Proms............ 18-05

An improved catch last night and for the first time in a week, no sign of a biting wind at night. Prominents were the order of the night with three different species caught. Also of note was a Lychnis, a moth that I very seldom catch.

Iron Prominent

Pale Prominent

Common Pug

Lychnis

Waved Umber

974 Argyrotaenia ljungiana

697 Agonopterix arenella

Upper Caldecote Garden- 3 traps- 37 of 18 species-

0697  Agonopterix arenella  1
0808  Platyedra subcinerea  1
0974  Argyrotaenia ljungiana  4
1524  Emmelina monodactyla  3
1724  Red Twin-spot Carpet (Xanthorhoe spadicearia)  3
1728  Garden Carpet (Xanthorhoe fluctuata)  3
1834  Common Pug (Eupithecia vulgata)  3
1906  Brimstone Moth (Opisthograptis luteolata)  3
1936  Waved Umber (Menophra abruptaria)  2
2000  Iron Prominent (Notodonta dromedarius)  1 NFY
2003  Pebble Prominent (Notodonta ziczac)  1
2011  Pale Prominent (Pterostoma palpina)  1 NFY
2092  Shuttle-shaped Dart (Agrotis puta)  5
2173  Lychnis (Hadena bicruris)  1 NFY
2187  Common Quaker (Orthosia cerasi)  1
2190  Hebrew Character (Orthosia gothica)  2
2284x  Grey Dagger / Dark Dagger (Acronicta tridens/psi)  1
2450  Spectacle (Abrostola tripartita)  1

Eye of the storm- 7/8th May

A brief warm interlude in an otherwise cold, wet and windy week allowed me to trap for a rare two nights in a row. Unfortunately this didn't last, so the the lights will be on standby for the near future. This is a selection of the new species over the two nights, others not pictured were Common Carpet and Pale Mottled Willow.

Nut-tree Tussock

NFY- 7th May

 Streamer

Left it late- NFY 7th May

672 Parsnip Moth Depressaria heraclei 

NFY- 7th May

 697 Agonopterix arenella

NFY- 7th May

808 Platyedra subcinerea

This nationally scarce species is a regular sight in the garden- NFY 8th May.

 Pale Tussock

NFY- 8th May

 Waved Umber

NFY- 8th May

 Nut-tree Tussock

This is the first time I have seen the dark form of the species.

More Late Stuff..........

..........And with the Iberian conditions continuing  until the weekend at least, who could bet against more migrants and odd late records turning up?

After other VC30 moth-ers have continued to catch migrants such as Gem and Scarce Bordered Straw, I have kept just one trap on over the last few nights just in case. I have still yet to record a 'blank', which is pretty good considering we are edging towards mid November. 

Only two moths last night- 874 Blastobasis lacticolella and this-

Large Nutmeg

This has to be the latest VC30 record so far this year- In the books, the flight time is June and July!

697 Agonopterix arenella

Result for 08-11-11- 4 of 3 species-

• 0697 Agonopterix arenella 1 
• 2389 Paradrina clavipalpis Pale Mottled Willow 1 
• 2441 Autographa gamma Silver Y 2

998 Epiphyas postvittana Light Brown Apple Moth

Result for 07-11-11- 6 of 6 species-

• 0874 Blastobasis lacticolella 1 
• 0998 Epiphyas postvittana Light Brown Apple Moth 1 
• 1395 Udea ferrugalis Rusty Dot Pearl 1 
• 1795x Epirrita dilutata agg. November Moth agg. 1 
• 2092 Agrotis puta Shuttle-shaped Dart 1 
• 2441 Autographa gamma Silver Y 1

Spring.......06/04

........And after not bothering for a few days due to high winds, it seems that Spring has finally sprung. The recent high temperatures must of helped as I recorded 4 new moths for the year in one night. I logged a temp of 15°C at 8.00pm which is by far the highest so far.

Pebble Prominent

Last year I had to wait until 19th May for this species.

 Brimstone Moth

Another fairly early addition.

 Agonopterix arenella 697

 Argyrotaenia ljungiana 974

The result- 21 of 10 species-

• Common Quaker- 5
• Hebrew Character- 5
• Clouded Drab- 4
• Early Grey
• Brimstone Moth- Year tick
• Pebble Prominent- Year tick
• Emmelina monodactyla
• Agonopterix arenella- Year tick
• Agonopterix heracliana
• Argyrotaenia ljungiana- Year tick

The Hattrick........09/04

Brindled Beauty Streamer Early Thorn Agonopterix arenella

It's been a little while since something new turned up. So I thought I would have a good chance on such a great evening. The omens were good with barely a breath of wind and nice warm, overcast conditions. The photo of the Streamer is terrible! It is actually in mid flight and flew away before I could get another shot! The catch-

1. Clouded Drab- 9
2. Common Quaker- 4
3. Hebrew Character- 3
4. Early Thorn- 2
5. Brindled Beauty- 1 Garden 1st
6. Streamer- 1 Garden 1st
7. Agonopterix arenella- 1 Garden 1st
8. Agonopterix heracliana- 1
9. Emmelina monodactyla- 1