Sunday 31st
Slightly warmer last night at 13.3°C and still very hot during the day. The catch increased slightly and there was an arrival of some migrants. There were 52 Diamondbacks which is a good catch for the car park trap. Even better there were 25 Small Mottled Willows. There were singles of Rusty-dot Pearl, Bordered Straw, and Pearly Underwing plus six Silver Ys. It was the first night for a while not to have any Cinnabars.
Saturday 30th
Although it was warm and humid a clearer sky reduced the catch There were 174 moths of 66 species in the main trap. Goat Moth was new for the year. Migrants included seven Small Mottled Willows, four Diamondbacks, four Silver Ys, three Dark Sword-grasses and a Rush Veneer.
Friday 29th
A light southerly, near full cloud cover, a touch of humidity and overnight temperatures forecasted for almost 20°C, it was going to be an excellent night. An MV was place in the Whitehouse which performed beautifully to the very high expectations for the night. 609 moths of 107 species were present. Our larger species were well represented with 26 Small Elephant Hawk-moths, 11 Cream-spot Tigers, four Pale Tussocks and another Striped Hawk-moth. Concolorous, Red-necked Footman, Button Snout, Reddish Light Arches, Large Emerald, Cypress Carpet, Silver-ground Carpet and Tawny-barred Angle were a few of the additions to the year. Rest Harrow and two Portland Ribbon Waves were also pleasing.
The main trap held 206 moths of 79 species. There was another Striped Hawk-moth. Pine Carpet and Pine Hawk-moth were new for the year.
Visitors traps added Sand Dart, Portland Ribbon Wave, and Sloe Pug.
Migrants were widespread. The most open trap by the feeders, which is open to the south had 132 Diamondbacks, easily outnumbering the 36 in the car park trap. Small Mottled Willows continue their bid for domination with five in the car park and nine by the Whitehouse.
Away from light traps a pheromone lure attracted three Triaxomera fulvimitrellas. This is the first time we have recorded this species which does not go to light traps.
Thursday 28th
It was quite windy overnight so numbers dropped in the main Car Park trap to 101 moths of 46 species. Interestingly, despite the southerly gales there were few migrants which numbered a single Turnip and two Diamondbacks. Of the residents, Celypha striana and Miller were new for the year however the highlight was another Large Nutmeg!
Wednesday 27th
Trapping on Prince's Beach went well with 42 moths of 12 species including a swathe of coastal specialties in 16 Sand Darts, two Shore Wainscots, and Oxypteryx wilkella.
The main trap was also good with a Striped Hawk-moth the highlight. There were 181 moths of 60 species. Migrants included nine Small Mottled Willows, three Diamondbacks and singles of Dark Sword-grass and Silver Y. Nine Small Elephant Hawk-moths were a healthy count. Bordered Sallow was new for the year and there was another Anerastia lotella.
Striped Hawk-moth head. June 27th 2026 I Hunter
Striped Hawk-moth. May 27th I Hunter
Tuesday 26th
The heat continues. Even so the minimum was down to 11.8°C. The main trap had 185 moths with a good variety of 75 species. Scorched Wing, L-album Wainscot, Portland Ribbon Wave and Small Magpie were new for the year. The first of the next wave of grass moths- a Chrysoteucha culmella, appeared. There eight Diamond-backs, five Small Mottled Willows, and two Silver Ys.
LED traps in the Oasis and Whitehouse produced Delicate, Mullein Wave, Purple Bar and Satin Wave. The first two of one of our local specialities - Silver-barred - appeared. As always there were noticeable differences between traps for instance five Lead-coloured Pugs in the Whitehouse is not notable but they would be at the main trap.
Monday 25th
Another hot day and warm night, this time followed by a bank of mist first thing. The mist dropped the temperature to 11.9°C. There were 128 moths of 45 species in the main trap. Cream-bordered Green Pea and Pinion-streaked Snout were new for the year. Migrants were not as plentiful as hoped for with three Small Mottled Willows, six Diamond-backs, two Silver Ys and a Dark Sword-grass. A Small Yellow Underwing was reported from the Jubilee Field area.
