Some mid-June comparisons

For much of mid-June, I have been getting and increasing number of the common brown noctuids and in comparison a lower number of the other families. With this comes the challenge of identifying some individuals that just do not fit the pattern of the book pictures, Included here are a few pairs and comparisons

 Two Broom moths, one showing all the features, the other just the creamy blob

Reddish Light Arches and Light Arches - both equally common in Luton on the chalk soils at this time of year

Presumed Dusky Brocade with some tawny colouration which had me thinking of Small Clouded Brindle

 Greyish looking presumed Large Nutmeg (based on shape), most of mine are fawn/beige

 A Dusky Brocade that (unusually) actually looks like one of the pics in the book

 Clouded Brindle (all the features and well marked)

Presumed Clouded Brindle. Had thoughts of Clouded-bordered Brindle which it closely resembles but I think the visibility of the fine black cross-line in the middle of the rear of the wing gives it away

And how about this Ingrailed Clay which  the same species as the individual in the previous post with the black triangle and square markings. It's the tiny arrowheads on the end of the wings that matters, none of the rest of the colouration is relevant !? Good job moths work on smells not sight in choosing a partner

A bigger wave

Looks like I am getting new moths for the gardens in pairs, firstly the two "pinions" and then to follow last weeks Small White Wave, a NFG Common Wave on 2nd June 2014. Not trapped this species before in the garden though had quite a few of the related Common White Wave. Also a selection of other more interesting pics from the last week including a potential further NFG in Small Clouded Brindle that needs more critical exam.

 Common Wave - NFG 2nd June - not a lot of markings to go on !

 Potential dark variant Small Clouded Brindle 2nd June 2014

 Ingrailed Clay

 Small Square-Spot - was a garden tick in 2013 so a rare catch for me

Comparison pair - Marbled Coronet (top) and Varied Coronet (bottom).
Former much rarer than latter and note the large pale markings near the wing tips

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 !!

Tawny Pinion leads the April listings

A second garden tick for the year and closely related but much rarer than the first (Pale Pinion), this Tawny Pinio was a real surprise on an otherwise quiet night in the trap. To my knowledge, only three other's caught in VC30 since 2006, all from the Matt's efforts at Upper Caldecotte.

 Tawny Pinion, 24th April

Other recent more interesting species trapped include:

 Streamer - one of my favourites in the spring due to its purple tones, a handful trapped every year

 Herald - first spring record, previous only in July 2013

Powdered Quaker - a couple every year, usually appearing after the other quakers have started to diminish in numbers

Muslin Moth

Pale Pinion - A first to start April

First day of the month and a new for the garden, otherwise predominantly Orthosias trapped at the moment as per the expectations of the season.

Pale Pinion - new for garden April 1st

A few others trapped in the last few days of warmer weather of more interest to me at least:

 Twin-spotted Quaker - only a couple of these per year normally

 March Moth - in March of course

 Satellite - surprisingly uncommon in my garden - only four records, two in March, two in November

 Oak Beauty - always nice to see

Grey Shoulder-Knot - three records no for the garden, all in month of March

Yellow Pages

Autumn is a season when a good selection of yellow moths are around in the garden, here are a few that have come my way over the last couple of weeks.

 Dusky Thorn

Pink-barred Sallow - NFG 29th September, another on 5th October

 Barred Sallow

Sallow - a paler-winged individual

 Brick - this battered and worn moth was a NFG on 21st October

Yellow-line Quaker - first for the year was 2nd October, three weeks or so earlier than normal for me

Brimstone - maintaining the theme I have not blogged one of these before. get them every night through summer and autumn

Vestal Double

Not one but two Vestal around the entrance slot to the trap this morning. One better marked than the other and presumably encouraged by the recent south east to south west warm airflow.

Vestals... new for garden on 4th October