Burnished Brass Moth

Today I found this Burnished Brass Moth in my greenhouse. It is a widespread species, occurring all over the British Isles. The larval foodplant includes nettles.

Oystercatchers in Endon.

For the past few years I have seen Oystercatchers flying along the Endon Valley, perhaps following the route of the Caldon Canal or Endon Brook. I have also seen Oystercatchers at Tittesworth Reservoir (where at least one pair has bred in recent years and this have had produced three young), at Rudyard Lake (where they may also have bred this year), and in winter by a seasonal pool adjacent to the Caldon Canal (near the Churnet Valley Railway station at Cheddleton). Then this morning at about 05:30am 4 or 5 flew along Endon Valley. Perhaps this was a family party stretching their wings? I wonder if the Staffordshire Moorlands Oystercatcher population also visit the shores Stanley pool, and this is the reason I see them flying along the valley?

Two Oystercatchers at the edge of a frozen seasonal pool near Cheddleton February 2013.

First Red Admiral of the year.

I saw this Red Admiral in my garden today. Individuals of this species overwinter in the south of Britain, however the majority of the early summer population are migrants from southern Europe. Once here they breed and produce a further batch of Red Admirals in July. It looks like this one has missed been eaten by a bird - hence the torn wing!

Recent insect sightings in my garden.

Two moths.

Upper side of Buff Ermine- Spilosoma luteum food plant various shrubs and herbs.

Under side of Buff Ermine.

Silver-ground Carpet Xanthorhoe montanata moth in garden - flying early evening. Foodplants: bedstraws and other low-growing herbs.

Various hymenoptera using a newly installed bug hotel which is situated under my kitchen window.

Probably a wasp investigating newly installed bee hotel under my kitchen window - there were two other individuals of the same species around at the same time. 

A Ruby-tailed Wasp also investigating nest holes. This species parasitises mason bees so it will be looking for nests in which it can lay its eggs!

Red Mason Bee Osmia rufa/bicornis capping her nest in drilled hole in log. 

Red Mason Bee gathering mud in my garden to cap nest. 

A little video (not mine) showing this here http://www.bwars.com/index.php?q=bee/megachilidae/osmia-bicornis

Completed Red Mason Bee nest. 

Insects seen along the disused railway this morning.

 Protichneum pisorius a wasp that lay is its eggs in or on various species of hawk moth.

Oedemera lurida a False-Blister Beetle on rose petal.

An, as yet, unidentified moth on Hogweed flowers.

One of the Dance flies a female Empis tessellata. They feed on other invertebrates. 

Cheilosia illustrata a Hoverfly feeding on hogweed growing along disused railway line.

A fly on Goat's Beard.