NFG!...........

...............the 8th June was certainly a much better night than of late, in spite of the continuous northerly winds and cold nights. New macros in the garden are now becoming few and far between, so to get two in one night is a bit of a rare treat. These are macro numbers 311 and 312 for the garden after Scarce Tissue and what must almost certainly be a Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet earlier this year.

Flame Carpet

I can only assume both of these species reside in an area of woodland in close proximity to the north of my position. At this time of year it is very unusual to have a prolonged spell of northerly winds- this could explain these occurrences.

Pale Oak Beauty 

Shears

A good haul of four, 8th June.

 Spruce Carpet

 Light Brocade

 Tawny Marbled Minor

1st for year, unfortunately chewed by a spider.

 1356 Garden Pebble Evergestis forficalis

 Scoparia sp.

Quite large for a Scoparia. Also fairly pale for S. ambigualis. Could possibly be S. basistrigalis. Kept for further analysis.

Upper Caldecote Garden, 8th June 2013- 3 traps- 45 of 28 species-

0648  White-shouldered House Moth (Endrosis sarcitrella)  2

0998  Light Brown Apple Moth (Epiphyas postvittana)  1

1356  Garden Pebble (Evergestis forficalis)  1 NFY

1722  Flame Carpet (Xanthorhoe designata)  1 NFG

1724  Red Twin-spot Carpet (Xanthorhoe spadicearia)  1

1728  Garden Carpet (Xanthorhoe fluctuata)  1

1764  Common Marbled Carpet (Chloroclysta truncata)  2

1769  Spruce Carpet (Thera britannica)  1 NFY

1819  Mottled Pug (Eupithecia exiguata)  1

1834  Common Pug (Eupithecia vulgata)  1

1906  Brimstone Moth (Opisthograptis luteolata)  1

1937  Willow Beauty (Peribatodes rhomboidaria)  1

1944  Pale Oak Beauty (Hypomecis punctinalis)  1 NFG

1994  Buff-tip (Phalera bucephala)  1

2028  Pale Tussock (Calliteara pudibunda)  1

2060  White Ermine (Spilosoma lubricipeda)  1

2089  Heart and Dart (Agrotis exclamationis)  4

2092  Shuttle-shaped Dart (Agrotis puta)  7

2147  Shears (Hada plebeja)  4

2157  Light Brocade (Lacanobia w-latinum)  1

2278  Poplar Grey (Acronicta megacephala)  1

2284x  Grey Dagger / Dark Dagger (Acronicta tridens/psi)  2

2334  Rustic Shoulder-knot (Apamea sordens)  1

2339  Tawny Marbled Minor (Oligia latruncula)  1 NFY

2384  Vine's Rustic (Hoplodrina ambigua)  3

2389  Pale Mottled Willow (Paradrina clavipalpis)  2

2480  Buttoned Snout (Hypena rostralis)  1

Trying to catch up...........

....................but failing!- it's probably the same for all moth-ers at the moment as we compress a months worth of species into a couple of weeks. As well as some sizeable lists over the passed week or so. I also dumped my cheapo Chinese generator and an MV Skinner in Home Wood over night (28th May), which Trent collected very early this morning. There will be a later post on what was found, including the tricky job of sorting through the micros. This will no doubt be done with the assistance of out very own county recorder, David Manning.

In the meantime, some bedtime reading turned up. I haven't had chance for a good look yet- but I was on the pre- publication list; I think the book officially comes out on 31st May. The artwork is of Richard Lewington's usual high standard.

Anyway, here is a few shots- hastily taken between work, kids football, meetings and all the other s**t I have to do. Incidentally, I've finally put together Garden Year List for 2012- it can be found under 'Lists & Info' in the right-hand side column.

Rustic Shoulder-knot

NFY, 20th May

 Spectacle

NFY, 21st May

 Poplar Grey

NFY, 22nd May

 Foxglove Pug

NFY, 23rd May

 Oak Hook-tip

Last seen in 2010- NFY, 23rd May

 Shears

Seven trapped so far- NFY, 23rd May

 Buttoned Snout

The very first intact specimen- NFY, 23rd May

 White Ermine

NFY, 25th May

 Figure of Eighty

Last seen in 2010- NFY, 25th May

 Orange Footman

Last seen 2010- NFY, 25th May

 Mottled Rustic

NFY, 27th May

 Pine Hawk-moth

Last seen 2010- NFY, 27th May

Gazeboo!

After yesterday's big build up nothing really happened in the gazebo- the best being two Shears and the 3rd Maiden's Blush of the year. But then again, compared to the haul on 19th it was generally not as good a night anyway. Only two new species in the form of a tatty Blood-vein and a garden 1st Plum Tortrix. The gazebo is probably best suited to hot summer nights. But now it's up, it won't hurt to try it again.

