Moth Trap - Dark Sword-grass

Dark Sword-grass

Painted Lady

A catch-up blog posting from earlier this week. In the moth trap on Friday morning (30th October) we found our first ever Dark Sword-grass. The day before (Thursday29th October), a warm and sunny Castle hill gave sightings of Red Admiral, Painted Lady and Silver Y.

Moth Trap - December Moth

December Moth

Snout

Not trapping as often now, but the catch last night was pretty good for the time of year. December Moth was new for the year and we don't see too many of these usually, so having three in the trap was good. Also trapped were Snout (second generation), Red-line Quaker, Yellow-line Quaker, Silver Y, Red-green Carpet and a Blair's Shoulder-knot.

Moth Trap - Yellow-line Quaker

Yellow-line Quaker


Green-brindled Crescent

Ran the moth trap a few times this week, with Yellow-line Quaker arriving for the first time this Autumn. Red-line Quakers seem to be doing quite well, Green-brindled Crescent and Red-green Carpet keep turning up, Common Wainscot and Large Wainscot were in the trap this morning as was the first Large Yellow Underwing that we have seen for a while. November Moths (agg) are turning up in ones and twos.

Moth Trap - Merveille du Jour

Merveille du Jour (photo by Jax)

A late blog entry from Jax emptying the moth trap without me on Monday morning (12th). Alongside, rather than in, the trap she found our first Merveille du Jour of the year and an Angle Shades.

It looks as though the Starlings are starting to get together in town, though I haven't seen them in big numbers yet. There were about thirty on a rooftop in Albermarle Crescent yesterday.

Moth Trap - no moths

Red-green Carpet

Thursday night was cold (down to three degrees) and we had our first empty trap on the Friday morning. Friday night was better (lots of rain, but ten degrees) and a few moths did end up in the trap. There was nothing new, but Red-green Carpet, Blair's Shoulder-knot, Large Wainscot and Red-line Quaker joined the usual Carpets.

Not running the trap tonight, but have just seen a Silver Y on the window.

Moth Trap - Red-line Quaker

Red-line Quaker

Red-line Quaker was new for the year last night, with a few of them turning up in the trap this morning. Also caught were Silver Y, Rosy Rustic and Straw Dot.

Moth Trap - Green-brindled Crescent

Green-brindled Crescent


November Moth (ag)


Pinion-streaked Snout

A good night in the trap with three species that were new for the year: Green-brindled Crescent, November Moth (ag, there are few similar species that you can't reliably tell apart without a microscope) and Pinion-streaked Snout. There were a couple of very fresh looking Red-green Carpets too and a Pink-barred Sallow.