Another good night............

............in the best year I've had so far. 86 species by 22nd April is eight days earlier than my previous best in 2011. The highlight,(for me anyway) was finding not one, but two Least Black Arches. Having only trapped it on one occasion before on 29th April 2010. A full list below-

Least Black Arches

NFY- Two caught on 22nd April

Brindled Beauty

 NFY- 21 April, possible re-trap on 22nd.

 Pale Prominent

NFY- 22nd April

Upper Caldecote Garden- 22/04/2014- 2 traps- 37 of 20 species-

0925  Phtheochroa rugosana  1 NFY
1136  Epinotia immundana  1 NFY
1832  Currant Pug (Eupithecia assimilata)  1
1852  Brindled Pug (Eupithecia abbreviata)  1
1853  Oak-tree Pug (Eupithecia dodoneata)  4
1883  Yellow-barred Brindle (Acasis viretata)  1
1888  Scorched Carpet (Ligdia adustata)  1
1927  Brindled Beauty (Lycia hirtaria)  1
2006  Lesser Swallow Prominent (Pheosia gnoma)  1
2011  Pale Prominent (Pterostoma palpina)  1 NFY
2063  Muslin Moth (Diaphora mendica)  1
2078  Least Black Arches (Nola confusalis)  2 NFY
2092  Shuttle-shaped Dart (Agrotis puta)  6
2154  Cabbage Moth (Mamestra brassicae)  1
2186  Powdered Quaker (Orthosia gracilis)  4
2188  Clouded Drab (Orthosia incerta)  1
2190  Hebrew Character (Orthosia gothica)  6
2289  Knot Grass (Acronicta rumicis)  1 NFY
2423  Oak Nycteoline (Nycteola revayana)  1
2425  Nut-tree Tussock (Colocasia coryli)  1

Quick Update......

Not too much time of late, but have been putting up to 3 traps on in my garden mainly to keep up with Trent. Who is once again building up an early lead. My extra efforts have been rewarded so far though..........

Dotted Chestnut

A 2nd record on 22nd April, after making it's debut last year.

Nut-tree Tussock

NFY, 23rd April

Emperor

A real slice of luck; I found this female in my trap on 24th April. After a few photos it was put in the hedge and later that day- three males turned up and mating took place. So hopefully more next year. I still have a female in pupae that looks as if it will hatch in the next few days. I may take it round Trent's if he's lucky..........

The early bird catches the worm.............25th April.

2nd best is nowhere and this male 'went home alone'.

1054 Acleris cristana

A 2nd record for this striking micro, NFY 24th April

 808 Platyedra subcinerea

NFY 24th April for this locally common annual visitor.

Upper Caldecote Garden 24-04-2013- 2x Twin 15w Actinic/UV, 1x Twin 25w FUL Skinners- 54 of 19 species

0688  Agonopterix heracliana  1

0697  Agonopterix arenella  1 NFY

0808  Platyedra subcinerea  1 NFY

1054  Acleris cristana  1 NFY

1288  Twenty-plume Moth (Alucita hexadactyla)  1 NFY

1524  Emmelina monodactyla  3

1643  Emperor Moth (Saturnia pavonia)  1 NFY

1747  Streamer (Anticlea derivata)  2 NFY

1760  Red-green Carpet (Chloroclysta siterata)  1 NFY

1862  Double-striped Pug (Gymnoscelis rufifasciata)  6

1917  Early Thorn (Selenia dentaria)  2

1927  Brindled Beauty (Lycia hirtaria)  1 NFY

2179  Pine Beauty (Panolis flammea)  1 NFY

2182  Small Quaker (Orthosia cruda)  3

2187  Common Quaker (Orthosia cerasi)  8

2188  Clouded Drab (Orthosia incerta)  7

2190  Hebrew Character (Orthosia gothica)  11

2243  Early Grey (Xylocampa areola)  2

2256  Satellite (Eupsilia transversa)  1

Brindled Beauty

27/04...............

................................and still really poor. This was the only real highlight with just a miserly 4 moths caught-

Brindled Beauty

Others in this otherwise forgettable night- E. monodactyla, Angle Shades and a Hebrew Character. 

May, but in early April.....

The incredible Summer-like weather continues; it feels like Britain has been moved 1000 miles south! This is having an extreme affect on flight times, compared to last year at least. Most of my recent additions are more likely to be encountered in May. Right I'm off to Broom to find a Red-footed Falcon and a Bee-eater!

Waved Umber

 Nut-tree Tussock

 Pale Mottled Willow

 Brindled Pug ab. hirschkei

 Brindled Beauty

 Bee Fly

 Burying Beetle Sp.??

Not sure which species- but I've never seen it before. any ideas?

The result- 23 of 13 species-

• Hebrew Character- 5
• Common Quaker- 4
• White-shouldered House-moth- 3
• Clouded Drab- 2
• Red Chestnut- 1
• Early Thorn- 1
• Waved Umber- 1- Year tick
• Nut-tree Tussock- 1- Year tick
• Pale Mottled Willow- 1- Year tick
• Argyrotaenia ljungiana- 1
• Agonopterix arenella- 1
• Brindled Pug- 1

BB........02/04

Brindled Beauty

I caught 2 of these last year, so another good one to see in 2011.

Result 16 of 7 species-

• Common Quaker- 8
• Hebrew Character- 3
• Clouded Drab- 1
• Red Chestnut- 1
• Powdered Quaker- 1
• Brindled Beauty- 1- Year tick
• A. heracliana- 1

Parsnip?.....18/04

Another Brindled Beauty was the highlight in yet another poor catch, even though variety was good. Plunging temperatures yet again have to be to blame. Thanks to Louie for finding this 1 under a step on the patio!

Brindled Beauty

Parsnip Moth

I believe this to be #672 Parsnip Moth or Depressaria heraclei, it seems to be attracted by ordinary fluorescent light rather than the actinic light of the trap. I did find 1 a couple of nights ago but it disappeared before a photo opportunity......I will try to confirm this with Mr. Manning.

The catch-

1. Hebrew Character- 3
2. Clouded Drab- 2
3. Early Grey
4. Early Thorn
5. Emmelina monodactyla
6. Depressaria heraclei- Garden 1st
7. Brindled Beauty- 2nd record

ID confirmed- thanks David....

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