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 sp. ventured out. Considering some of the migrants around after the southerly this was disappointing.
Saturday 16th
Clear spells allowed the very bright moon to shine through and the temperature down to a frosty 1.8°C. Unsurprisingly there was just one moth - a Mottled Umber.
Friday 15th
A cloudier night which masked the bright moon at times and kept the temperature above 9.0°C. There were ten moths of six species - five November Moth aggs., and singles of Feathered Thorn, Mottled Umber, Red-line Quaker, Silver Y and Tachystola acroxantha. The Silver Y was probably local and the Tachystola definitely was as the species first came here from Australia.
Thursday 14th
The temperature was down to 5.2°C and there was only one moth a late in the year Beaded Chestnut.
Wednesday 13th
After yesterdays intense squalls it took a while for the weather to settle down but the temperature kept above 8.2°C. There were just seven moths of five species - three Angle Shades, and singles of Gem, Rusty-dot Pearl, November agg. and Red-line Quaker. The migrants could be some of the last for a while as the forecast is for colder weather.
Monday 11th
Although it started overcast the sky cleared but the minimum was 8.2°C. There continues to be a nice variety of moths in the trap although Rusty-dot Pearl remains most frequent with ten. The other migrants were two Palpita vitrealis and a Turnip. The relatively mild weather means other species are keeping going including singles of Clancy's Rustic, White-point, Setaceous Hebrew Character and Lunar Underwing.
The main trap occupants were hundreds of 'Yellow' Dung Flies.
Saturday 9th
Another fall in the minimum to 7.9°C and the layer of cloud persists. The catch reduced to ten moths of six species - Rusty-dot Pearl (4), Silver Y and Turnip representing the migrants and November Moth agg. (2), Lunar Underwing and Crosidema plebjana the residents.
Friday 8th
With a hint of east in the air the temperature dropped into single figures at 9.6°C. the catch dropped markedly to just 16 moths of six species. Rusty-dot Pearl remained most numerous with six. A fresh looking White-point was a bit of a surprise.
Thursday 7th
A slight increase in the minimum temperature to 11.3°C was enough to increase the catch to 102 moths of 24 species. It is not often we get three figure counts in November. Migrants continued to show strongly with five Gems of note. The others were 41 Rusty-dot Pearls, two each of Rush Veneer, Palpita vitrealis, Dark Sword-grass, Silver Y, and singles of Scarce Bordered Straw and Turnip.
Wednesday 6th
Although the conditions are not changing there is a bit of variety in the moths. There were 68 of 18 species last night. November Moth aggs. continue to dominate with 27 followed by 13 Rusty-dot Pearls. Other local species included Delicate (1), Oak Rustic (1), Cypress Carpet (1) and Radford's Flame Shoulder (1). Migrants were Gem (2), Turnip (1) and Diamondback (1). The Diamondbacks are a bit larger, darker and with less distinctive diamonds than the typical summer ones.
Tuesday 5th
Right now is the perfect time to look for early stages of micromoths. A walk on New Downs last week produced good numbers of Stigmella incognitella and Ectoedemia erythrogenella but also Coleophora salinella on Sea Purslane, new for Sandwich Bay.
The overcast conditions continue to allow moth activity and the temperature just keeps above 10, last night the minimum was 10.8°C. There were 64 moths of 14 species. Rusty-dot Pearl was top with 22 closely followed by 20 November Moth aggs. Migrants continue to show what resilient creatures they are with two Palpita vitrealis and singles of Pearly Underwing, Rush Veneer and Diamondback.
Monday 4th
The same conditions but a bit cooler at 10.9°C. The catch went up to 47 moths of 15 species. Yellow-line Quaker was new for the year. The migrants were 21 Rusty-dot Pearls, two Diamondbacks, and singles of Dark Sword-grass, Scarce Bordered Straw and Rush Veneer. All these will keep going, but slowly dwindle, until the frost arrives.
Sunday 3rd
Slightly warmer at 12.3°C but the catch went down to 25 moths of 13 species. There were two Rusty-dot Pearls, a Rush Veneer and a Diamondback. A very late Rosy Rustic was of note.
Great Silver Diving Beetles continue to bumble around as well.
Saturday 2nd
Low cloud and gentle breeze at the most helps keep the temperature mostly in double figures. Last night the minimum was 11.5°C. There were 64 moths of 23 species. The highlight was the second ever record of The Streak. Migrants included a Diamondback, two Silver Ys and three Rusty-dot Pearls. Oak Rustic and Radford's Flame Shoulder were of note and there was a sudden resurgence of Beaded Chestnuts with seven counted.
Friday 1st
The sky cleared allowing the temperature down to 8.2°C but it remained fairly calm. There were 40 moths of 14 species. Rusty-dot Pearl increased to 14 and other migrants were a Diamondback and a Palpita vitrealis. I had time to check a few November Moth aggs and two were definitely November Moth. We will record Pale November Moth one day...