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

April mothing

Away first ten days, family holiday with some decent birding opportunities in Cyprus, followed by cold nights for most of the rest of the month so very little to report. Even Common Quaker and Hebrew Character were counted on one hand on all but a couple of nights when it was suitable to actually put the trap out.
Only decent moth in the month was Tawny Pinion which appeared on 14th and 16th as second and third garden records and look to be different individuals. Also an early Pebble Prominent on 21st.
Micros recorded included a Diamond-backed Moth on 14th and an Esperia sulphurella that I managed to pose for a photo in the sunshine on 18th.

 Tawny Pinion, 16th April

 Tawny Pinion, 14th April

Pebble Prominent, 21st April

Esperia sulphurella 18th April

mid-March update - Red Chestnut NFG

Red Chestnut - Not the most uncommon moth in the county but my first newbie of the year. Otherwise pretty slow with cold nights and infrequent trapping; been working through micro photos though so a good update and first publish of the list from last year soon, and no doubt the odd one appearing on this blog, including my first notable of the year below.

 Red Chestnut - new for garden 12th March

 Acleris cristana - 12th March

Chestnut - do not get many of these surprisingly, was not on the list for 2014 at all. This one from 9th March

Oak Beauty - one of my early spring favourites, 7th March

Turn of the year

Two from late November (Feathered Thorn and December Moth) proved to be my last new species for the year, surprisingly only one of each of these and a few blank nights into December. Started 2015 with a pale Dotted Border, then the next two moths were the same species, one much darker and one in between...so three individuals of a species I did not get in 2013 of 2014, now just waiting more variety.

 Dotted Border, darkest of three individuals at the end Feb, early March

 December Moth - nice one to finish the year

Feathered Thorn - this one really coloured almost like a Barred Red

October selection

All the usuals have now appeared, just waiting for the surprises. My birthday next week so who knows...

Buff Footman - two months late on 14th October !

Barred Sallow and Sallow

Pink-barred Sallow

Orange Sallow - just the one so far this year and past its prime

Beaded Chestnut

Deep-brown Dart - scarce one for me

Blair's Shoulder-knot - get lots of these though

 Large Ranunculus - also rather common with multiples on a good night

 Red-green Carpet - another regular visitor to the trap or the neighbouring shed door

 Red-line Quaker - commoner of the two autumn quakers

Vapourer male - third this year, all this month, the other two were caught in cobwebs not far from the scene in the next picture

Vapourer female and nest under the shed roof overhang

mid-September mix

As we get to the last week of September, Lunar Underwing has taken over number one spot from Large Yellow Underwing, and individuals of many of the autumn species have now appeared: Centre-barred Sallow, Deep-brown Dart, Large Ranunculus, Black Rustic, Brown-spotted Pinion, Beaded Chestnut and Green-brindled Crescent all on the year list. Before the earlier species go, I thought I'd catch up with a couple of photos from second and third weeks of the month.

Bloodvein - second for garden, first June 2010, get plenty of Small BV but this is a good one here.

Chinese Character - still think these are strange and certainly unique

Oak Hook-tip - three males in the trap on one night

Red Underwing - a couple on average each year

Small Ranunculus - unlike some parts of the county this species is rare here, second garden record only

Copper Underwing agg found deceased in the trap - that'll be a Svenssons then

Collecting Points

Great to see my favoured Coventry City back at their rightful home and taking three points this week.
I had a Point of my own as well with this garden first; seems to have been a good year for them with records I am aware of also from Biggleswade and Sandy.

White-point, a first for the garden on 30th August

Also trapped over the last week, a few decent brown jobs among the three-figure counts of Large Yellow Underwings including the first proper autumn moths: Centre-barred Sallow and Feathered Gothic

 Feathered Gothic - fantastic antenna

Nutmeg - less than annual at Wychwood Moths 5th Sep

Small Square-spot - a small fresh second generation individual