Some Moths during March

 There were several reasonably mild nights during March, suitable for moth-trapping. Even though cool air from the east sometimes suppressed night-time temperatures, moths that appear at this time of year are a hardy bunch.

Oak Beauty (Biston strataria) (male)

Brindled Beauty (Lycia hirtaria) (male)

Pine Beauty (Panolis flammea)

Yellow Horned (Achlya flavicornis)

Satellite (Eupsilia transversa)

This species has awoken from hibernation.

Small Quaker (Orthosia cruda)

Common Quaker (Orthosia cerasi)

Clouded Drab (Orthosia incerta)

This is a variable species.

Twin-spotted Quaker (Orthosia munda)

Hebrew Character (Orthosia gothica)

Early Grey (Xylocampa areola)

Along the Woodland Edge in March

 There were numerous sunny days during March but often accompanied by a cool easterly breeze. Sunny and sheltered corners in my local woods have seen multiple numbers of butterflies waking from hibernation. The Brimstone males have been too busy to stop for a photograph but the Commas and Peacocks have been more obliging.

Comma (Polygonia c-album)   

Peacock (Aglais io)

Common Frog (Rana temporaria)

Whilst walking along a woodland track, I heard the sound of a croaking frog and on checking the trackside ditch, I found a female spawning in a muddy pool. She was accompanied by a male.

Common Toad (Bufo bufo)

This male was at rest on the trackside verge.

Late Winter Fungi

 During the last week of February, I was still looking for my first butterflies of the year. None were encountered. However, a lovely species of fungus chooses this time of year to provide a splash of colour in the undergrowth.

Scarlet Elf-cup (Sarcoscypha austriaca or S. coccinea)

When you encounter this stunning fungus, you would be forgiven for thinking that it will be easy to identify but it could be one of two near identical species, only separated with any confidence by microscopic examination.

Even more difficult to identify to species level are brown cup fungi. Cup shapes and shades of brown can vary within each species. 

I think this might be Peziza vesiculosa (or other Peziza sp.)

Toad Spectacle

 One of the great natural spectacles that I look forward to every spring is the return of toads to their breeding ponds. One of the best sites that I know is just a ten minute drive from home, where I can rely on watching the antics of at least a hundred toads. At this particular site, the toads arrive and depart in little over a week.

The following images were taken over a couple of days at the height of their activities.

Common Toad (Bufo bufo)

This female had probably been carrying these two males for some time and had not yet reached the millpond in which they breed. She had decided to have a rest in the middle of a footpath. The male in prime position eventually managed to eject the interloper.

These pairs of toads have successfully moved away from the general melee in order to spawn.

These males were basking in the occasional sunshine.

This turmoil of toads is where the main action takes place.  Every male is highly charged and is trying to push the other males away and burrow their way to the female in the centre. She will already have a suitor in prime position and if all goes well, they will manage to get away to spawn. Occasionally, sadly, a female can be accidentally drowned if she cannot extricate herself. I came back the following day and there was no sign of any tragedies having occurred.

Now and then you may witness a strange pairing. In the following image, a male Common Frog (Rana temporaria) is in a mating clasp with a female Common Toad (Bufu bufo). I have seen this behaviour on several occasions over the years. Frogs and Toads share similar habitat requirements but they are not closely related and cannot produce hybrid offspring. Any spawning from this pairing is destined to fail.

Great Diving Beetle (Dytiscus marginalis) (male)

The only insect activity that I saw in the millpond was of this male Great Diving Beetle (D.marginalis). He had been trying to climb up onto a constantly turning piece of twig and eventually rested side-on in the sunshine, giving a view of his yellow underside.

Some Moths during February

 The overnight weather conditions throughout January were not really good enough for moth trapping but there were two or three reasonable nights during February.

Several species of Geometridae moths, that are on the wing during the colder months of the year, have flightless females. Such is the case with the following four species that were attracted to the light during February.

Dotted Border (Agriopis marginaria) (male)

Pale Brindled Beauty (Phigalia pilosaria) (male)

Spring Usher (Agriopis leucophaearia) (male)

Cryptic wing markings provide excellent camouflage when the moth is at rest on tree bark.

March Moth (Alsophila aescularia) (male)