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 of 13 species. Sallow has been scarce this autumn and so one was of note. Delicates continued with another five.
Friday 27th
Although the minimum was not below 11.1°C it felt colder as the wind moved into the north and heavy showers continued. The moths decided to take a night off and there were just 15 of nine species. The most numerous was Lunar Underwing with four.
We have had the query specimens checked and there are five new species for us. These are Golden-rod Pug, Phyllonorycter ulicicolella, Epermenia falciformis, Cnephasia communana and Lobesia reliquana. Plus there was the first record since 1950 of Gynnidomorpha alismana (recorded then by Chalmers-Hunt).
Thursday 26th
Heavy showers piled through but with a minimum of 12.1°C it was a good night. There were 240 moths of 39 species in the trap. Despite the cooler times setting in there were still plenty of migrants including six Scarce Bordered Straws, three more Palpita vitrealis - what a good year they are having - a Silver Y, a Small Mottled Willow and the first Gem of the year in the main trap. Twenty-two Delicates were nice. Of residents there was the first Mallow, Green-brindled Crescent, and Feathered Ranunculus this year.
Wednesday 25th
Rain, heavy at times, passed through in showery patches. The minimum temperature was the same as last night. There were 183 moths of 27 species. Migrants increased to two Small Mottled Willows, three Scarce Bordered Straws, a Convolvulus Hawkmoth and a Clancy's Rustic. The latter now could be migrant or local. Feathered Brindle was the first for the year.
Tuesday 24th
The unsettled spell continues to build momentum and it was cooler at 11.5°C. There were 105 moths of 18 species. Migrants reduced to a Rush Veneer and a Rusty-dot Pearl until one of the last moths out. It was our first record of the attractive pyralid Euchromius ocellea. Deep-brown Dart was new for the year.
Monday 23rd
This time the heavy showers did arrive but the cloud helped keep it mild at 15.5°C.
There was a good catch of 176 moths of 46 species. Palpita vitrealis increased to 12, plus there were four Small Mottled Willows, eight Rusty-dot Pearls, two Diamondbacks, a Dark Sword-grass, a Silver Y and another Kent Black Arches. Of the residents there was a late Copper Underwing and another Agriphila latistria.
I know it is not a moth but thought these photos of a Bee-wolf which flew into the ringing room were worth adding. The female digs holes and drags paralysed bees into it for their larva.
Sunday 22nd
Although rain was threatened there was only a light sprinkling and the cloud helped keep it warm at 16.5°C. The catch increased to 167 moths of 37 species.
Beaded Chestnut was new for the year and, even better, there was our first record of Caloptilia honoratella. This micro was first recorded in the UK in 2019 and seems to be turning up more regularly at least in the south-east.
Other migrants were an impressive seven Palpita vitrealis, two each of Rush Veneer and Diamondback, six Silver Ys and a Convolvulus Hawkmoth.
Saturday 21st
The wind dropped last night but the sky cleared. The minimum temperature was 15°C. The catch crept back up to 75 moths of 23 species. This included some migrants, with four Small Mottled Willows being notable. There were also four Rush Veneers, three Palpita vitrealis and a Kent Black Arches.
For the first time there were a few wasps in the trap as well.
Friday 20th
The night started very breezy and clear but cloud gathered keeping the temperature above 17.7°C again. The wind and moon were the deciding factors and there were just 22 moths of 15 species. The highlight was another male Four-spotted Footman. The most numerous was Diamondback with four moths there were also two Crocidosema plebejanas.
OL' BLUE LEGS IS BACK!
Thursday 19th
More of the same wind but a bit cooler at 14.2°C. There were 38 moths of 14 species. This included the first Lunar Underwing of the year plus a migrant Small Mottled Willow and Palpita vitrealis.
Wednesday 18th
A stiff ENE wind was counterbalanced by thick cloud covering up a bright moon. The temperature did not fall below 17.8°C. There were 70 moths of which there were 17 each of Square-spot Rustic and Setaceous Hebrew Character. There were some migrants namely two Diamondbacks and a Small Mottled Willow. A very fresh Archer's Dart was a bonus.
Tuesday 17th
The sky cleared and the north-easterly freshened and these are not ideal conditions for moths despite the minimum being 13.7°C. The catch was down to 72 moths but there was a slight increase in variety to 19 species. An early Oak Rustic and an Autumnal Rustic were new for the year. A Hoary Footman and an Oblique-striped were bonuses.
Monday 16th
Some cloud kept the temperature above 13.8°C. It could be the last reasonable night for a few days as a fresh easterly sets in (unless it brings an interesting vagrant) and the bright moon shows.
There were 141 moths of 17 species. This included 58 Large Yellow Underwings, 27 Setaceous Hebrew Characters and 13 Delicates. Palpita vitrealis was the only migrant and Black Rustic was new for the year.
Visitors faired better with two Small Mottled Willows, two Clancy's Rustics and the first Sallow of the autumn. At the weekend they had the first Pink-barred Sallow of the autumn.
Sunday 15th
Although it was calm and clear again it was a bit warmer at 7.2°C. The catch increased to 101 moths of 19 species. Large Yellow Underwing was most numerous with 38. Sadly a Red Underwing was predated outside the trap leaving only a fore and a hind wing.
Saturday 14th
Another clear night with a bit of a breeze at first however this dropped away allowing the temperature down to 3.8°C and a frost to form - the first of the autumn. Despite this the catch crept up to 41 moths of 10 species. Another Convolvulus Hawkmoth was of note.
