Autumnal Fant-Rustic!

I have hardly trapped at all this autumn. We had a couple of warm nights a fortnight ago, but due to various reasons, I could not trap, which was rather frustrating. I managed to trap once last week, but the result was fairly poor, with just one true autumn species, a Lunar Underwing. However, with the weather taking a turn for the warm, I trapped last night and it was a brilliant haul. I got almost all the autumnal species I expect to get during the period in one go! Best was a brand new species to me, of a gorgeous Autumnal Rustic, which was much smaller than I expected.

September 26th:

12 Large Yellow Underwing

5 Lunar Underwing

3 Snout

3 Common Marbled Carpet

3 Svennson's Copper Underwing

3 Copper Underwing

2 Large Ranunculus NFY

1 Brimstone

1 Square-spot Rustic

1 Grey Pine Carpet

1 Spruce Carpet

1 Oak Nycteoline

1 Setaceous Hebrew Character

1 Pink-barred Sallow NFY

1 Black Rustic NFY

1 Barred Sallow NFY

1 Brindled Green NFY

1 Autumnal Rustic NFG

Pink-barred Sallow

Lunar Underwings (variation)

Large Ranunculus

Brindled Green

Black Rustic

Barred Sallow

Autumnal Rustic

Jersey Mocha- first for Surrey

After a tantalising wait for the results, my mystery Mocha from the garden was finally confirmed this afternoon by the CR, Graham Collins, as the first record for Surrey of Jersey Mocha!

Classed as a rare immigrant at the moment, its certainly one to look out for in the coming years, as it starts to establish itself in Cornwall and the south coast.

I assume word has already been leaked to the media, so expect a full front page article about the sighting in tomorrow's national newspapers ;-)

August catch-up

For the last couple days, all garden moths have been over-shadowed by the appearance of a very interesting looking Mocha in the garden trap back on the 29th August. It shows all the features of the rare immigrant Jersey Mocha, and would be a first record for Surrey. I'm just waiting to send the moth off to Graham Collins, and hopefully it's true identity will be determined very soon so watch this space!

In the meantime, here are a few moths from the second half of August...

Oak Processionary, in better condition than the first a few weeks ago. Caught on 23rd...

Angle-shades, only my second ever...

This stunning Ypsolopha sequella was caught on the 18th...

A tiny micro moth, Stenolechia gemmella, caught on the 21st...

Pewley - the Centre of activity

The last session at Pewley Downs this year happened last night, and conditions were pretty good. Individual numbers were pretty impressive in three traps, with Square-spot Rustic making up the bulk of the moths. Feathered Gothic was also numerous with 20 in my trap alone. Nothing that unusual, but it was nice to get an Orange Swift, and a Centre-barred Sallow. And, it wouldn't be a trip to Pewley without a Lace Border (a small individual of the second generation).

1st September, Pewley Downs:
Large Yellow Underwing
Vine's Rustic
Treble Bar
Purple Bar
Straw Underwing
Feathered Gothic
Square-spot Rustic
Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing
Setaceous Hebrew Character
Green Carpet
Angle Shades
Brimstone
Centre-barred Sallow
White Point
Lime-speck Pug
Willow Beauty
Snout
Shuttle-shaped Dart
LBBYU
Common Marbled Carpet
Riband Wave
Dark Arches
Common Wainscot
Barred Rivulet
Turnip
Six-striped Rustic
Copper Underwing
Common Carpet
Flame Shoulder
Orange Swift
Spectacle
Lace Border

Centre-barred Sallow

Orange Swift