At long last...

 ...some moths!

Last night was mild at 14 degrees at 11pm with some cloud and no wind. It was still 10 degrees when I got up this morning.

Late last night I checked the trap before bed and was pleased to find 9 species on the outside of the light, so it boded well for the morning.

The results today have ended up with 104 moths of 39 species. This is not earth shattering here, or even out of the ordinary, but after a cold nightmare of a spring where the usual catches are in single or low double figures, to get back to average is great.

Highlights were 3 Lunar Thorns, Pale Pinion, 2 Grass Rivulet, a Narrow winged Pug and a nice micro, Esperia sulphurella which is only my third here, I think.

The catch is as follows -

     Agonopterix heracliana/ciliella (Agonopterix heracliana agg.) 1

Coleophora species (Coleophora sp.) 3

03.002 Common Swift (Korscheltellus lupulina) 6

28.019 a moth (Esperia sulphurella) 1 NFY

32.017 a moth (Agonopterix arenella) 5

41.003 a moth (Blastobasis lacticolella) 1 NFY

44.001 Many-plumed Moth (Alucita hexadactyla) 1

49.109 a moth (Agapeta hamana) 1 NFY

49.166 a moth (Celypha lacunana) 4 NFY

49.214 a moth (Ancylis badiana) 4

62.001 Bee Moth (Aphomia sociella) 5 NFY

63.025 Small Magpie (Anania hortulata) 1 NFY

69.003 Poplar Hawk-moth (Laothoe populi) 1

70.049 Garden Carpet (Xanthorhoe fluctuata) 3

70.054 Silver-ground Carpet (Xanthorhoe montanata) 10

70.061 Common Carpet (Epirrhoe alternata) 3

70.095 Red-Green Carpet (Chloroclysta siterata) 1

70.097 Common Marbled Carpet (Dysstroma truncata) 1

70.137 Grass Rivulet (Perizoma albulata) 2 NFY

70.168 Narrow-winged Pug (Eupithecia nanata) 1 NFY

70.183 Common Pug (Eupithecia vulgata) 2

70.190 Grey Pug (Eupithecia subfuscata) 1 NFY

70.222 Brown Silver-line (Petrophora chlorosata) 3

70.226 Brimstone Moth (Opisthograptis luteolata) 2

70.238 Lunar Thorn (Selenia lunularia) 3 NFY

70.240 Scalloped Hazel (Odontopera bidentata) 1

71.020 Pale Prominent (Pterostoma palpina) 1

72.003 Snout (Hypena proboscidalis) 2 NFY

72.019 Buff Ermine (Spilosoma lutea) 2

72.020 White Ermine (Spilosoma lubricipeda) 7

72.022 Muslin Moth (Diaphora mendica) 1

73.032 Nut-tree Tussock (Colocasia coryli) 1

73.102 Brown Rustic (Rusina ferruginea) 2

73.158 Rustic Shoulder-knot (Apamea sordens) 7

73.201 Pale Pinion (Lithophane socia) 1

73.281 Lychnis (Hadena bicruris) 1

73.317 Heart and Dart (Agrotis exclamationis) 1

73.334 Small Square-spot (Diarsia rubi) 13

74.004 Least Black Arches (Nola confusalis) 2

  Now this morning as I sit in the office 'working' there are reports that a Bee-eater flew north over my patch while a flock of Snow Geese as flown south. There are Rose-coloured Starlings to the right and left of me ( by about 25 miles each) and odd Red back Shrikes, Black Tern etc. Lets hope its a good weekend....

Esperia sulphurella, a lovely little micro.

Grass Rivulet. Not so lovely, in fact the epitome of drab.

Lunar Thorn. Three of them was quite good, still a regular species up here but it has severely declined in the south of England. 

Narrow winged Pug for the heather moors. It has either come a long way or lives on garden heathers nearby.