March- so far.........

Well, what a contrast to last year's weather. The start of March really did seem to herald the start of the moffing season. At present I am 7 species in front of this time last year with a few notable absences still to get. I also managed to drop a battery powered trap off in Home Wood on the 14th, unfortunately I picked a less favourable night which is reflected in the list further down the post. Also a list for 16th- the best night of the year so far..........

Oak Beauty

NFY- 6th March, 3 recorded so far

Small Quaker

NFY 6th March

Grey Shoulder-knot

NFY- 3 caught 8th March and another 17th March.

Yellow Horned

NFY- 9th March, 2 caught so far.

Engrailed

NFY- 12th March, not recorded in 2013.

974 Argyrotaenia ljungiana

NFY- 12th March, 2 recorded so far. This is one of the most striking tortrix species and in VC30 at least, one of the commonest.

Home Wood

A little disappointing really. The 14th wasn't great by any means. A strong, cold westerly breeze blowing straight along the woodland rides seemed to have affected the catch.

Shoulder Stripe

Only one caught. Also surprisingly no Dotted Border, a moth that in previous years has been extremely common.

Home Wood- 14-03- Battery powered Actinic/BLB Skinner- 19 of 8 species-

0663  Diurnea fagella  1- NFY

1663  March Moth (Alsophila aescularia)  2

1746  Shoulder Stripe (Anticlea badiata)  1- NFY

1947  Engrailed (Ectropis bistortata)  1

2182  Small Quaker (Orthosia cruda)  6

2188  Clouded Drab (Orthosia incerta)  2

2190  Hebrew Character (Orthosia gothica)  2

2258  Chestnut (Conistra vaccinii)  4

Back in the garden

Twin-spotted Quaker

NFY- 15th March, 2 caught so far

 Early Thorn

NFY- 16th March, 2 records so far.

 Oak Nycteolene

NFY- 16th March. An incredible 3 recorded in one night. Only the 5th, 6th and 7th garden records.

 Pine Beauty

 NFY- 16th March, 2 recorded so far.

Upper Caldecote garden- 16-03-2014- 3 traps- 69 of 13 species

0688  Agonopterix heracliana  1

0998  Light Brown Apple Moth (Epiphyas postvittana)  1- NFY

1524  Emmelina monodactyla  3

1663  March Moth (Alsophila aescularia)  3

1862  Double-striped Pug (Gymnoscelis rufifasciata)  1- NFY

1917  Early Thorn (Selenia dentaria)  1- NFY

2179  Pine Beauty (Panolis flammea)  1- NFY

2187  Common Quaker (Orthosia cerasi)  30

2188  Clouded Drab (Orthosia incerta)  10

2190  Hebrew Character (Orthosia gothica)  11

2243  Early Grey (Xylocampa areola)  3

2258  Chestnut (Conistra vaccinii)  1

2423  Oak Nycteoline (Nycteola revayana)  3- NFY

Completing the Set......

It had to come eventually and 2nd October was the night. Pale-lemon Sallow finally completes the set. Although fairly scarce nationally, this area at least has thrown up quite a few records.



Pale-lemon Sallow

Grey Shoulder-knot

 NFY

 Satellite

Upper Caldecote Garden- 2 traps- 159 of 26 species-

0998  Light Brown Apple Moth (Epiphyas postvittana)  2
1413  Gold Triangle (Hypsopygia costalis)  2
1728  Garden Carpet (Xanthorhoe fluctuata)  1
1745  Mallow (Larentia clavaria)  3
1764  Common Marbled Carpet (Chloroclysta truncata)  2
1937  Willow Beauty (Peribatodes rhomboidaria)  1
2092  Shuttle-shaped Dart (Agrotis puta)  3
2107  Large Yellow Underwing (Noctua pronuba)  22
2109  Lesser Yellow Underwing (Noctua comes)  5
2110  Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing (Noctua fimbriata)  2
2123  Small Square-spot (Diarsia rubi)  1
2126  Setaceous Hebrew Character (Xestia c-nigrum)  63
2134  Square-spot Rustic (Xestia xanthographa)  1
2232  Black Rustic (Aporophyla nigra)  10
2237  Grey Shoulder-knot (Lithophane ornitopus)  2 NFY
2240  Blair's Shoulder-knot (Lithophane leautieri)  12
2256  Satellite (Eupsilia transversa)  1
2259  Dark Chestnut (Conistra ligula)  1
2266  Brown-spot Pinion (Agrochola litura)  1
2267  Beaded Chestnut (Agrochola lychnidis)  7
2270  Lunar Underwing (Omphaloscelis lunosa)  8
2276  Pale-lemon Sallow (Xanthia ocellaris)  1 NFG
2361  Rosy Rustic (Hydraecia micacea)  1
2384  Vine's Rustic (Hoplodrina ambigua)  2
2389  Pale Mottled Willow (Paradrina clavipalpis)  4
2441  Silver Y (Autographa gamma)  1

Bonus Tick........

............Having looked back through my records, I didn't get this when I usually do in Spring.

Grey Shoulder-knot

NFY, 15th October.

