Coppers, Horses, and Pines

The night of the 8th was not particularly good in the garden, so I had to put it into the same post as last nights, although that really deserves its own!

.

5 nights ago, the only thing of any note in a catch of 70 moths of 23 species was the first Copper Underwing of the year. Looking at the features that once identified them, it looked like a Svennson's.

.

8th July:

10 Flame

9 Heart and Dart

9 Riband Wave

6 Dot Moth

6 Buff Arches

6 Dunbar

4 Uncertain

3 Dark Arches

2 Rustic

2 Coronet

2 Double Square-spot

2 Willow Beauty

1 Buff-tip

1 Scorched Wing

1 Elephant Hawk-moth

1 Beautiful Hook-tip

1 Clay

1 Foxglove Pug

1 Common White Wave

1 Clouded Border

1 Sycamore

1 Common Emerald

1 Svennson's Copper Underwing NFY

.

Clouded Border

Svensson's Copper Underwing

Last night however, was miles better, with the second highest numbers of individuals ever (92) and good variety too (36 species), thanks to cloudy conditions, and a heavy shower. The only garden tick was a Pine Hawk-moth, but unfortunately, the rain had got to it and was worse for wear. Two new for the year were Rosy Footman, and a Horse Chestnut - the only officially notable species on my garden list. I have also started to notice micros a little more, and there were some nice ones in the trap, including the migrant Diamond-back Moth Plutella xylostella, but it got away before I could get a shot.

.

12th July:

19 Flame

9 Dark Arches

8 Riband Wave

5 Uncertain

5 Dunbar

4 Heart and Dart

3 Coronet

3 Rustic

2 Double Square-spot

2 Peppered Moth

2 Green Pug

2 Mottled Beauty

2 Dot Moth

2 Large Yellow Underwing

2 Dagger sp.

2 V-Pug

1 Willow Beauty

1 Minor sp.

1 Buff Arches

1 Flame Shoulder

1 Small Seraphim

1 Light Emerald

1 Elephant Hawk-moth

1 Common Lutestring

1 Pine Hawk-moth NFG

1 Beautiful Hook-tip

1 Barred Red

1 Rosy Footman NFY

1 Clay

1 Double-striped Pug

1 Horse Chestnut NFY

1 Minor Shoulder-knot

1 Pebble Hook-tip

1 Lobster Moth

1 Poplar Grey

1 Miller

.

Garden Year List: 150

.

Argyresthia brockeella (Thanks to Ken for the ID)

Acleris forsskaleana

Hedya salicella

Horse Chestnut
Rosy Footman
Pine Hawk-moth (view 1)
Pine Hawk-moth (view 2)

This and that

Since a malware attack two weeks ago, I've been having all sorts of probs with my computer. I had to reinstall Windows XP. Now my new firewall won't let me view photos on this site. This is a rambling explanation of why I haven't posted recently.
But I've disabled the firewall in order to post a few photos of recent sightings. I have been trying to photo a few micros as this is the last year of fieldwork for the Surrey micro atlas. They are tricky to photograph but some of the larger ones (c 1cm in length) are quite attractive in close-up. Of course, plenty more are just dull brown things which you wouldn't look twice at. So here are a few random photos from late June -- early July.
barred straw

spectacle

Hedya salicella

yellow-tail

scarce footman

Brown house moth (Hofmannophila pseudospretella)

small angle shades

varied coronet

Eucosma cana

Pyhcita roborella

Recurvaria leucatella (a Notable (b) = scarce moth)