Tag Archives: Barlow

Brown and cream moth with a old hags face on each forewing

Mother Shipton moth. Photo: Ann Barlow

Ann found this Mother Shipton moth on 26/05/20 when she visited  DWT’s Corfe Mullen Meadows.and was pleased to find a Small Blue and a Common Blue there also.

This is a day flying species but only in sunshine and when disturbed flies very short distances.  This makes it easier to follow when spotted to get a definitive ID.

With this photo it is easier to see the old hags face with the hooked nose, which gives this moth its name on the right hand forewing.

Peppered Moth Caterpillar, Corfe Mullen

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Green Caterpillar with brown/red spot along its length

Peppered Moth Caterpillar. Photo : Ann Barlow

Green Caterpillar with brown/red dots along its lengthh

Peppered Moth Caterpillar.Photo: Ann Barlow

Ann discovered this Peppered Moth caterpillar on garden roses in Corfe Mullen on 18/10/20. Nigel Spring was able to ID it quickly for her and after reading up she tells us:

Interestingly the write up says that the caterpillar can detect colour through its skin, and so it moulds itself to look very like whichever plant it is feeding on! Very clever.

The adult will be a fairly large striking black and white  moth, on the wing early May – late August but rarely seen by day.

 There are black and intermediate forms, caused by atmospheric pollution .These are generally declining but still frequent in some places.

A chocolate brown and cream butterfly resting on a green leaf

Speckled Wood. Photo: Ann Barlow

Ann sent us this photo of a Speckled Wood with the following comment:

It was nice to see 2 Speckled Woods enjoying the sunshine on the side of the path up to Upton Heath view point today, 14/10/2020 before the showers arrived.

A reddish orange and black butterfly with white markings nectaring on on lilac coloured Buddleia flower

Red Admiral. Photo: Ann Barlow

A chocolate brown and cream coloured butterfly resting on a yellowish leaf

Speckled Wood. Photo: Ann Barlow

Ann has sent us these two photos taken in Corfe Mullen with the following comments:

I was surprised to see in our garden today, 06/10/2020 a Red Admiral and a rather tatty Large White on our Buddleia in the rain. Later, on my walk I saw 3 Speckled Woods as well, very nice for this late in the year.

An orange butterfly with brown and black markings nectaring on a lilac coloured Buddleia flower

Comma. Photo: Ann Barlow

Ann sent in this photo of a fresh-looking Comma taken in her Corfe Mullen garden yesterday, 29/09/2020 adding that she very pleased to see it on her Buddleia which also had visits from a Red Admiral, and a Large White.

A blackish butterfly with red and white markings and a red butterfly with black, blue and white markings both nectaring on a pink Buddleia flower

Red Admiral and Peacock. Photo: Ann Barlow

Ann has sent in this photo taken in her Corfe Mullen garden yesterday, 28/09/2020 telling us:

 A pleasant surprise today was seeing 4 butterflies on one Buddleia at the same time – 2 Large Whites, a Peacock and a Red Admiral (see photo above of two of them).

A brown butterfly with orange markings and white edges to the wings resting on a green leaf

Brown Argus. Photo: Ann Barlow

Ann sent in this photo of a Brown Argus she saw at Badbury Rings on 25/09/2020 telling us:

It was very, very windy, so I wasn’t hopeful of seeing very much wildlife, especially so late in the year. Nevertheless, I was very pleased to see 6 species of butterfly, most at the bottom of the innermost ring, on the south side where it was sheltered, although most looked rather battered and faded.

Two perching orange and brown butterflies with black markings

Small Copper. Photo: Ann Barlow

A brown and orange butterfly resting on the ground

Small Heath. Photo: Ann Barlow

Here are a couple of photos from Ann which she sent in with the following comments:

I have seen more Small Coppers this year than ever before, so I hope it’s a really good year for them – this first photo was taken on my visit to the Orchid Field in Corfe Mullen yesterday, 17/09/2020. The Small Heath which I saw on Lesley’s Heath Field, Corfe Mullen this morning, 18/09/2020 was my first sighting of this species this year.