Tuesday 31 May 2022

Tau Emperor & other moths at Borrevannet, Vestfold during May 2022

The Tau Emperor Aglia tau is a beautiful moth species which is not particularly common in Norway, although the majority of observations appear to be from the coastline district's of Vestfold & Telemark. The species is regularly caught in moth traps and particularly so in the Horten district, However, during May 2022 I was fortunate to observe several local fast flying daytime individuals, but these were hopelessly impossible to photograph. Then on 24th May I had the opportunity to photograph an individual that had been caught the previous night in a moth trap at Borrevannet, which of course I took advantage of. Also during May, I photographed several other interesting moth species that had been caught in the same moth trap at Borrevannet. The following images are a selection of some of the most interesting species.

Tau Emperor (Naglespinner) Aglia tau - Borrevannet, Vestfold 24th May 2022


Tau Emperor (Naglespinner) Aglia tau - Borrevannet, Vestfold 24th May 2022


Tau Emperor (Naglespinner) Aglia tau - Borrevannet, Vestfold 24th May 2022


Tau Emperor (Naglespinner) Aglia tau - Borrevannet, Vestfold 24th May 2022

Peacock Moth (Gul buemåler) Macaria notata - Borrevannet, Vestfold 24th May 2022


Fox Moth (Bringebærspinner) Macrothylacia rubi - Borrevannet, Vestfold 24th May 2022


Mother Shipton (Grått slåttefly) Euclidia mi - Borrevannet, Vestfold 29th May 2022 


Pale Tussock (Bøkebørstespinner) Calliteara pudibunda - Borrevannet, Vestfold 16th May 2022


Pale Prominent (Nebbspinner) Pterostoma palpina - Borrevannet, Vestfold 16th May 2022


Great Prominent Moth (Oliventannspinner) Peridea anceps - Borrevannet, Vestfold 24th May 2022

Great Prominent Moth (Oliventannspinner) Peridea anceps - Borrevannet, Vestfold 24th May 2022


Buff-tip (Oksehodespinner) Phalera bucephala - Borrevannet, Vestfold 22nd May 2022


Buff-tip (Oksehodespinner) Phalera bucephala - Borrevannet, Vestfold 22nd May 2022


Buff-tip (Oksehodespinner) Phalera bucephala - Borrevannet, Vestfold 22nd May 2022

Friday 20 May 2022

Wood Warbler at Fogdeskogen 2022

Each year an effort has been made to estimate the number of singing male Wood Warblers (Bøksanger) Phylloscopus sibilatrix at Fogdeskogen, Borre in Vestfold. Visiting this beautiful mature woodland reserve during late April and May is a wonderful experience for the singing woodland birds but in particular its population of Wood Warblers. After an exceptionally good year in 2021 when a maximum of 9 singing males were found, 2022 returned to a more normal number of 5 singing males. The number of suitable woodland areas in Vestfold are gradually disappearing and it is a shame to report that there are plans for partial destruction of Fogdeskogen to build a new road through this much unspoilt area. How much this will affect the Wood Warbler population here only time will tell but it can be almost guaranteed that several breeding raptors will probably succumb to the planned disturbance as will the tranquillity of the whole at present, unspoilt woodland. Many local people with an interest for nature, have pointed out that this development plan is totally unnecessary as there are existing alternative roads that serve the route well, but it would seem that the local government and developers have a hidden agenda and that further development of the area is on the cards. It is a real pity that local politicians seem to have little natural history knowledge and see no value in preserving areas of natural beauty for future generations.

Wood Warbler (Bøksanger) Phyloscopus sibilatrix - Fogdeskogen, Borre, Vestfold 11th May 2022

 
Wood Warbler (Bøksanger) Phyloscopus sibilatrix - Fogdeskogen, Borre, Vestfold 16th May 2022


 
Wood Warbler (Bøksanger) Phyloscopus sibilatrix - Fogdeskogen, Borre, Vestfold 20th May 2020


   

Sunday 15 May 2022

Eurasian Treecreeper nest at Borrevannet, Vestfold 14th May 2022

 When we arrived at a Eurasian Treecreeper Certhia familiaris nest site to check the progress of the nestlings, we were surprised to find the two pullus just leaving the nest. The nest had been built behind some loose bark of a dead and rather rotten tree and the youngsters were first observed at the nest entrance while being encouraged by both adults with bills filled of tasty food. Within several minutes, both pullus were seen clinging to the tree trunk before clumsily flying off, one after the other and in the direction of the coaxing adults. As all this happened so quickly after arriving that many photographs were frantically taken without having much time to consider the camera settings, or even time to appreciate this wonderful experience, but the images speak for themselves.


Eurasian Treecreeper nest site behind loose bark in a rotted tree.

     

The nest just visible was lined with many downy feathers.


One of the adult Eurasian Treecreepers with its bill stuffed with food.

The same adult Eurasian Treecreeper with food for coaxing the pullus out of the nest.

It took only several minutes of coaxing with tasty food...... 

......before the first pullus was seen leaving the nest and climbing around the loose bark.

A Eurasian Treecreeper pullus just out of the nest.....

.....which clung on to the tree trunk for several minutes..... 


.....before turning its head 180 degrees and flying off on its first time on the wing.

Thursday 5 May 2022

Eurasian Woodcock - Vestfold, Norway 5/5-22

 On the 5th of May 2022 an Eurasian Woodcock Scolopax rusticola was found while visiting an area known as Merkedammveien in Vestfold. This is often an interesting locality for birds and butterflies; however, the weather was not at its best for the latter and due to very disruptive tree felling which in all reality had destroyed all the most interesting localities for anyone interested in nature. So before giving it a miss this time, the car was stopped for a short break at a regular parking place where there is a small stream, usually hidden in the long vegetation, but now visible due to all the clearance work. In the corner of my eye a slight movement was noticed in the bend of the stream where it ran under and out of sight in the remaining bushes. A quick look through the bins confirmed that it was a Eurasian Woodcock that had ran out of sight up the stream. Waiting patiently with the camera resting on the car door window, the bird eventually reappeared and stood motionless where it had first been noticed. After waiting several minutes, several seconds of call-back from the mobile phone was used which immediately caught the bird's interest. The woodcock walked very cautiously towards the car coming so close it almost filled the camera (full frame) viewfinder allowing a series of photographs and several video sequences to be taken. Eventually the woodcock called and flew off and while opening the car door to see it could be relocated, another woodcock was flushed from the vegetation behind the car which also flew off in the same direction as the first bird.











Great Grey Owl at Larvik, Vestfold on 6th March 2023

A Great Grey Owl Strix nebulosa had been repeatedly reported from an area near Larvik in Vestfold during February, but the exact locality w...