This was caught under a 15w BLB bulb at the bottom of the garden, with just a handful of others. Another Deep-brown Dart along with a Large Yellow Underwing, Setaceous Hebrew Character and Blair's Shoulder-knot.

13-10...........

A quiet night, of note was the first of these for the Autumn.

Grey Shoulder-knot

Result- Twin 15w Actinic/UV and Twin 25w FUL Actinic Skinners-22 of 14 species-

• 0229 Monopis obviella 1 
• 0648 Endrosis sarcitrella White-shouldered House-moth 1 
• 1937 Peribatodes rhomboidaria Willow Beauty 2 
• 2092 Agrotis puta Shuttle-shaped Dart 3 
• 2107 Noctua pronuba Large Yellow Underwing 2 
• 2232 Aporophyla nigra Black Rustic 1 
• 2237 Lithophane ornitopus Grey Shoulder-knot 1 
• 2263 Agrochola lota Red-line Quaker 1 
• 2267 Agrochola lychnidis Beaded Chestnut 2 
• 2274 Xanthia icteritia Sallow 1 
• 2375 Rhizedra lutosa Large Wainscot 1 
• 2384 Hoplodrina ambigua Vine's Rustic 1 
• 2389 Paradrina clavipalpis Pale Mottled Willow 4 
• 2441 Autographa gamma Silver Y 1

Another Knot.....16/03

Getting colder again and this weekend looks to be heading back to sub-zero conditions. I may put the trap out again tonight, but that could be it for this week at least. I am also planning a Home Wood trip next week too, weather permitting.

Grey Shoulder-knot

2nd for the campaign.

Results- 13 of 4 species-

• Hebrew Character- 5
• Clouded Drab- 4
• Common Quaker- 3
• Grey Shoulder-knot- 1

Garden catch up...........

Well, hasn't it been tropical lately compared to the bleak Winter of discontent we've all just endured? After a week as busy as this, it reminds me I need to win the lottery so that I can concentrate on important things such as birding and mothing full time! Anyway, I've got round to putting in a few highlights taken from the last 4 nights.

Dotted Border

1st caught 21st Feb- 3 caught so far

Hebrew Character

1st caught 22nd Feb- 10 caught so far.

 Early Grey

1st caught on 24th Feb- 1 caught so far. 

 March Moth

1st caught 24th Feb- 1 caught so far.

 Small Quaker

1st caught 24th Feb- 4 caught so far.

 Oak Beauty

1st caught 25th Feb- 1 caught so far.

 Engrailed spp.

My only Winter/Spring record- caught 25th Feb.

 Grey Shoulder-knot

My only Winter/Spring record- caught 25th Feb.

Other significant counts so far-

• Common Quaker- 38
• A. heracliana- 11
• Dark Chestnut- 4
• Clouded Drab- 2

Grey Day............05/10

A dank, drizzly morning awaited me today and the Vismigging up on The Pinnacle was poor too! (The Lapland Bunting will just have to wait!) On the plus side, a few highlights from last night's trappings- a full count below-

Grey Shoulder-knot

1st of the Autumn, after one at The Lodge in February.

Dark Sword-grass

A 2nd Garden record of this immigrant moth.

Full Count-

1. Willow Beauty- 3
2. Blair's Shoulder-knot- 2
3. Lesser Yellow Underwing- 2
4. Large Yellow Underwing- 2
5. Setaceous Hebrew Character- 2
6. Shuttle-shaped Dart- 2
7. Turnip Moth- 2
8. Light Brown Apple Moth
9. Mallow
10. Deep-brown Dart
11. Dark Sword-grass
12. Rush Veneer
13. Grey Shoulder-knot- Year Tick
14. Barred Sallow
15. Beaded Chestnut

The Lodge.......07/02

Another trip up to The Lodge this Sunday with the kids and a few moths to boot!

• Winter Moth x4
• Pale Brindled Beauty x2- including a monacharia (photo top)
• March Moth (middle)
• Grey Shouder-knot (bottom)
  
  
  

Knot much about.....12/10

I moved the trap down the garden in the hopes of getting more coverage. But I failed to consider the lack of shelter; the result being, the trap was soaked by morning dew. Difficult to know if this made a difference to the haul. But I think I'll just use the more sheltered position near the house again. It was a cold, clear night with only 3 species recorded.

• Grey Shoulder-knot- only the 3rd time noted (photo).
• Setaceous Hebrew Character
• Common Marbled Carpet

Grey Shoulder-knot..........01/10

At last!, another blocker falls.........The fabled Grey, now firmly in my clutches! Other highlights were the 2 Sallows and my highest count of Beaded Chestnuts to date. The quality was again good, but on a clear night amounts were down. 22 of 15 species;

Lunar U -4

Beaded Chestnut -3

SS Dart -3

Willow B

Pale M Willow

C M Carpet

Sallow

Barred Sallow

LYU

Black Rustic

Mallow

Blair's S-k

Grey S-k

Large Wainscot- same one as last night?

Turnip Moth- 1st for over a month (photo right)