Thursday 28th
The best overnight conditions for a while now with light rain, complete cloud cover and a slightly breezy South-westerly pushed numbers to 463 moths of 72 species. A Shining Marbled was the clear highlight, the 3rd record for the Obs. A good showing all-around by migrants with two Pearly Underwings, three Scarce Bordered Straws and a Dark Sword-grass, plus a Centre-barred Sallow.
Wednesday 27th
A noticeable increase to 340 moths of 57 species. Another Spurge Hawk-moth was a surprise and possibly indicating the species has had a good year over on the Continent. A Four-spotted Footman was only the second in the traps this year, Delicates increased to 16 and there was a single Large Thorns.
Tuesday 26th
Slightly warmer at 13.2°C though the clear nights again dissuaded the moths from going into the trap with 249 moths of 52 species. Despite the Southerly winds, migrants were limited to seven Rusty Dot Pearls. A Short-cloaked Moth was new for year and there were two Beautiful Hook-tips, a fresh O. semirubella and a Garden Tiger.
Monday 27th
The clear nights and cooler weather returned so the catch was much reduced to 212 moths of 41 species. A second generation Yellow Belle stood out among the rest and there was another Scarce Bordered Straw.
Sunday 24th
The hot spells bumped up numbers a little to 347 moths of 70 species in the main trap. A colourful catch with examples of Frosted Orange, Burnished Brass, Dusky Thorns and Angle Shades with a Small Mottled Willow, Scarce Bordered Straw and a Turnip being the sole migrants.
Saturday 23rd
Three traps were set around the Obs and over 1,000 moths were caught as a result. A Convolvulus Hawk-moth and two Old Lady's were the best of the bunch, the former a scarce but regular migrant and the later only rarely gracing the traps.
Friday 22nd
A very chilly night that dipped to 9.7°C surprisingly didn't deter the moths too much and there were 245 moths of 53 species. Another Large Thorns is always nice to see, a Chocolate Tip made a reappearance after some weeks and Small Square-spots have started their second generation with two present. There were some migrants in four Scarce Bordered Straws, six Rusty Dot Pearls and a Rush Veneer.
Thursday 21st
Back to normalcy again with 257 moths of 44 species. There was a lack of clear migration seen in the previous night outside of three Diamondbacks. A very smart L-album Wainscot is presumably the start of its second generation and there was another Rest Harrow.
Wednesday 20th
After Monday's Spurge Hawk-moth it was only fitting that there was a Bedstraw Hawk-moth today! This is the second year in succession it has been recorded from the main trap following a drought of records since 2014. The rest of the trap held 222 moths of 51 species and a notable arrival of other migrants including five Dark-sword Grasses, three Scarce Bordered Straw and singles each of Diamondback and Rusty Dot Pearl.
Tuesday 19th
There was less excitement today with the prevailing North-easterlies really thwarting our efforts despite the high overnight temperatures. There were 150 moths of 38 species, mostly consisting of Setaceous Hebrew Character and Common Wainscot though a Lychnis was a nice surprise. In terms of migrants there were two Turnips and singles of Dark Sword-grass and Scarce Bordered Straw.
Monday 18th
A Spurge Hawk-moth was a very welcome surprise in an extra trap set around Ringing Room, the first to light here since 2018. 374 moths were caught in total with 52 species in the more abundant trap. Another Bordered Straw, two Scarce Bordered Straws and the first Straw Underwing of the year were also present.
Sunday 17th
As Thursdays news has not reached the page yet I will mention the two highlights. A Death's Head Hawk-moth caterpillar found crossing a path and, although not a moth, an Ant-lion. The caterpillar appears to be looking for a pupation place and it is the third year in a row we have found Ant-lion.
Last nights trap was quiet despite a minimum of 16.4°C, due to the stiff easterly breeze. There were 84 moths of 28 species. Both Frosted Orange and a Hedge Rustic were new for the year and there was another Bordered Straw.
Friday 15th
The minimum temperature was 16°C and there were 230 moths of 70 species. Migrants included three Scarce Bordered Straws, a Small Mottled Willow and four Rush Veneers.
Of residents 34 Setaceous Hebrew Characters led the way and five Jersey Tigers was a good count for our site. There was another Rest Harrow and the first Large Thorn of the year.
Thursday 14th
The cloud finally came in to block the moon out, bringing in 542 moths of 83 species. The 2nd record of Euchromius ocellea for the Obs was the obvious highlight though the rest of the trap was surprisingly standard considering the swathes of migrants seen elsewhere in the county. Common Wainscots were still leading the way with 123 present and there was another Small Mottled Willow.
Tuesday 12th
Despite the clear nights not being ideal conditions, it hit 17.1°C overnight which helped boost numbers to 210 moths of 77 species. A Hemp-agrimony Plume was the only addition for the year. Two Maple Prominents and a Peach Blossom were notable for the main trap as was a Rest Harrow and there were migrants in the form of seven Turnips, two Small Mottled Willows, a Rusty Dot Pearl .
The general lack of migrants is a bit of a surprise considering the forecast temperatures and wind. The trap along Sandown Road did not have any migrants but it did have a Golden-rod Pug and the tortrix Lobesia reliquana both of which were recorded for the first time only last year.
There were also two male Gypsy Moths to add to the five at the Observatory. They are wandering around in good numbers.
Saturday 9th
Although the weather is settling and the temperature remained above 10 at 11.8°C it was a disappointing catch of just 94 moths of 45 species. A Waved Black was of much note though as it was only our second ever. There were 12 Rusty-dot Pearls and a Rush Veneer.
Wednesday 5th
Although breezy we have avoided the gales which hit further west and north. Last night was cooler with the temperature down to 9.9°C. The catch was much reduced. White-point was most numerous with 22. There were four Rusty-dot Pearls, a Rush Veneer and a Dark Sword-grass.
Monday 4th
The trap was put out ahead of high winds forecasted for the rest of the week and paid off beautifully as it was a good one! There were 722 moths of 125 species though half were of three species - Common Wainscots were still leading the counts at 118, mirrored by White-points also having a strong 2nd generation as 75 were present and a similar number of the Common Rustic group too. New additions to the year included Small Rufous, two Rosy Waves, two Crescents, a Six-striped Rustic and a Nut-tree Tussock.
Saturday 2nd
Fairly mild conditions with some light overnight rain and a so-and-so temp of 12.5°C but a slight bump in moths to 289 of 58 species. There was a *very* apparent mass emergence of the 2nd generation of Common Wainscot as bang-on 100 were in the trap and two Marbled Greens were new for the year.