Purple and Proud...

Sorry about this late post - even MM gets busy sometimes. I was up at the cottage last weekend for one rain-soaked night. It was very warm and humid, and the rain started just as I fired up the lights...and ceased right at daybreak! However, in spite of this it was remarkably good for moths. It was incredibly uncomfortable. The mosquitos were as fierce as I've ever seen them - at all times! The rain soaked me to the skin. And, during my three hour photo shoot the next morning I had to dodge yet more rain and even greater numbers of the evil blood-suckers...

Was all worth it in the end as the photos below will attest. This is a tiny selection showing some of the highlights.


One moth I had not seen for years was this fine fellow - the Purple Plagodis. It must be very local. I was well pleased with it since it has a relatively short flight period in June and would be easy to miss, as indeed I have for about the last ten years!


One of the reasons for going up was to have a crack at catching a Luna Moth. It was not to be but I did snag this lovely male Io Moth instead. Only the second I've seen up here it was a welcome addition to the haul. Couldn't get the blighter to open his wings and flash his eyes though...


It's always a good night when ya catch this one - the incomparable Harris' Three Spot. All squiggly lines and brown spots this brilliant creature is another low density denizen of the woods - I've never caught more that one per year!


This small noctuid was a complete surprise. It took a little while to identify it, mostly because I wasn't expecting it. It is Elaphria georgei, I'll call it George's Midget for want of a better name. I was unaware it even occured in Ontario but I've since been informed that there may be some records from Algonquin, which is not too far away. Even more surprising was that I caught at least six of them!


One of the best late spring moths is undoubtedly Comstock's Sallow. This one is a bit worn, but when fresh they are indeed lovely and minty! Easy to miss this one if ya don't get out in late May or early June.


Another species I'd not seen for many years and new for the cottage list was this superb moth called The Rosewing. Yet another uncommon species. I like the plush claret-coloured velvet thorax.


Finally a rather ornately patterned noctuid called Aplectoides condita. I had only seen one very worn individual before this so I was well pleased to have a chance to photograph a freshly-plumaged individual.

Other than moths the bird highlight was a fantastic pair of Barred Owls which gave great looks from the car as we drove in - perched right over our heads they were...