Blood-vein

 Shears

A good year for these with 8 so far.

 Iron Prominent

 1082 Plum Tortrix Hedya pruniana

Garden 1st.

The results- 40 of 21 species-

• 2147 Hada plebeja Shears 2
• 1680 Cyclophora punctaria Maiden's Blush 1
• 1682 Timandra comae Blood-vein 1 1st of the year
• 2000 Notodonta dromedarius Iron Prominent 1
• 2092 Agrotis puta Shuttle-shaped Dart 2
• 2333 Apamea anceps Large Nutmeg 9
• 2337x Oligia strigilis agg. Marbled Minor agg. 3
• 2278 Acronicta megacephala Poplar Grey 1
• 1994 Phalera bucephala Buff-tip 1
• 2089 Agrotis exclamationis Heart and Dart 7
• 2384 Hoplodrina ambigua Vine's Rustic 1
• 1474 Ephestia parasitella unicolorella 1
• 0017 Hepialus lupulinus Common Swift 1
• 648 Endrosis sarcitrella White-shouldered House-moth 1
• 2126 Xestia c-nigrum Setaceous Hebrew Character 1
• 2061 Spilosoma luteum Buff Ermine 1
• 2380 Charanyca trigrammica Treble Lines 2
• 2199 Mythimna pallens Common Wainscot 1
• 1834 Eupithecia vulgata Common Pug 1
• 1082 Hedya pruniana Hedya pruniana 1 Garden 1st
• 2107 Noctua pronuba Large Yellow Underwing 1

..........5/5

Things have suddenly started to hot up; after a couple of cold windy nights the moths have upped their game and a whole load of new species have sprung into action.

Vine's Rustic

Totally expected.

 Scorched Carpet

Totally unexpected, rare in my garden and only the second record after a second flight last year.

 Eyed Hawk-moth

What a beauty!

 Setaceous Hebrew Character

As expected slowly replacing the now waning Hebrew Character.

 Large Nutmeg

Will probably reach plague proportions in a few weeks.

 Shears

A good one to get in the garden. Second record.

The results for the day also include some garden sweeping during the late afternoon and evening with the kids on above post- 50 of 26 Species-

• 2092 Agrotis puta Shuttle-shaped Dart 10
• 0227 Monopis laevigella Skin Moth 4
• 0391 Glyphipterix simpliciella Cocksfoot Moth 3 Garden 1st
• 2087 Agrotis segetum Turnip Moth 2
• 0174 Epiblema cynosbatella 2 Garden 1st
• 1819 Eupithecia exiguata Mottled Pug 3
• 2190 Orthosia gothica Hebrew Character 2
• 2089 Agrotis exclamationis Heart and Dart 2
• 1361 Pyrausta aurata 2
• 0648 Endrosis sarcitrella White-shouldered House-moth 2
• 2384 Hoplodrina ambigua Vine's Rustic 1 FFY
• 1888 Ligdia adustata Scorched Carpet 1 FFY
• 0904 Spuleria flavicaput 1 FFY
• 0315 Phyllonorycter harrisella 1 Garden 1st
• 0301-8 Parornix sp. 1 Garden 1st
• 0892 Mompha subbistrigella 1
• 1428 Aphomia sociella Bee Moth 1
• 1906 Opisthograptis luteolata Brimstone Moth 1
• 1834 Eupithecia vulgata Common Pug 1
• 1980 Smerinthus ocellata Eyed Hawk-moth 1 NFY
• 2147 Hada plebeja Shears 1 NFY
• 1524 Emmelina monodactyla 1
• 2126 Xestia c-nigrum Setaceous Hebrew Character 1
• 2333 Apamea anceps Large Nutmeg 1 NFY
• 0974 Argyrotaenia ljungiana 1
• 0247 Tinea trinotella 3  NFY

A few recent highlights.......

Work commitments and a weekend break have kept blogging to a minimum, though the recording of moths has continued up to 27/05. I have included a few of the recent highlights and have now also brought all lists up-to-date. So far this year I have recorded 116 species in the garden, 91 of which are macros.....

ShearsRecorded for the 1st time on 27/05.

Vine's RusticA year tick on 25/05.

Blood-veinA year tick on 25/05.

Light BrocadeA real stunner, trapped for the 1st time ever on 24/05.

Iron ProminentA year tick on 24/05.

CinnabarA year tick on 24/05- 1st in the trap.

Lime HawkmothA 1st ever on 23/05.

Maidens BlushA 1st ever on 23/05.