Sunday 24th
Good conditions last night with gentle southerly, high cloud and a minimum of 12.4°C.
There was clearly some immigration with seven Diamond-backs, five Small Mottled Willows and a Dark Sword-grass in the main trap. Visitors did even better with nine Small Mottled Willows and our second ever record of Blair's Mocha. The previous one was on a more typical October date in 2018.
In total there were 154 moths of 46 species in the main trap. The following were new for the year; Small Clouded Brindle, Knot-grass, Lychnis, Smoky Wainscot, Light Brocade, Clouded-bordered Brindle, Middle-barred Minor, Dark Arches and Anerastia lotella.
Three LEDs and an Actinic were deployed around the Estate. An actinic in the Dunes despite running out of battery halfway through the night attracted a Breckland Plume. 40 moths of 21 species were in the Jubilee Field which had a strong showing of micros. Bee Moth, Notocelia trimaculana and Hedya ochroleucana were new here. Two LEDs in the Elms managed 58 moths of 22, a lovely Peach Blossom was the standout among five each of Barred Red and Light Emerald, two Pale Tussocks, and a Poplar Lutestring.
Friday 22nd
Warmer nights are tempting the moths and the moth-ers out. The main trap had 83 moths of 34 species. Cream-spot Tiger and Buff Ermine were new for the year. In migrants there were two Diamondbacks and a Beet Moth.
During the day Cinnabars continue to put in a strong showing and there is the occasional Silver Y.
Thursday 21st
30 moths of 17 species were in an LED trap on Prince's Beach. There were local specialties of White Colon and Bryotropha terella plus a migratory Hoary Footman. 26 moths of 12 were in the Elms which held our first Yellow-barred Brindle, Puss Moth and Alabonia geoffrella of the year. Around the Obs were a good mix of species, though of the 30 species of moths caught, only Hedya nubiferana was new. Amongst the 75 other moths, three Diamondbacks and a Dark Sword-grass were the only migrants.
A Mother Shipton was seen beside the Haven.
Wednesday 20th
Trapping with the University of Kent field course saw two traps placed in the Elms and around HQ. The very strong winds were far from ideal, blowing over the Elms trap during the night though luckily a Drinker and 12 other moths were still present. The Obs trap did well to attract 51 moths of 17 species where Straw Dot was new. Three Turnips were the sole migrants despite the southerlies.
Tuesday 19th
The southerly gales brought the warmth with it and so the overnight temperature didn't dip below 9.7°C. 84 moths of 22 species were in the Car Park trap including our first Poplar Lutestring of the year. It was good for migrants with seven Turnips and another Small Mottled Willow. In the Elms, an LED caught 20 moths of 12 with highlights of Blastobasis lacticolella, Sandy Carpet and a Pale Tussock.
Monday 18th
The trap has been quiet recently so a catch of 40 moths of 19 species made a nice change. A Large Nutmeg was our first record of the species for almost 12 years despite being a common species over much of the country. Light Emerald and Bird's Wing were more regular additions to the year list and two each of Diamondback and Turnip constituted the migrants. In the Oasis, an LED attracted 21 moths of seven species including three Fox Moths.
Friday 15th
Cold, clear and windy, it was a horrible night for trapping. Three Shuttle-shaped Darts and singles of Turnip, Treble Lines and White Ermine were the contents of the HQ trap.
Thursday 14th
Despite the cloud cover, the nights were only slightly warmer at 5.4°C. 13 of 13 were in the car park, a Timothy Tortrix was of note. Two Diamondbacks and a Common Wave were by the Ringing Room.
Wednesday 13th
Not as cold as last night with a balmy (barmy) minimum of 4°C. The car park caught most moths with 34 of 22 species. This included a Dark Sword-grass and two Silver Ys. A trap in the Haven had a Diamondback and new, for the year, a May Highflyer.
