded silver, a small black arches and the micromoths Cochylis dubitana, Apotamis betuletana and Crambus lacustrata.