Night of the poisoned Dart 06/05

The best night so far as the 'Spanish Plume' continues. It may be a bit windy, but the hot, humid air is ideal for moths. Temperatures hovered around 15°C all night as the moths kept rolling in. Unfortunately due to early morning birding commitments, I can't patrol all night- like unemployed people can. So it's down to getting up earlier than the Robins and counting whats in the traps. There was also a Brucey Bonus this morning as a Whimbrel flew North over the garden- only my second record in 10 years.......

Shuttle-shaped Dart (deceased)

I know we're all getting sick of 'em- but I don't think it deserves this! Better than getting eaten by a Robin I suppose......

Flame

 Treble Lines

 Grey/Dark Dagger

 Maiden's Blush

 Common Swift

 Lychnis

Hooray! This is new for the garden. I have struggled with these type species. I have still only had one Campion to date too.

Cockchafer

Quite rare these days- so good to see, even if he's missing one antenna.

The results- 72 of 30 species-

• 2092 Agrotis puta Shuttle-shaped Dart 33
• 2333 Apamea anceps Large Nutmeg 7
• 2089 Agrotis exclamationis Heart and Dart 3
• 2087 Agrotis segetum Turnip Moth 3
• 2028 Calliteara pudibunda Pale Tussock 1 NFY
• 2284 Acronicta psi Grey Dagger 1 NFY
• 2063 Diaphora mendica Muslin Moth 1
• 2102 Ochropleura plecta Flame Shoulder 1
• 2173 Hadena bicruris Lychnis 1 Garden 1st
• 1834 Eupithecia vulgata Common Pug 1
• 2384 Hoplodrina ambigua Vine's Rustic 1
• 2003 Notodonta ziczac Pebble Prominent 1
• 1835 Eupithecia tripunctaria White-spotted Pug 1 NFY
• 2389 Paradrina clavipalpis Pale Mottled Willow 1
• 2098 Axylia putris Flame 1 NFY
• 0904 Spuleria flavicaput 1
• 2188 Orthosia incerta Clouded Drab 1
• 1680 Cyclophora punctaria Maiden's Blush 1 NFY
• 1524 Emmelina monodactyla 1
• 0998 Epiphyas postvittana Light Brown Apple Moth 1
• 0648 Endrosis sarcitrella White-shouldered House-moth 1
• 0974 Argyrotaenia ljungiana 1
• 2061 Spilosoma luteum Buff Ermine 1 NFY
• 2380 Charanyca trigrammica Treble Lines 1 NFY
• 0017 Hepialus lupulinus Common Swift 1
• 2190 Orthosia gothica Hebrew Character 1
• 0649 Esperia sulphurella 1
• 1428 Aphomia sociella Bee Moth 1
• 1906 Opisthograptis luteolata Brimstone Moth 1
• 1707 Idaea seriata Small Dusty Wave 1
• 2069 Tyria jacobaeae Cinnabar 1 NFY

Catch up.......30/4,1/5

I didn't trap on the 2nd as temperatures plummeted, I probably won't tonight either as some areas of the region will approach 0°C. Although windy, the 2 days previous were quite good with 11 new species added. Nothing unexpected but nice all the same with another new micro for the garden life list.

Mottled Pug

Caught 30th April- then another 3 1st May

 Heart and Dart

1st of many- caught 30th April.

 Common Swift

This male was also caught 30th April

 Light Brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana 998

Another Year tick- 30th April.

 Adela reaumurella 150

2 females caught- Gaden first 1st May

 Garden Pebble Evergestic forficalis 1356 

1 caught 1st May

 Eudonia angustea 1342

A tatty over wintering job- 1st May

 Light Brocade

Also new for the year- 1st May.

I also recorded Rustic Shoulder-knot and Lime-speck Pug, also 1st May.

A Prominent Display...19/05

A really good night last night, but not as warm as some areas of the country as temperatures still got down below 10°C. For the 1st time this year I reached over 20 species, with a couple of micros yet to be ID'ed. Unlike others (especially Ian G!) no Hawk Moths yet, though I'm extremely happy with 3 Prominent species.......

Pebble Prominent Lesser Swallow Prominent Swallow Prominent Brindled Pug Common Swift- Male

Buff-tip

Rustic Shoulder-knot

I think I would have recorded more if I had visited the traps a few times in the night.........but I was just too tired. I also think just using Actinic will never produce the hauls found by others......

I'll either have to put out more traps or move!

1. SS Dart- 4
2. Flame Shoulder- 4
3. Swallow Prominent
4. Lesser Swallow Prominent
5. Pebble Prominent- Garden 1st
6. Small Waved Umber- Year tick
7. Hebrew Character
8. Treble Lines
9. Pale Tussock
10. Buff-tip- Garden 1st
11. Red Twin-spot Carpet
12. Garden Carpet
13. Common Pug
14. Brindled Pug
15. Heart & Dart
16. Common Swift
17. Emmelina monodactyla- 2
18. White-shouldered House-moth
19. Rustic Shoulder-knot- Garden 1st
20. Micro A?- Poor photo (see above post)- Epinotia immundana
21. Micro B?- flew away prob. Depressaria sp.

Billy Witch.........14/05

Cockchafer Common Swift Grey Pine Carpet

I haven't seen a Cockchafer in years- are they getting rarer? This one was found under the egg boxes along with my 1st ever garden Common Swift. On the outside of the trap was a Grey Pine Carpet and another garden debutant; a White-spotted Pug. Also for the 1st time this year there was a fleeting visit from a Sallow Kitten. The count;

1. Shuttle-shaped Dart- 4
2. Common Quaker
3. Waved Umber
4. Brimstone Moth
5. Grey Pine Carpet- Year tick
6. Common Pug
7. White-spotted Pug- Garden 1st
8. Sallow Kitten- Year tick
9. Common Swift- Garden 1st
10. White-shouldered House-moth
11. Esperia sulpurella