Friday 13th
Having had the lowest ever August catch we now have the lowest September catch, just 16 moths of seven species. It was not as cool as the previous night with a minimum of 9.2°C but it was clear and the moon is getting brighter. The moths were four Setaceous Hebrew Characters, three each of Snout and Flounced Rustic, two each of Large Yellow Underwing and Delicate plus singles of Bright-line Brown-eye and Rusty-dot Pearl.
Thursday 12th
The minimum continues to drop, last night it went down to 6.2°C when the sky cleared. Not surprisingly the catch fell to 63 moths of 11 species. There were no migrants (even if you include Angle Shades). Delicate continued its healthy showing with another seven.
Wednesday 11th
The wet windy start to the night followed by a clear sky and the temperature dropping to 7.9°C did not make me feel optimistic about the catch. However, as I took the trap in I could see a pair of large black compound eyes staring back at me. There was clearly a Convolvulus Hawkmoth in there. On checking I found three Convolvulus Hawkmoths. In total there were 199 moths of 22 species. Other migrants included a Rush Veneer and a Palpita vitrealis. A count of 18 Angle Shades was notable and apparently there is some thought that some of these are migrants at this time of year.
Tuesday 10th
The weather did not wait for its forecast drop in temperature and last night was the first below 10°C at 9.8°C for some time. There were 174 moths of 31 species. Sixty-six Large Yellow Underwings and 44 Setaceous Hebrew Characters ensured the count was in three figures. The only migrants were a Diamondback and a Silver Y.
Visitors traps faired much better with the highlight being another Clifden Nonpareil plus Gem, Scarce Bordered Straw and Palpita vitrealis.
Monday 9th
The heavy rain caught up with us yesterday but fortunately dropped off after dark. The clearing sky allowing the temperature down to 12.1°C. There were 243 moths of 36 species. Setaceous Hebrew Character dropped below three figures to 92. There were two Diamondbacks, one Pearly Underwing, one Golden Twin-spot, but no Silver Ys.
A Large Wainscot was the first one for the main trap this year.
Sunday 8th
Once last nights well attended moth night was over the trap was back out even though thundery showers were forecast. They never arrived but the cloud kept the temperature above 15.8°C. This did not improve the catch in terms of numbers and there were 320 moths of 40 species. Two Four-spotted Footmen were the highlight along with a Large Thorn. Visitors traps added another Four-spotted Footman plus a Portland Ribbon Wave and the first Large Wainscot of the year.
Saturday 7th
More cloud last night but the rain still kept away and the minimum was 12°C. In preparation for the moth evening two traps were set plus visitors had traps out.
The car park trap had 314 moths of 48 species. This included 104 Setaceous Hebrew Characters, 11 Silver Ys, five Rusty-dot Pearls, four Diamondbacks and singles of Golden Twin-spot and Pearly Underwing.
The Feeders trap 200 moths of 44 species. This included six Diamondbacks, three Rush Veneers and just one Silver Y. A Vapourer was the first to make it into the trap this year.
Of particular note the visitors added Old Lady to the year list plus another Golden Twin-spot. This all made for a successful moth evening.
Friday 6th
Overcast conditions gave a mild night with a minimum of 11.6°C. This led to another very good moth catch. There were 533 moths of 68 species.
The highlight was a Clifden Nonpareil. Other migrants included 13 Silver Ys, seven Diamondbacks, three Dark Sword-grasses, a Rush Veneer and a Scarce Bordered Straw. There has been a steady flow of Red Admirals flying inland all today and there was one in the moth trap last night.
Resident moths of note were a Large Thorn, 17 Delicates (probably a mixture of migrants and locals), and another Agriphila latistria.
Kent Black Arches are resident here but were over by early August and so one last night may well have been a migrant.
Thursday 5th
As the wind picked up and showers set in the temperature stayed above 15.4°C. A catch of 359 moths of 40 species was very respectable. Migrants included four Diamondbacks, two Silver Ys, Convolvulus Hawkmoth and Scarce-bordered Straw. Notable locals included another Bloxworth Snout and a Bulrush Wainscot.
The humid nature of the air was reflected by the continuing occurrence of Great Silver Diving Beetles.
Wednesday 4th
A bit cooler last night as unsettled weather approaches. The minimum was down to 12.9°C. There were 401 moths of 58 species. Setaceous Hebrew Character increased to 115. There were a few migrants namely nine Silver Ys and singles of Rush Veneer, Rusty-dot Pearl and Palpita vitrealis. Amongst residents a Large Thorn and Evergestis limbata were of note
Tuesday 3rd
The warm run continued and the moths continued to come. Last night it was 17.2°C. There were 503 moths of 65 species.
Setaceous Hebrew Character led the way again with 104. Silver Y represented the migrants well with 64. There were also two Scarce Bordered Straws, five Diamondbacks, three Rusty-dot Pearls, two Golden Twin-spots and singles of Rush Veneer and Dark Sword-grass.
Bad news for the local Box bushes, the next generation of Box-tree moth is emerging and there were three last night.
Monday 2nd
Another warm and therefore interesting night, The minimum was 16.3°C and it was humid. There were 458 moths of 72 species. Two Large Thorns were new for the year and Cydia amplana and a Four-spotted Footman were of note. Other migrants included 16 Silver Ys and two each of Palpita vitrealis, Dark Sword-grass, Diamondback and Rusty-dot Pearl.
Sunday 1st
Last night was interesting as the minimum of 18.2°C was only three less than the daytime. This bought 402 moths of 57 species out. Centre-barred Sallow was new for the year. There were some migrants including only the second Convolvulus Hawkmoth of the year. There was also a Scarce Bordered Straw, a Diamondback, a Palpita vitrealis and five Silver Ys.