June 16 catch-up

Not content with finally getting Lime Hawkmoth, a few days later I got the other missing "hawk" that has shunned my garden trap for six years. Also new was Flame Carpet, though unfortunately a partly worn individual.

Pine Hawkmoth - new for garden - 20th June

Flame Carpet - new for garden 21st June

A few moths that I get every year but not particularly commonly were also noted

 Broken-barred Carpet - most of mine have a proper break - 22nd June

 Grass Rivlet - blown across from the chalk hillside - 9th June

 Pale Tussock - a female for a change - 7th June

 Vapourer

White Ermine - 15th June

White-spotted Pug

Three New for Early May

Despite entering my sixth summer of garden trapping, the list continues to grow with three more new for the garden in a week despite relatively low overall catches. None of them rare in county but presumably so in my area. Also illustrated others that were of interest to me.

 Swallow Prominent - new for garden 11th May

 Mullein - new for garden 15th May

 Least Black Arches - new for garden 5th May

 Iron Prominent - trapped 7th, 8th and 16th May - only one previous record in June 2013

 Pale Tussock - common hairy beast

 Powdered Quaker - only average just over one a year of these, this on 10th May

 Maidens Blush - annual but only just, this one 7th May

Silver Y - first of the year of this common migrant 12th May

Small White Wave

Pick of the bunch of new moths for the year in this recent warm spell, but not easy to get a photo as it was pale, was this Small White Wave. Needed a little bit of Levels adjustment in Photoshop to bring out the cross lines.

Small White Wave - NFG 20th May 2014

Also of interest to me at least:

 Toadflax Brocade - one in 2010, three in 2013, first for 2014 on 22nd May (established now I guess)

 Light Brocade - two in 2011, now four so far in 2014

 (un)-Broken-barred Carpet - average two each year but this is the first I have had with out a break in the central stripe

Pale Tussock - such hairy legs !!

Drifting onward with the breeze

Colder nights with a brisk breeze has slowed numbers and therefore lowered variety in the last week at Wychwood Avenue. Predominant species are now Shuttle-shaped Dart, max 7 in one night, and un-ID'able Pug sp. - though with a bit of practice I am finding identification easier so long as they are not too worn. More on pugs in a later post perhaps.

Of the common varieties, the first Brimstones have begun to appear as have a couple of Bright-line Brown Eye and the first of probably hundreds of Heart&Dart.

More interestingly, a Pale Tussock was only the second garden record, previously having been caught on 2nd June 2010, the first night that I began to trap !

Even better though, two new for the garden in the last week, a Spectacle and a Light Brocade.

Light Brocade (first for garden, 3rd May)

Couple of Shuttle-shaped Dart (ShuttleCock and ShuttleHen ?)

Spectacle (first for garden 29th April)

What are you looking at ?

Pale Tussock