1st June - two garden seconds

Picking up in variety now and 2nd June marks the second anniversary of mothing at Wychwood Avenue. So coming into my third June it will be interesting to find the status of those moths that I only got in one of the two previous Junes, 2010 and 2011. Was I lucky to get them at all, or unlucky to only get them once ?
To start answering the question, two moths from last night which were second time around records:

What you looking at?

Spectacle - previously recorded just the once on 30th April 2011

Second record 1st June 2012

Nice hair-do ?!

Green Silver-lines - previously recorded on 26th June 2010 when three turned up together. Subsequently one on 27th and 28th were probably retrapped individuals.
Second clearly separate record 1st June 2012

Late May roundup and a late NFG

Things beginning to pick up with the warm spell from mid-May though still well behind last year in species variety and numbers for the equivalent period. Finally picked up a Powdered Quaker as new for the garden at the end of their season just as I thought it might have slipped past me for the second year on the trot. 

Powdered Quaker - new for garden 27th May

Scalloped Hazel - showing the close relationship with the thorns

Nut-tree Tussock - inside the pub umbrella on my deck

Scorched Carpet - I get a handful of these each year, trapped in all months May to August

Carpets start the revival

After an April of cold, wind and rain when Wychwood Moths went into virtual hibernation, things started to pick up this week with a selection of NFY moths, low numbers still and surprising few noctuids so far but seven different Carpets this week. (A late and pale Streamer, Silver-ground, Common, Garden, Spruce, Scorched and Red Twin-spot).
Also added in the last few days were first Common Pugs and Peppered Moth.
Of note on 20th May was a Rustic (previous earliest 22nd June) sharing an egg box with an Early Grey (previous latest 22nd April)

Silver-ground Carpet 

 

Common Carpet

 

Spruce Carpet 

Red Twin-spot Carpet

The Rustic (rather early) on 20th May

First newbie of 2012

2011 was my first spring so until the 2nd anniversary of garden mothing at the start of June, I am hopeful of a couple of new editions. This smart looking species was one I was hoping for as there are a few pines around both in nearby Wardown Park and probably more significantly as odd specimens across the large gardens of the local suburbs.

Pine Beauty - in classic resting pose. New for garden 24th March

Pine Beauty showing the bright orange and white wing pattern more extensively

Shoulder strip - new for year 24th March, I had a handful of these last spring. Nice to see the daintier moths beginning to appear.

Mid-March deja vu

A steady catch of the normal Common and Small Quakers, Hebrew Characters and Clouded Drabs has been enlivened this week with the first Early Grey of the year and single Twin-spot Quaker and a couple of Oak Beautys. Very much like the same week last year then...

Twin-spotted Quaker, 21st March 2012 (just one in 2011 - on the 22nd March ! )

Oak Beauty - different individuals trapped on 12th and 14th March (just one last year on the 12th March ! )

And they're off...

After a quiet February despite some warm nights when I just got a couple of Chestnuts, the mothing year has finally kicked off in the last few days with the usual suspects for the season and an early Angle Shades.

The starting line - 2012

March Moth - in March, this one from evening of the 9th

Hebrew Character - I expect to reach three figures total count for these by this time next month

Angle Shades - an early record trapped on March 2nd

Dark Chestnut - a slightly battered one

Second half of November round-up

Significant reduction in numbers, a few blanks and abandonments due to weather forecast was as expected of the season but still the odd moth to report.

Chestnut

Winter Moth on the wall - first for year 21st Nov

Scarce Umber - second record for garden 15th Nov after first on 11th Nov

Dark Arches - late record of 17th Nov with others in VC30 on the same night. This individual looks very tidy presumably freshly emerged.

Only other species trapped during the second half of November were Silver Y (three) and Feathered Thorn