Moths: March
Tuesday 11th It remained mild with a minimum of 7.8°C. There were 23 moths of seven species. Dotted Border and Oak Beauty were new for the year. The others were 14 Hebrew Characters, two each of March Moth, Common Quaker, and Clouded Drab plus a Common Plume. Monday 10th Although it was warm during the day the night time temperature…
Moths: February
Saturday 22nd Three actinics in The Elms caught only two moths – a Pale Brindled Beauty and a Tortricoides alternella. Sunday 2nd It has just not been suitable for the moth trap to be used until last night when the rain stayed away and the wind dropped. The trap on Sandown Road caught four moths – a Common Quaker and…
Moths: January
Friday 10th Despite the conditions not often being favourable last year we still added three new species of macro and several micros to the list. We are grateful to visitors who take the time to share their records with us. This included this first from Lynnette Nicholson and Mark Golley which was gen. det’d by N. Jones. Thursday 2nd It…
Moths: December
Tuesday 17th The forecast overnight was way off and a clear sky led to the temperature dropping below 2°C and a frost forming. There were no moths in the trap. Monday 16th The promise of a mild, settled, night tempted the trap out. It was worth it despite the fact there were only two moths. One was the first December…
Moths: November
Tuesday 26th After a break for gales, storms, and frost, the trap was back out last night following a mild day. The temperature was not expected to fall to 1.8°C but it did before the sky clouded over and rain arrived (during which time the temperature went back up to 6.8°C). Only one moth, a Feathered Thorn, and two fly…
Moths: October 2024
Thursday 31st Overcast, windless, conditions kept the temperature above 12.7°C and ensured a varied catch. There are rarely big catches at this time of year and 42 moths of 22 species was a fair return. Migrants continue to show up with two Gems, five Rusty-dot Pearls, a Pearly Underwing, a Turnip, and a Scarce Bordered Straw last night. The locals…
Moths: September 2024
Sunday 29th Even cooler last night – just 3.8°C. There were 35 moths of 12 species. Lunar Underwing was most numerous with nine followed by seven Delicates. The only migrant was a Dark Sword-grass and Red-line Quaker was only the second this autumn. Saturday 28th It is definitely autumnal and with a minimum of 5.1°C there were just 64 moths…
Moths: August 2024
Thursday 29th Clear and calm again but this time the temperature stayed above 15°C. This brought about an increase to 408 moths of 71 species. The highlight was another Porter’s Rustic. Other migrants included 11 Silver Ys, two Palpits vitrealis and singles of Dark Sword-grass, Diamondback and Rush Veneer. Twenty-two Delicates may well have been all locals and 102 Setaceous…
Moths: July 2024
Wednesday 31st A warm (17.8°C) and humid night resulted in a decent catch( for this year ) of 412 moths of 106 species. There were a few migrants with 20 Silver Ys, three Dark Sword-grasses and a Diamondback. Ear agg, was new for the year as was a male Gypsy Moth. Five Brown-veined Wainscots were of note. I am still…
Moths: June 2024
Sunday 30th 0.6°C warmer and the catch went up to 127 moths of 46 species. With such low numbers it is no wonder the House Sparrows are struggling to rear chicks. Depite the low number there was a reasonable variety There were four species of footman (Common, Scarce, Rosy and first for the year Pigmy ) and four species of…