29th September 2009

An unexpectedly warm night prompted me to put out both traps overnight. A good decision as it turned out with 214 moths of 32 species being the best catch for a while. One species is new for the garden - a long awaited, but sadly rather battered, Orange Sallow. New for the year was The Brick. In a fairly poor year for migrants the 10th Dark Sword-grass was a surprise.

Orange Sallow:

The Brick:

26th September 2009

Probably the coldest night of the autumn so far with temperatures down into single figures. Over 100 moths of 20 species was a good haul and included two new for the year - Brindled Green and Pink-barred Sallow.

Brindled Green:

Pink-barred Sallow:

22nd September 2009

Both traps out last night as it looks like the last warm night for a while. 144 moths of 30 species was the result with three new for the year and a very nice, two-tone form of Brown-spot Pinion.

Dusky-lemon Sallow:

Large Ranunculus:

Blair's Shoulder-knot:

Brown-spot Pinion f.rufa-pallida:

19th September 2009

National Moth Night part two and conditions were far better with a warm, dry night. Sadly the targeted migrants and 'marked' moths remained absent but at least there were a couple of 'new for the year' species.

Barred Sallow:

Prays fraxinella:

A different form of The Sallow:

18th September 2009

National Moth Night part one proved to be another quiet night in the MV (33 moths of 20 species) but considerably busier in the actinic (79/26). No migrants unfortunately (one of the targets of NMN) but a very fresh Sallow was new for the year.


This was a much paler form of Lunar Underwing:

14th September 2009

Amongst the 25 species in the actinic trap were two new for the year. A very dark Deep-brown Dart was almost overlooked amongst 14 Black Rustics:


A rather plain Beaded Chestnut was also new:

13th September 2009

The autumn species being added slowly but surely with the first Lunar Underwing arriving last night.

11th September 2009

A surprisingly good catch after a very chilly night resulted in 140 moths of 25 species.

Small Wainscot - a new garden record:

Brown-spot Pinion, new for the year:

The Mallow, nfy:

8th September 2009

A Lesser Wax Moth came to the actinic trap last night - new for the garden and just the second record for Huntingdonshire.

6th September 2009

The first new for year for a while was a very smart looking Black Rustic. A record 9th Dark Sword-grass for the year was the only other notable.

31st August 2009

Two Feathered Gothics were new for the year on what looks like being one of the last good mothing nights for quite some time. Ten Rush Veneers was a record number but the only other potential migrant was a single Diamond-back Moth.

Feathered Gothic: