Jury still out on the sawfly. In the meantime, here's a photo of the odd-looking insect in question.

Some kind of lift-off in the moth world last night (at last), with over 20 species seen including a few micros. Highlights were a garden-first Purple-bar, a 2nd only Grass rivulet, and a Pale Tussock was the first for eight years. Other included peppered moth, ingrailed clay and scalloped hazel. It was so atmospheric with no plane or train noise (or drunks); a tawny owl called quite close by, and what I think was a oystercatcher went over (I was stood on a chair at the time trying to reach the purple-bar, so it did not register properly). Great stuff.

Picture of Grass rivulet:

Last evening had the rare event of two mammals using my garden simutaneously. Whilst a wood mouse was availing itself of seed spilt from the feeder, a bat was buzzing it overhead.

Andy Bissitt wrote:

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A very mixed bag of insects today, but nothing too attention grabbing (at least until I've studied the photos). Most notable were first small copper of the season and the first azure damselflies. Also a couple of large red damsels, red & black froghoppers, and a few green longhorn moths. Perhaps a bit early yet, but had to act quickly before the return of cold weather again. It's going to be one of those Summers.

P.S. One of photos seems to be of a mottled umber larva. Always an event seeing any moth larva.

-- Edited by Andy Bissitt on Wednesday 6th of May 2020 08:38:11 PM

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 I've just been informed that another moth that I photographed yesterday is the 'very local' grapholita lunulana. Finding something 'of meaning' always makes the effort (and aches) more worthwhile.

Amazing! I had the moth trap running for over 8 hours on Thursday night, and caught precisely nothing. Sat here at my computer now, and a flame carpet flies in through the window!! That's 2 new species for the year caught whilst not trying (or wasting electricity).

Romiley golf course had the following butterflies this p.m.

c20 orange tip, 5 peacock, 2 (minimum) of each of small and green-veined whites, 1 brimstone, 1 speckled wood. Not a lot else (a mining-bee parasite which I need to check), but did manage to see a bank vole sunning itself in a small gap in the weeds and brambles which is a not very common occurrence.

Another early first with a debut for speckled wood this afternoon on the first field off the estate. Also my first large white flew through (easy to get size difference as a small tortoiseshell chased it), and the first female orange tip was on Hilltop nearby. Also a grey-haired mining bee was on a dandelion.

Just 20 minutes after I had finished gardening at 4.40 p.m., I spotted a wood mouse scuttling about in an area I have fenced off to keep the larger birds from the seeds and stuff. It then shuttled back and forth between there and our next door neighbour's garden where it entered an upturned plastic container/bin on several occasions. Not a very usual daytime observation!!

To make it appear like my daily exercise, I walked from home to Romiley Golf course this p.m. I usually drive these days to protect the old bones. Really worth it, with at least 35 individual butterflies seen. Best were 2 brimstones; a female on Romiley common (very pale), and a full-on yellow male on the golf course. At least 19 peacocks were seen in all. Other things were years first common wasps and an as yet unknown shield bug. Back home, a pipistrelle type bat was hawking over my head as I set the moth trap up this evening. It's all go - for now!

Three species of butterfly around the golf course area today: 2 peacock, 1 each comma & small tortoiseshell. At least 4 species of bumblebee, including a few tree and large red-tails. All spirit lifters.

Fleeting glimpses of first butterfly of year in garden at c noon. Prob small tortoiseshell. Then it began to rain. Never mind, things are looking up.

Still seeing red admirals close to home. One this morning flying around neighbour's garden. Hoping they might make it into November, we can do with all the cheering up we can get in these bleak months.

Was very surprised to find my garden's insect of the year this late in the year this afternoon when, whilst looking at the red admirals and comma on the buddleia, a hummingbird hawk-moth flew in to join them! Nearly had an unhappy ending as after a minute or so, the resident robin spotted it and shot out of nowhere straight for it. Thankfully, I think it was distracted by the red admiral taking off from the same sprig of flowers, and the hawk-moth got away. Excellent action.

Got to grab any possible last chance for butterflies, so at the Golf Course this afternoon I found the following:- 2 red admirals, 11 comma, 4 small tortoiseshell, 1 small copper, 3 speckled wood and 2 peacock. Also 6 silver 'Y' moths and 5 common darters. 

In addition to these, I had 3 painted ladies in my own garden, as well as 3 red admiral and 2 small tortoiseshell. Looks like the sun is being turned off tomorrow for a while.

Birds being thin on the ground (in the air; everywhere), a bit of sunshine is welcomed to keep some insect interest going. Golf course area this afternoon:

8 comma, 7 speckled wood, 7 painted lady, 2 red admiral, 3 small tortoiseshell, 1 large white, 1 peacock. 5 silver 'Y' moths. 9 common darter, including a pair ovipositing, and 2 male Southern hawkers. Was surprised to see the escaped Harris's hawk is still around.

Romiley Golf Course area Saturday p.m. 

12 species of butterfly seen included part of the painted lady invasion (37), as well as 35 gatekeeper and 3 small copper. Highlight by far though was a new site record of Wall. Not seen one around Romiley for 30+ years I'd say. Was very fresh so had not come far. I wonder where from?

Just after lunch today, a vapourer moth landed on my living room window. Very unusual to see one at rest (and be able to catch it and take a couple of record shots).

Best day of Summer yet for garden butterflies (by some way), with 5 species: small and green-veined whites, gatekeeper, small tortoiseshell and comma.

1st local gatekeeper on the golf course this p.m.

I have found the butterflies, as usual at the best local site, Romiley golf course! Top three were: ringlet c120, small skipper c75, Meadow brown 55. Other species inc. red admiral (4), comma (3) and painted lady (3). ALso c20 5-spot burnets. I'm not a plant person really, but I did notice an orchid which I would say was a 'spotted' of some kind. Nearest I've ever seen one to home I'm sure.

A quick 45 minutes round fields close to home this p.m. revealed a paucity of butterflies with only 5 seen. The quality was pretty good however, with singles of large skipper, painted lady and red admiral, the latter being my first one since February! For the record I also saw two speckled woods.

Romiley Golf Course area. p.m.

All eyes to the ground on a day like today (sorry birds), and managed an insect first which has somehow evaded me in the past. Gorse shieldbugs were everywhere, c30 counted but probably more. Also seen 3 species of ladybird (7-spot c25, 1 cream spot and c5 harlequin), drone fly, tawny mining bee, willow flea beetle (also new to me I think), and a few others which need research. Not many butterflies: 3-4 peacocks and 1 comma.

Amazingly managed to wrap up all 5 overwintering species before the end of February with Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell, RED ADMIRAL and 2 commas all seen on Werneth Low this p.m. (from the Greave end up to Hyde Cricket Club). Also a colony of about 30 mining bees was in full swing in the roadside bank, species yet to be checked but obviously an earlier than usual one. Don't expect to see a different species of butterfly now for at least a month so some good birds better turn up!

At least 3 species of bumble bee, 2 of hoverfly and two 7-spot ladybirds on the estate this afternoon. Seems ridiculous when just a few meters away there are redpolls and a brambling in my garden!

Many honey bees both yesterday and today, but joined today by a white-tailed bumble bee and what was probably (haven't checked photo yet) a common wasp (a big one!).