O for the Wing of a Swallow

Conditions continue to be appalingly cold, but a load of cloud cover last night prompted me to try and trap, but needless to say the rain guard was an essential piece of equipment.  Numbers still ridiculously low for the time of year, but at least I now have something to submit for National Moth Night.  Just like the last trapping, only expected year ticks were achieved.

23rd June:
5 Heart and Dart
4 Peppered Moth (including one near carbonaria)
2 Lobster Moth
2 Green Pug NFY
2 Flame NFY
2 Minor sp.
1 Willow Beauty NFY
1 Pale Prominent
1 Bird's Wing NFY
1 Marbled White-spot
1 Common Marbled Carpet
1 Small Angle Shades
1 Swallow-tailed Moth NFY
1 Snout NFY
1 Large Yellow Underwing
1 Uncertain NFY
1 Buff-tip
1 Buff Ermine

Micros:
1 Small Magpie
1 Celypha lacunana
1 Chrysoteucia culmella
1 Orthotaenia undulana (I'd appreciate a confirmation or otherwise)

Bird's Wing  (one of my favourite moths)



Swallow-tailed Moth

Flame

Green Pug

Willow Beauty

Snout

Orthotaenia undulana (I think)



Like a Phoenix from the fire

It seems the warm weather is finally here, and with a little cloud cover about, I set the trap last night. Numbers were surprisingly down on the last couple of nights, but the quality was pretty good. Best was my first confirmed Phoenix for the garden, although it got away before I got a photo! A few others new for the year in addition, included a fantastic Buff-tip.



1st June:
17 Heart and Dart
4 Dark Arches
3 Minor sp.
2 Treble Brown Spot NFY
1 Buff-tip NFY
1 Treble Lines
1 Mottled Pug NFY
1 Small Seraphim NFY
1 Bird's Wing
1 Broken-barred Carpet NFY
1 Phoenix NFY
1 Ingrailed Clay
1 Vine's Rustic
1 Grey Pug NFY

Treble Brown Spot

Small Seraphim

probable Grey Pug

Bird's Wing

Broken-barred Carpet

Buff-tip

31st May- Dwarfs Alders come before

Normally, I would do a post for the last two nights, but with cloudy skies, and no rain until dawn, I just knew tonight would produce a lot, and I was right. 49 moths of 27 species is the best catch this year, and it had plenty of stunners amongst them.

Not only did I get two more Light Brocade, but I also got the garden ticks of Small White Wave and May Highflyer, as well as a brand new species for me in the shape of two Alder Moths. There was a considerable size difference between the two, which is not particularly obvious in the photo (maybe male and female?). Also a Dwarf Pug which is only the second ever.

31st May (NFY = new for year, NFG = new for garden)

8 Heart and Dart (oh, the fun to come)
5 Treble Lines
4 Shuttle-shaped Dart
3 Common Pug
3 Red Twin-spot Carpet
2 Common Marbled Carpet
2 Light Brocade
2 Alder Moth NFG
2 Brown Silver-line
1 Oak Hoop-tip NFY
1 Small Phoenix
1 Clouded Drab
1 Common Carpet NFY
1 White-spotted Pug
1 Yellow-barred Brindle
1 Orange Footman
1 Small White Wave NFG
1 Poplar Hawk-moth
1 Brimstone
1 Bird's Wing NFY
1 Shears
1 Oak-tree Pug
1 Coxcomb Prominent NFY
1 Scalloped Hazel
1 Heart and Club NFY
1 May Highflyer NFG
1 Dwarf Pug NFY


Small White Wave
Oak Hook-tip

May Highflyer

Dwarf Pug

Coxcomb Prominent

Bird's Wing

Alder Moths