Early October.........

............and the good weather continued with another good batch of seasonal moths. In fact, I ticked off most of the expected October moths in just 2 nights! But it was never going to last, so after recording over 30 species on 2nd and having a decent night on 3rd. The gravy train suddenly ground to a halt and list totals crashed down to just 11 species on 4th. Good while it lasted though................

Merveille du Jour

Not seen since 2009 and then 2 turn up on 1st October

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Red-line Quaker

465 Plutella porrectella

This is a close relative of the Diamond-back Moth, in fact it's the next number along! Garden 1st, 1st October.

343 Phyllonorycter esperella

This was found on a Hornbeam shrub and is a Garden 1st. Confirmed by D. Manning.

The result 01-10-11- Twin 15w Actinic/UV, Twin 25w FUL Actinic Skinner- 59 of 24 species-

• 0075 Stigmella floslactella 1 Leaf Mine on Hornbeam  
• 0343 Phyllonorycter esperella1 Leaf Mine on Hornbeam Garden 1st 
• 0362 Phyllonorycter acerifoliella 1 Leaf Mine- Field Maple Garden 1st 
• 0464 Plutella xylostella Diamond-back Moth 1 
• 0465 Plutella porrectella 1 Garden 1st 
• 0658 Carcina quercana 1 
• 0998 Epiphyas postvittana Light Brown Apple Moth 1 
• 1728 Xanthorhoe fluctuata Garden Carpet 1 
• 1937 Peribatodes rhomboidaria Willow Beauty 3 
• 2087 Agrotis segetum Turnip Moth 1 
• 2092 Agrotis puta Shuttle-shaped Dart 8 
• 2107 Noctua pronuba Large Yellow Underwing 6 
• 2109 Noctua comes Lesser Yellow Underwing 2 
• 2126 Xestia c-nigrum Setaceous Hebrew Character 2 
• 2231 Aporophyla lutulenta Deep-brown Dart 1 
•  2232 Aporophyla nigra Black Rustic 2 
•  2240 Lithophane leautieri Blair's Shoulder-knot 1 
•  2247 Dichonia aprilina Merveille du Jour 2 NFY 
•  2263 Agrochola lota Red-line Quaker 1 NFY 
•  2267 Agrochola lychnidis Beaded Chestnut 10 
•  2270 Omphaloscelis lunosa Lunar Underwing 5 
•  2273 Xanthia togata Pink-barred Sallow 1 
•  2306 Phlogophora meticulosa Angle Shades 1 
•  2389 Paradrina clavipalpis Pale Mottled Willow 5

 Red-green Carpet

Good to see- I recorded it twice last year.

 Yellow-line Quaker

 Feathered Thorn

The result- 02-10-11- Twin 15w Actinic/UV, Twin 25w FUL Actinic Skinner- 82 of 32 species-

• 0227 Monopis laevigella Skin moth 1 
• 0229 Monopis obviella 2 
• 0658 Carcina quercana 1 
• 0998 Epiphyas postvittana Light Brown Apple Moth 1 
• 1048 Acleris variegana Garden Rose Tortrix 1 
• 1342 Eudonia angustea 1 
• 1415 Orthopygia glaucinalis 1 
• 1425 Galleria mellonella Wax Moth 1 
• 1745 Larentia clavaria Mallow 1 
• 1760 Chloroclysta siterata Red-green Carpet 1 NFY 
• 1769 Thera britannica Spruce Carpet 1 
• 1923 Colotois pennaria Feathered Thorn 1 NFY 
• 1937 Peribatodes rhomboidaria Willow Beauty 2 
• 2026 Orgyia antiqua Vapourer 1 Flying during day. 
• 2064 Phragmatobia fuliginosa Ruby Tiger 1 
• 2087 Agrotis segetum Turnip Moth 1 
• 2092 Agrotis puta Shuttle-shaped Dart 17 
• 2107 Noctua pronuba Large Yellow Underwing 2 
• 2109 Noctua comes Lesser Yellow Underwing 7 
• 2126 Xestia c-nigrum Setaceous Hebrew Character 2 
• 2232 Aporophyla nigra Black Rustic 2 
• 2240 Lithophane leautieri Blair's Shoulder-knot 2 
• 2248 Dryobotodes eremita Brindled Green 1 
• 2263 Agrochola lota Red-line Quaker 2 
• 2264 Agrochola macilenta Yellow-line Quaker 1 NFY 
• 2267 Agrochola lychnidis Beaded Chestnut 13 
• 2270 Omphaloscelis lunosa Lunar Underwing 7 
• 2274 Xanthia icteritia Sallow 1 
• 2297x Amphipyra pyramidea agg. Copper Underwings 1 
• 2306 Phlogophora meticulosa Angle Shades 1 
• 2384 Hoplodrina ambigua Vine's Rustic 2 
• 2389 Paradrina clavipalpis Pale Mottled Willow 3

Quakers...........12/10

An improved night with slightly higher temperatures and less wind. Also another year tick, though I'm starting to run out of 'easy ticks'. Looking at the weather, things are about to get a lot colder; so I'm expecting the trap to be fairly empty by the end of the month.

On the Vismig front, things are picking up. A Merlin through today and yesterday a Ring Ouzel, for some not very exciting. But for inland birders, these are notable records!

Red & Yellow-line Quaker

The 1st time I've ever caught both species on the same night.

Green-brindled Crescent

3rd record this year.

Spruce Carpet

1 of 2 Carpet species on the night.

The Count-

1. Beaded Chestnut- 5- Highest ever count
2. Large Yellow Underwing- 3
3. Willow Beauty- 2
4. Setaceous Hebrew Character- 2
5. Red-line Quaker- 2- Year Tick
6. Spruce Carpet
7. Grey Pine Carpet
8. Yellow-line Quaker
9. Green-brindled Crescent
10. Shuttle-shaped Dart
11. Turnip Moth
12. Pale Mottled Willow
13. Black Rustic
14. November Moth agg.
15. Light Brown Apple Moth

Yellow-line Fever......11/10

Another good night despite a drop in temperature to 7°C.  I've recently repositioned the trap nearer the house and this seems to have helped. But wheres my Merveille du Jour?

Yellow-line Quaker

Another Year Tick.

 Large Wainscot

A total of 6 so far..........

 Beaded Chestnut

The 16th & 17th caught this year.

 Sallow

5th of the year.

 Vine's/Uncertain/Rustic

This was caught on 9th October and I've given up deciding what it is. It seems long passed it's flight season.

It seems that this late flyer is a Vine's Rustic- Thanks to Andy of VC30 Moth Group.

The Count-

1. Willow Beauty- 4
2. November Moth agg.- 2
3. Garden Rose Tortrix- 2
4. Turnip Moth- 2
5. Large Wainscot- 2
6. Beaded Chestnut- 2
7. Yellow-line Quaker- Year Tick
8. Large Yellow Underwing
9. Shuttle-shaped Dart
10. Lunar Underwing
11. Light Brown Apple Moth

Another Quaker.........6/11

Another smaller, more visibly marked Yellow-line Quaker was the highlight, again very little over recent days;

• 4/11- Another blank
• 5/11- November Moth agg. , Feathered Thorn, Silver Y
• 6/11- Yellow-line Quaker
  

Slim Pickings...........

Not a great deal around over recent nights. Not helped by a full moon and clear, cold nights. This Yellow-line Quaker on 1st November was 1 of just 3 moths in 4 nights.

......................................................

31/10 November Moth agg.

1/11 Yellow-line Quaker

2/11 The 1st time the trap and surrounds have been totally empty!

3/11 Pale Mottled Willow- very faded