A Winter flurry.........18/01

A Really amazing catch considering it is January. After so much cold weather, a sudden temperature rise(6-8°C) and perfect conditions must have done the trick! No less than 3 new ticks for the garden starting with an Early Moth (top) which was found near the trap on some tarpaulin. Next down was 1 of 4 Winter Moth sp. caught, all preferred to settle near the trap rather than in it. Pictured is the lightest and largest of the 4, but to be honest compared to others I've seen they all looked quite light to me?..........any ideas?-

3rd down is only the second Satellite found in the garden, this one was on the side of the conservatory.

2nd from bottom is a very dark Mottled Umber- finally trapped after endless blanks, a welcome garden 1st.

Bottom is another shot of the Dark Chestnut.

On balance, well worth putting out the trap!

N.B. 1 of the Winter Moths (photo above) now confirmed as a 'Northern' and so is the 6th species so far this year and yet another debutant for the garden. Thanks to Andy & Melissa for confirmation.

A good start!...........

A new year and a new moth! This Dark Chestnut is another garden 1st. Having seen the weather forecast, (overcast, mild at 8°C with little wind) it was time to give the trap a whirl for the 1st time this year. Just 90 minutes after the trap went on, in came Mr Chestnut!

Xmas Moths at The Lodge...........Boxing Day

A stroll around The Lodge grounds on Sunday 27th proved good hunting for Winter flying moths. I think we did well to record 3 species, obviously these will be recorded for 26th.

The top photo is an extremely well marked Mottled Umber; our 1st ever!

Middle has to be a Northern Winter Moth, probably the 2nd we've found at The Lodge. This one showing the large, pure white hindwings and light overall colour very well.

The bottom photo is the smaller and darker Winter Moth, the comparison is striking once studied side by side........All in all a very productive visit.

December Heralds a Surprise..........10/12

This Herald was hibernating under a piece of antique furniture which was stored in Blunham and moved to Upper Caldecote. As it is now spending the Winter in a sheltered area by the house, I've shamelessly ticked it!
Otherwise the garden and trap have been empty since 20/11.........
The quest continues for the fabled Mottled Umber.

Emmelina monodactyla..........01/12

This is 1 of 2 of this 'Plume' species found in the house yesterday. Other than that, the trap drought continues in the latest wet and windy weather..........

Where have all the Moths gone?

A 7 day spell without a single moth. So not to be out done, I've given the trap a lick of paint and it'll be back out again tonight............

The Winter Garden.........20/11

Well, we're slowly picking 'em off with the addition of Winter Moth (top) to the garden list. Also a second appearance of a December Moth (above) on the shed door. Finally a Silver Y was found hiding in the trap; quite a good haul for this time of year.
The only other moth recently was the reappearance of the same Scarce Umber on 18/11.

Scarcely anything about.........17/11

..........But this Scarce Umber was consolation for keeping the trap burning through the last week or so. It turned up fairly early in the evening and was gone by morning. Probably due to strong, gusting winds in the latter stages of the night. This was the only moth recorded, in previous nights I've trapped;

• 15/11 November Moth agg., Feathered Thorn
• 16/11 Red-line Quaker
  

(Northern?)Winter at The Lodge........14/11

After no activity what so ever in the Caldecote trap over the last 4 nights, a quick call into The Lodge (Sun 15th) for a walk round the trails was in order. A quick stop around the buildings produced;

• November Moth agg. -5
• Feathered Thorn
• Sprawler
• Northern Winter Moth?- photo

Unfortunately the flash has over exposed the shot and the fine lines across the wings aren't clearly visible! Never mind, maybe next time.

N.B.25/11 Having now caught a Winter Moth (21/11), this specimen seems to be much bigger and paler and has all the hallmarks of a Northern................

Mystery.......?......10/11

The only moth in the trap this morning. Very faded, 19mm from nose to wing tip. It probably looks slightly lighter than the photos suggest. The brick red markings on the wings were probably once much bolder as a lot of it has worn away. Outer edge of wing almost transparent due to wear, with some damage. The most apparent thing to me was the contrast between leg colour (orange brown) to the rest of the body and wings (light straw/yellow).

I.D now confirmed as a 'Brick'. All be it a very tatty one at the end of it's flight season. Thanks to Ian Woiwod and Beds Moth Group.

Urban Sprawl............09/11

This very faded Sprawler is another garden 1st and the only moth in the trap.

December Moth.........8/11

The trap claims another debutant! No wonder he's got his own fur coat on, its a cold night out there. Found in the trap just after 8.00pm and its down to just 6°C already!

T.T.O.S on Tour at The Lodge..........07/11

And a very successful outing it was too! The photo at the top is a November Moth agg. One of 13 found around the buildings.
Next down is a Spruce Carpet found on the main building.

The last 2 photos are of a Sprawler, 1 of 2 found. Louie also found a deceased Yellow-line Quaker (example on previous post). Not a bad haul really as we were only at The Lodge to see the Firecrests!
The garden trap in Upper Caldecote produced just a Silver Y.

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