Mullein.........16/04

After a couple of cold nights, a slight upturn in temperature encouraged me to stick the lights on. A low of 6°C and a late rising moon leant itself to a little more variety, though numbers were still comparatively low.

Mullein 

NFY

Nut-tree Tussock

A record 4 caught.

Upper Caldecote Garden 16-04-2014 - 23 of 13 species-

0697  Agonopterix arenella  1
0998  Light Brown Apple Moth (Epiphyas postvittana)  1
1852  Brindled Pug (Eupithecia abbreviata)  1
1862  Double-striped Pug (Gymnoscelis rufifasciata)  1
1936  Waved Umber (Menophra abruptaria)  1
2063  Muslin Moth (Diaphora mendica)  2
2187  Common Quaker (Orthosia cerasi)  2
2188  Clouded Drab (Orthosia incerta)  1
2190  Hebrew Character (Orthosia gothica)  6
2221  Mullein (Shargacucullia verbasci)  1 NFY
2243  Early Grey (Xylocampa areola)  1
2306  Angle Shades (Phlogophora meticulosa)  1 NFY
2425  Nut-tree Tussock (Colocasia coryli)  4

Nut-tree Tussock 19-05

This is the first of the melanic form f. melanotica I have recorded this year. In VC30 (Bedfordshire), the most abundant form is f. medionigra. I have yet to record the light form f. avellana.

New Day, Old(new) Camera........

..........and having heard good things about the exceptional performance of the now ageing Nikon Coolpix 4500. When a BNIB one came up for sale for just £25! (thank you Robin!) I had to have it and luckily I got in just before his inbox was deluged with offers to buy.

So after charging the battery, I took a few experimental shots with last nights catch. Although harder to use than modern cameras, I can see with a bit of practice those noisy Lumix close ups could be a thing of the past. OK the screen is small, it's only 4 mega pixel and it takes ages to focus- but what a piece of kit. It's only a mystery why this model wasn't developed any further........

See what you think about my initial efforts.

 List at the bottom of this post-

Yellow-barred Brindle

NFY- 4th May. A little out of focus- but pleased with it as a 1st effort.

Muslin Moth

 Nut-tree Tussock

I'm really please with the definition you can achieve. I've barely cropped this image.

 Powdered Quaker

 Shuttle-shaped Dart

 NFY- 4th May

Also notable was a 2nd female Emperor Moth attracted to light in the early evening. Unfortunately Louie moved it and when we went back for a closer look, it was gone. Hopefully it's in my back garden hedge somewhere and will attract mates later today. Trent has now taken the pupa back to his for another go at assembling- he'll do anything for a garden tick!

Upper Caldecote- 04-05-2013- 3 traps, 25 of 12 species-

1524  Emmelina monodactyla  3

1643  Emperor Moth (Saturnia pavonia)  1

1883  Yellow-barred Brindle (Acasis viretata)  1 NFY

2063  Muslin Moth (Diaphora mendica)  1

2092  Shuttle-shaped Dart (Agrotis puta)  1 NFY

2186  Powdered Quaker (Orthosia gracilis)  2

2187  Common Quaker (Orthosia cerasi)  5

2188  Clouded Drab (Orthosia incerta)  3

2190  Hebrew Character (Orthosia gothica)  4

2243  Early Grey (Xylocampa areola)  1

2306  Angle Shades (Phlogophora meticulosa)  1

2425  Nut-tree Tussock (Colocasia coryli)  2

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

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.

Nuts......10/04

A very poor catch, with just 4 moths caught. It looks like the time of the big 3 Orthosias is coming to an end in this neck of the woods. Just 2 Hebrew Characters another Muslin Moth and this-

Nut-tree Tussock

This is the 3rd record so far of a moth that usually turns up at the end of April. After seeing 2 quite daggy ones, this 1 was really fresh- so warranted a snap or 2.

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

........26/04

Water Carpet Chinese Character Nut-tree Tussock

Things really starting to hot up now; although numbers are low, variety is starting to pick up. Conditions still aren't perfect with a 'big' moon and a temperature dropping to 3°C. The Water Carpet was a real surprise......

1. Hebrew Character- 3
2. Powdered Quaker
3. Chinese Character- Year tick
4. Water Carpet- 1st Ever
5. Double-striped Pug
6. Brindled Pug
7. Nut-tree Tussock- Year tick
8. Common Quaker
9. Shuttle-shaped Dart- Year tick
10. White-shouldered House Moth- Year tick
11. Esperia sulphurella

Nut-tree Tussock

Great name and totally inappropriate-

There's no nut trees within miles of my trap!