The first signs of Ermine webs are spread around the Oasis field. I do not know if the webs are actually effective at protecting the larvae but when the adults emerge soon they will be welcome fodder for fledging birds.
Tuesday 12th
A very cold night getting down to 0.5°C, singles of Chocolate-tip, Heart & Dart, and Treble Lines were the only occupants.
Sunday 10th
It was a very windy night, however overnight temperatures just about remained in double-digits so 26 moths of 16 species found their way into the Car Park trap. Small Seraphim and Poplar Kitten were new for the year and there were singles of Poplar Hawk-moth and Dog's Tooth.
Saturday 9th
It switched around to a north-easterly breeze, despite this it was a much warmer night and moth numbers dropped only slightly to 40 moths of 20 species. Our first Vine's Rustic was present and there were a few migrants in a Silver Y and two Dark Sword-grasses.
Friday 8th
Despite a light southerly wind and decent cloud cover, overnight temperatures dropped substantially to 3.9°C. In anticipation of a warmer night, three traps were set around the Obs and four LEDs were in the Oasis. At the Obs, a Willow Beauty and a Fox Moth were the highlights from 52 moths of 20 species. There were 63 moths of 15 species around the Oasis of which 26 were Green Carpet! Shaded Pug and three more Fox Moths were also of note. Migrants included five Dark Sword-grasses, four Turnips, and three Diamondbacks.
Thursday 7th
Very same-y around the Obs with 22 moths of 12 species. A Dark Sword-grass was the only migrant. An LED in Restharrow Dunes had a lovely male Fox Moth as well as the first White-point of the year. Two each of Spectacle and Green Carpet and singles of White-spotted Pug, Bright-line Brown-eye, and Common Swift were in The Elms.
Four Mother Shiptons, three Thisanotia chrysonuchella, and eight Glyphipteryx fuscoviridella were out around the Oasis.
Wednesday 6th
A similar performance today with 23 moths of 15 species around the Obs where Notocelia cynosbatella was the only addition. Five LEDs were spread around the Estate - one in Little Elms and two each in Middle Field and Jubilee Field. The Little Elms saw a small arrival of Turnips with five present plus two Dark Sword-grasses. Another Turnip and a Silver Y were in Jubilee Field with Middle Field adding one more Turnip. Overall there were 37 moths of 18 species across the three sites
Tuesday 5th
There was a reduction in numbers to 28 moths of 16 species as the wind switched to a north-easterly again. There were no migrants but the first examples of Yellow Belle, Dog's Tooth, and Bryotropha terrella for the year.
Monday 4th
A slight increase to 76 moths of 27 species. A good night for migrants despite the northerly winds with our first Turnip, a Small Mottled Willow, three Dark-sword Grasses, and six Diamondbacks. Of the residents, Setaceous Hebrew Character was new.
Sunday 3rd
The overnight rain amounted to a couple of short bursts before returning around first light. The cloud kept the temperature just above 10°C, so not as warm as hoped for. There were still 70 moths of 30 species though. Migrants continued with 24 Diamondbacks, three each of Dark Sword-grass and Small Mottled Willow and singles of Rush Veneer and Silver Y.
Of note was our first adult example of Chrysoethia sexgutella (Orange-spotted Miner) - we have had some leaf mines of this recorded in the past.
Saturday 2nd
At long last, the persistent northerly winds switched around to a southerly with it bringing some cloud cover and a humid feel to the air. A perfect set of conditions, producing a bumper catch of 144 moths of 48 species of which 20 were new for the year. Six Small Elephant Hawk-moths, a lovely brunnea-type Lime Hawk-moth for the second year running, and our first Chamomile Shark for a few years were the highlights. It was a great night for migrants, Diamondback numbers reached 40, there were eight each of Silver Y and Angle Shades and our first three Small Mottled Willows.
