27th October 2009

A Juniper Carpet was a nice surprise on what was a very quiet night, despite being warm and still. An unexpected addition to the garden list.

25th October 2009

After nearly two weeks of mostly reasonable trapping conditions but small and rather dull catches, finally a Merveille du Jour makes it all worth while. Only my second garden record, the previous one was in 2006.

13th October 2009

A forecast of a warm and dry night sounded hopeful but it was only half right and it rained for most of the night. 40 moths of 13 species was the disappointing result but there was one new for the year.

Green-brindled Crescent:

This is an unusual form of Acleris variegana:

10th October 2009

19 species last night with another two new for the year - November Moth(2) and Dark Chestnut. I'll record the November Moths as 'ag.' but they are most likely dilutata as this is the only one of the three Epirrita species that I've recorded here.

Dark Chestnut:

November Moth:

9th October 2009

The cold weather has arrived and over the past few days where trapping has been possible it has been largely unproductive. Last night things improved and although it was wet early on the temperature stayed in double figures and a few moths turned up. Interestingly the two species that were new for the year were two of the only three micros in the trap.

Acleris rhombana:

Phyllonorycter messaniella:

2nd October 2009

A mild but windy night produced just 78 moths of 20 species although two were new for the year.

Feathered Thorn:

Yellow-line Quaker:

30th September 2009

An early start for work this morning meant I only put the MV trap overnight, a move I regretted as soon as I saw the quantity of moths caught in it - nearly 200 moths of 26 species. Easily the best haul from a single trap since early September. A very fresh Red-green Carpet was the star, new for the year and a scarce species here with only a handful of previous records. Red-line Quaker was also new.

Red-green Carpet:

Red-line Quaker: