Saturday 31st
A nice, warm, day welcomed people to the first moth evening and they were treated to an excellent variety of moths. The two traps at the Observatory caught 302 moths between them of 66 species. Highlights included ten Small Elephant Hawk-moths, a Cream-spot Tiger and four Diamond-Backs. Clouded Bordered Brindle was new for the year as was Pinion-streaked Snout and Brown Plume. A Striped Hawk-moth from a members trap on Thanet added exoticism.
The next moth evening is on Saturday June 28th.
Friday 30th
It is getting warmer but still dry and windy. The wind reduced the catch last night to 129 moths of 41 species. Water Ermine was in the trap and two Cream-spot Tigers added a definite splash of colour.
In The Elms there was an excellent mix to a range of actinics and LED's. Peach Blossom, Portland Ribbon Wave, May Highflyer, Purple Bar, Scallop Shell, Grey Pug, Treble-bar, Tawny-barred Angle, Barred Red, Maple Prominent, Orange Footman, Blackneck, and Coronet new for the year.
Thursday 29th
The wind fell right away overnight before resuming its insistent nagging during the day. The drop was enough to bring out 261 moths of 74 species. This did include a good variety of micros.
New species for the year included Reddish Light Arches, Clouded Silver, Burnished Brass, Broad-barred White, Cream-bordered Green Pea, Figure of Eighty, Southern Wainscot, Dwarf Cream Wave and, largest of all, a Privet Hawk-moth. There was even some hint of migrants such as Pearly Underwing (they are having a good spring), Silver Y and a Diamondback.
Wednesday 28th
It did rain yesterday but nowhere as strongly as predicted, Maybe the seaweed is so dry it is not responding. The wind reduced overnight and there were there was the best catch so far of 173 moths of 35 species. Elephant Hawk-moth, Snout, Small Clouded Brindle, Hoary Footman, Light Arches, Light Emerald and Middle-barred Minor were all new for the year. This looks promising for Saturdays moth evening.
At one time five Delicates and eight White-points would have been considered migrants but now they are resident as well. A single Diamond-back probably was a migrant.
Tuesday 27th
more wind last night but cloud helped keep the temperature above 13.1°C. The wind was enough to keep the moth count down to 101 of 21 species. The lack of micros reflected the wind strength. A Cream-spot Tiger was a colourful capture.
Monday 26th
It was nice to be back looking at the trap. It was not to the standards of two nights ago because the nagging stiff breeze was back, this time from the north-west. This kept the temperature down around 8.7°C. There were 95 moths of 24 species. Shaded Pug was new for the year. The only possible migrants were three Turnips.
Saturday 24th
A break in the cold with cloudy conditions kept the temperature above 13.5°C. This brought a surge in moths up to 172 of 35 species. Setaceous Hebrew Character (32) and Treble Lines (31) led the way. There was a Pearly Underwing and a Silver Y, probable migrants and from local stock three Cream-spot Tigers. Three Delicates were new for the year but could well be local. Other new species for the year were Dark/Grey Dagger agg., Common Footman, Bordered Sallow and Dark Arches.
Along Sandown Road Scarce Footman and Small China-mark were in a garden.
Friday 23rd
A very chilly night with lows of 3.1°C which certainly put the moths off with 22 moths of 11 species. It was still worthwhile though as its produced our first Lime Hawk-moth of the year and even better a pristine brunnea or brown-form which is scarcely seen at the Obs.
A Small Yellow Underwing was seen around the Dragonfly Pools.
Wednesday 21st
Two traps were sat around Prince's Golf Course as part of our survey work on the site. There was not much of any note in the rough but the Pine Plantation revealed five Sandy Carpets and a Grey Pine Carpet new for the year, as well three Ochreous Pugs (only two previous SBBOT records) and Assara terrebrella (new for SBBOT).
Monday 19th
A reasonable mix of species seeing 69 moths of 27 species in the trap. A Pale Tussock and a Buff-tip were nice to bump into again and a good showing of Treble Lines with 16 present. A Hypochalcia ahenella was a good find being a scarce moth for the Observatory.
