The Macro Moths of Berrylands Railway Station (and other stories): June 2014

A greenhorn lepidopterist at large in suburban London

Berrylands Station is on the London Waterloo to Hampton Court line between New Malden and Surbiton, a 25 minute train journey from central London. I became aware of its potential for attracting moths in late August 2008. The station is situated on an embankment with the Hogsmill Sewage Farm directly to the north and a typical mix of suburban houses and gardens to the south. The elevated aspect of the station and the comparative lack of domestic and street lighting in the immediate area mean that it acts like a huge moth trap, there are white-painted covered waiting areas and staircases on both platforms, these are illuminated at night and most of the moths are found in these areas. What follows is my attempt as a novice lepidopterist to record and catalogue all the macro moths I encounter on my daily commute to work along with the occasional "awayday" in search of other British lepidoptera .

Saturday, June 28, 2014

Local patch butterflies

A couple of images from my local birding patch, East India Dock Basin, the male Common Blue was my first for the year and the Speckled Wood took some time out from beating up its neighbours to pose for me.

Common Blue, East India Dock Basin 26/05/2014

Speckled Wood, East India Dock Basin 26/05/2014