Monday 29 April 2013

Still very little to report…

I was in Lethbridge over the weekend and due winds which gusted to more than 100km I was only able to put the moth trap out on Friday night.  I did get 11 Speckled Green Fruitworm (Orthosia hibisci) moths but nothing else.  Back in Calgary there was also 1 Orthosia hibisci in the trap last night.
 
Speckled Green Fruitworm (Orthosia hibisci)
 

Wednesday 24 April 2013

Finally, a new moth…

I had my second backyard moth of the year yesterday.  It was another (or perhaps the same) Dot-and-Dash Swordgrass (Xylena curvimacula).  However, while searching for wildlife to photograph at Glenmore reservoir I found a moth that I have not seen before.  It was “The Infant” Archiearis infans.  Apparently, this is a non-hibernating day flying moth that is often seen before the snow has completely melted.  Unfortunately, the image quality is not great as I did not have a macro lens with me (should have known better) so I had to take the photographs with my 100-400 telephoto zoom…  Either way, great to finally get a second moth species for the year!

While at Glenmore I also had some very close views of a Red-breasted Merganser.

IMG_1273   IMG_1420A

IMG_1113sigsmall

Sunday 7 April 2013

Some other wildlife…

The weather remains poor with freezing drizzle this morning so I’ve been reduced to going through some of last years non moth photographs.  Perhaps not a bad thing as I found these previously overlooked images…

Spruce Grouse - female

Variegated Meadowhawk (Sympetrum corruptum)

Saturday 6 April 2013

Moth Photographs

Unfortunately, poor weather has stopped me from putting the moth trap out since my first macro moth of the year on the 1st of April.

I have just completed updating the moth photographs on my flickr website which is located at:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ipmcanada/sets/72157625839443694/

This set consists of 550 photographs covering approximately 303 species of Alberta moths.  With regards to the image quality, I learn a little each year and I am hoping to produce some improved photographs in 2013.  Weather permitting of course Smile

Monday 1 April 2013

First backyard Macro Moth of 2013

Finally, we’ve had a few evenings where the temperature has remained above freezing.  It’s still dipping below freezing after a few hours but it was warm enough for a single macro moth to find its way into my light trap.  This is the same species reported as an early moth by several others in Alberta.

Dot-and-Dash Swordgrass (Xylena curvimacula)

Dot-and-Dash Swordgrass (Xylena curvimacula)