Bigger Catch.

8 Degrees and cloudy. Calm. A good night.

Clouded Border

Taxa
0017 Common Swift (Hepialus lupulinus) 8
0648 White-shouldered House Moth (Endrosis sarcitrella) 1
0697 Agonopterix arenella 1
0726 Metzneria metzneriella 1 NFY
0874 Blastobasis lacticolella 1
1011 Pseudargyrotoza conwagana 1
1174 Epiblema cynosbatella 2
1334 Scoparia ambigualis 1
1376 Small Magpie (Eurrhypara hortulata) 3
1428 Bee Moth (Aphomia sociella) 4
1722 Flame Carpet (Xanthorhoe designata) 1
1727 Silver-ground Carpet (Xanthorhoe montanata) 17
1728 Garden Carpet (Xanthorhoe fluctuata) 3
1738 Common Carpet (Epirrhoe alternata) 2
1764 Common Marbled Carpet (Chloroclysta truncata) 1
1769 Spruce Carpet (Thera britannica) 6
1776 Green Carpet (Colostygia pectinataria) 4
1834 Common Pug (Eupithecia vulgata) 6
1837 Grey Pug (Eupithecia subfuscata) 2
1851 Golden-rod Pug (Eupithecia virgaureata) 1
1852 Brindled Pug (Eupithecia abbreviata) 3
1887 Clouded Border (Lomaspilis marginata) 1 NFY
1902 Brown Silver-line (Petrophora chlorosata) 3
1906 Brimstone Moth (Opisthograptis luteolata) 2
1918 Lunar Thorn (Selenia lunularia) 3
1931 Peppered Moth (Biston betularia) 1
1954 Bordered White (Bupalus piniaria) 1
1958 Clouded Silver (Lomographa temerata) 1
1981 Poplar Hawk-moth (Laothoe populi) 3
1994 Buff-tip (Phalera bucephala) 1
2003 Pebble Prominent (Notodonta ziczac) 1
2006 Lesser Swallow Prominent (Pheosia gnoma) 1
2008 Coxcomb Prominent (Ptilodon capucina) 1
2060 White Ermine (Spilosoma lubricipeda) 10
2061 Buff Ermine (Spilosoma luteum) 1
2089 Heart and Dart (Agrotis exclamationis) 7
2091 Dark Sword-grass (Agrotis ipsilon) 1
2092 Shuttle-shaped Dart (Agrotis puta) 2
2123 Small Square-spot (Diarsia rubi) 4
2147 Shears (Hada plebeja) 1
2158 Pale-shouldered Brocade (Lacanobia thalassina) 1
2173 Lychnis (Hadena bicruris) 1
2205 Shoulder-striped Wainscot (Mythimna comma) 2 NFY
2321 Dark Arches (Apamea monoglypha) 1 NFY
2326 Clouded-bordered Brindle (Apamea crenata) 2
2326 Clouded-bordered Brindle [melanic form] (Apamea crenata ab. combusta) 1
2334 Rustic Shoulder-knot (Apamea sordens) 7
2337x Marbled Minor agg. (Oligia strigilis agg.) 3
2340 Middle-barred Minor (Oligia fasciuncula) 1 NFY
2387 Mottled Rustic (Caradrina morpheus) 1 NFY
2441 Silver Y (Autographa gamma) 1
2450 Spectacle (Abrostola tripartita) 2

137 moths of 51 sp.

Sorry, pics will follow tomorrow...

Shoulder striped Wainscot

Dark Arches

Middle Barred Minor

Mottled Rustic

More Gold....

