Keeping up momentum...

but only just.

0648 White shouldered House Moth.

Well, it has to be added at some time this year...3 kicking around our house all of January so far.

Thats it then, 11 moths of 7 species beats last year where only 4 moths of 2 species were recorded during the month.

No trapping tonight but this was in the log pile when I went out to get some wood -

 2258 Chestnut (Conistra vaccinii) 1

January Garden Total - 8 moths of 6 species.

As it was relatively mild on my return home from work at 6pm, I put the trap on until 10pm. Nothing caught, but a lone individual was attracted to the porch door by the outside light...

1799 Winter Moth (Operophtera brumata) 1

January Garden Total - 7 moths of 6 species.

Moth Shopping...

No trapping last night but I checked the walls of the local Spar shop this morning. They have a few bright security lights near the small car park...

1799  Winter Moth (Operophtera brumata)  1
1960  Early Moth (Theria primaria)  3

Its a good spot this for moths early and late in the season, when first light coincides with the time I'm normally out and about. I wouldn't want to be seen prowling around here at 4am in the summer though...

A new species already!

Spring Usher

Chestnut

1932 Spring Usher (Agriopis leucophaearia) 1 NEW

2258 Chestnut (Conistra vaccinii) 1 NFY

Only two moths trapped last night between 5pm and 10pm. Despite the very bright and clear moonlight one of them was a new species for me. 

Spring Usher is a scarce species in Northumberland with only 34 previous records of 42 individuals. In VC68 this is only the 8th record. To give you an idea what the numbers are like, the last one  was a single in 2006, then one in 2003 and one in 1997. So, I might get another one in five years time or so...

The Chestnut is much commoner in the garden and was an expected winter addition. This one is pretty raggy arsed, maybe its been lucky to escape an interested bird...

2 moths of 2 species bringing the year total to 6 moths of 6 species...2 up on last year at this time.

Early moths...

Another mild night last night, so time to make the most of it. Trap on from 5pm - 10.45pm.

10 degrees, breezy.

1926 Pale Brindled Beauty (Phigalia pilosaria) 1 NFY
1960 Early Moth (Theria primaria) 1 NFY

Neither were inside the trap. the PBB was on the collar and the Early Moth flew from the cable as I took it inside. That's what happens with these lightweight moths...

Pale Brindled Beauty

Early Moth

Garden Moths 2011 - 4

Out with JWR to do a WeBs survey, we stopped at a phone box on the outskirts of Alnwick to see if any moths were inside. I didn't hold out much hope, but John soon gave the thumbs up and another Early Moth was recorded. So remember check out any light source in darker rural places, you can get a suprising number of moths attracted...

Early Moth

First 2011 outing...

...last night for the garden moth trap.

I had only just set up and turned it on within a matter of seconds our first (and only) visitor appeared.

Mottled Umber.

Ironically I didn't catch this species in the garden in 2010, so it was a nice start to the year. This is a common moth in most areas, probably due to its very widespread taste in most deciduous shrubs and trees. This is a male, the females are flightless.

The photo is poor due to the lack of light today...

Garden Moth List 2011 - 2

Lets start 2011...

Last night the first moth of the year to grace my garden was on on the back door. A Winter Moth.

Although common around here this is only the second to be found settled in the garden. I was hoping to get done with the 'Faves' posts before the mothing started but theres no accounting for these anti-freeze fuelled devils. This one is a male, females are flightless. Their caterpillars account for a large percentage of the food for young Blue Tits etc in spring. Handy little things those Winter Moths...

 1799 Winter Moth (Operophtera brumata)

Garden Moth List 2011 -  1.

No 9...

Green Silver Lines.

I loved this one. What a colour. In North Northumberland they are rare and I never expected to see one unless I was well into some mature woodland, but this one made its way from the large oaks and Sweet Chestnuts in Howick Hall estate to my relatively open garden.

Only 11 were taken in Northumberland this year, an above average total compared to most years...

Superb.