Sunday 18th
A much cooler night of 5.7°C but still another good night as the trap had 76 moths of 26 species. Setaceous Hebrew Character was most numerous with 11, followed by eight Flame Shoulders. Two Sharks and four Small Square-spots were added to the year list.
Saturday 17th
Good cloud cover and a very warm overnight temperature of 11°C gave way to our highest haul of the year with 114 moths of 29 species. Pearly Underwing made its first reappearance for some months and a Satin Wave was new for the year.
Friday 16th
A slight drop to 36 moths of 17 species. Light Brocade and Large Yellow Underwing appeared again and there was our first Cnephasia agg.
Thursday 15th
The wind speeds picking up saw moth numbers roughly halved to 39 moths of 23 species though did contain our first Cream-spot Tiger, always great to see. Cinnabar was most numerous with eight.
Wednesday 14th
A total of 67 moths comprising 34 species was very reasonable. Blood-vein, Maiden's Blush, Light Brocade, Pale Mottled Willow, and Gold-spot were new for the year. There was also another Pinion-spotted Pug.
Tuesday 13th
A really good night of 85 moths of 42 species. Small Elephant Hawk-moth and Cinnabar were most numerous in the trap. Small Seraphim, Fox Moth, Common Swift, and Straw Dot added to the year list.
Monday 12th
A busy trap with 59 moths of 34 species. Another Pinion-spotted Pug, a migrant Dark Sword Grass and 2 new for the year with The Flame and a Mottled Rustic.
Silver Y, two Small Yellow Underwings, Moth Shipton, four Lead-coloured Pugs, two Grass Rivulets, 20 Cinnabars, Common Carpet, and 30+ Glyphipteryx fuscoviridella were on the Estate.
Saturday 10th
The wind had finally dropped and numbers went into the double figures again with 28 moths of 20 species. 2 each of Poplar Hawkmoth and Buff-tip never fail to impress but the star moth was a Pine Hawk-moth.
Friday 9th
The wind is dropping very slowly and White and Buff Ermine were new for the year.
Thursday 8th
A Cabbage was new for the year but there were only eight moths in total.
Wednesday 7th
A slight increase in temperature to 8.9°C gave a slight increase to 28 moths of 15 species. Yellow Belle was new for the year a Seraphim was of note and there were a few migrants, namely two Diamondbacks, a Dark Sword-grass and two Turnips.
Tuesday 6th
The north-easterly felt much cooler but the thermometer at ground level only dropped to 8.4°C. The moths were not impressed by the wind and there were just four. A male pale Tussock was new for the year.
Monday 5th
As expected the strong easterly breeze suppressed the temperature and moth activity. The bonus was a few showers - almost unheard of in the last few weeks. The temperature went down to 4.8°C and there were 18 moths of eight species.
White-point was new for the year and there were four Diamondbacks.
Sunday 4th
Just a bit warmer overnight with a minimum of 9.2°C. Garden Carpet and Setaceous Hebrew Character were new for the year. The latter is usually the most frequently encountered species through the year. There were another six Diamondbacks. The wind increased through the day from a cool easterly direction and so I do not hold out a lot of hope for tomorrow night.
Saturday 3rd
The forecast drop in temperature is slowly edging its way towards us but it remained warm during the day The minimum was 7.7°C. There was evidence of migration with three Diamondbacks in the Whitehouse and seven more, plus a Rusty-dot Pearl in the trap. Pebble Hook-tip was new for the year and the Pinion-spotted Pugs continued with another.
Friday 2nd
It remains hot and dry although change is forecast. The heat continued into the night and the minimum was 12.5°C. This meant the catch increased to 77 moths of 40 species.
Clouded Border, Latticed Heath, Sharp-angled Peacock, V-Pug, Elachista argentella and Crocidosema plebejana were all new for the year in the trap.
Cinnabars appear to be having a good start and there were 14 in the trap plus there was another Pinion-spotted Pug.
Thursday 1st
Calm and clear again last night with a mist forming. The heat of the day helped warm up the night. There were 58 moths of 25 species which is much better than the same time last year.
New species continue to emerge this time it was Spectacle, Heart and Dart, Buff-tip, Rustic Shoulder-knot and Marbled Minor agg. . There was also a female Emperor Moth, perhaps she did not pull in any males because she was already laying eggs.