8 Degrees through the night, cloudy and calm. Best variety of species so far this year...

Taxa
0017  Common Swift (Hepialus lupulinus)  5
0874  Blastobasis lacticolella  1 NFY
1334  Scoparia ambigualis  1 NFY the earliest county record by 2 days. Another one bites the dust.
1376  Small Magpie (Eurrhypara hortulata)  2
1727  Silver-ground Carpet (Xanthorhoe montanata)  14
1738  Common Carpet (Epirrhoe alternata)  1
1759  Small Phoenix (Ecliptopera silaceata)  1
1764  Common Marbled Carpet (Chloroclysta truncata)  2
1776  Green Carpet (Colostygia pectinataria)  3
1802  Rivulet (Perizoma affinitata)  1
1819  Mottled Pug (Eupithecia exiguata)  1 NFY
1834  Common Pug (Eupithecia vulgata)  2
1837  Grey Pug (Eupithecia subfuscata)  2
1902  Brown Silver-line (Petrophora chlorosata)  1
1918  Lunar Thorn (Selenia lunularia)  1
1920  Scalloped Hazel (Odontopera bidentata)  1
1931  Peppered Moth (Biston betularia)  1
1981  Poplar Hawk-moth (Laothoe populi)  1
2006  Lesser Swallow Prominent (Pheosia gnoma)  1
2060  White Ermine (Spilosoma lubricipeda)  7
2061  Buff Ermine (Spilosoma luteum)  1
2089  Heart and Dart (Agrotis exclamationis)  4
2092  Shuttle-shaped Dart (Agrotis puta)  1
2102  Flame Shoulder (Ochropleura plecta)  1
2123  Small Square-spot (Diarsia rubi)  1
2154  Cabbage Moth (Mamestra brassicae)  1 NFY
2158  Pale-shouldered Brocade (Lacanobia thalassina)  1
2173  Lychnis (Hadena bicruris)  1
2190  Hebrew Character (Orthosia gothica)  1
2302  Brown Rustic (Rusina ferruginea)  1
2305  Small Angle Shades (Euplexia lucipara)  1
2326  Clouded-bordered Brindle (Apamea crenata)  4
2334  Rustic Shoulder-knot (Apamea sordens)  8
2425  Nut-tree Tussock (Colocasia coryli)  1
2439  Gold Spot (Plusia festucae)  1 NFY
2441  Silver Y (Autographa gamma)  1
2450  Spectacle (Abrostola tripartita)  1

Plus two pugs still to sort...

81 Moths of 39sp

Blastobasis lacticolella

Scoparia ambigualis ( earliest county record)

Mottled Pug

Cabbage Moth

Gold Spot

This Little Piggy...

Small and Large Elephants.

Clouded Bordered Brindle of the form combusta

Angle Shades.

10 Degrees all night, windy and overcast with an odd shower.

Taxa
0017 Common Swift (Hepialus lupulinus) 12 inc a mating pair.
1076 Celypha lacunana 1
1727 Silver-ground Carpet (Xanthorhoe montanata) 2
1738 Common Carpet (Epirrhoe alternata) 1
1750 Water Carpet (Lampropteryx suffumata) 1
1776 Green Carpet (Colostygia pectinataria) 1
1837 Grey Pug (Eupithecia subfuscata) 1
1991 Elephant Hawk-moth (Deilephila elpenor) 2
1992 Small Elephant Hawk-moth (Deilephila porcellus) 1 NFY
2003 Pebble Prominent (Notodonta ziczac) 1
2060 White Ermine (Spilosoma lubricipeda) 1
2089 Heart and Dart (Agrotis exclamationis) 3
2102 Flame Shoulder (Ochropleura plecta) 2
2123 Small Square-spot (Diarsia rubi) 4
2147 Shears (Hada plebeja) 1
2158 Pale-shouldered Brocade (Lacanobia thalassina) 2
2190 Hebrew Character (Orthosia gothica) 1
2302 Brown Rustic (Rusina ferruginea) 1
2305 Small Angle Shades (Euplexia lucipara) 1
2306 Angle Shades (Phlogophora meticulosa) 1 NFY
2326 Clouded-bordered Brindle (Apamea crenata) 2
2326 Clouded-bordered Brindle [melanic form] (Apamea crenata ab. combusta) 1 NFG
2334 Rustic Shoulder-knot (Apamea sordens) 4
2337x Marbled Minor agg. (Oligia strigilis agg.) 1
2441 Silver Y (Autographa gamma) 4
2442 Beautiful Golden Y (Autographa pulchrina) 3

55 Moths of 25 species.

Also this morning,

1870 Chimney Sweeper (Odezia atrata) at least 57 in a quick binocular scan of Howick Pond Field this morning. There may have been double this number!

Chimney Sweeper

A good night for a change...

10 Degrees all night, overcast and showery.

Taxa
0017 Common Swift (Hepialus lupulinus) 8
0648 White-shouldered House Moth (Endrosis sarcitrella) 1
0936 Cochylimorpha straminea 1 NFY
1011 Pseudargyrotoza conwagana 2 NFY
1076 Celypha lacunana 1 NFY
1174 Epiblema cynosbatella 2
1376 Small Magpie (Eurrhypara hortulata) 7
1428 Bee Moth (Aphomia sociella) 4
1727 Silver-ground Carpet (Xanthorhoe montanata) 18
1728 Garden Carpet (Xanthorhoe fluctuata) 1
1738 Common Carpet (Epirrhoe alternata) 5
1776 Green Carpet (Colostygia pectinataria) 3 NFY
1802 Rivulet (Perizoma affinitata) 1
1834 Common Pug (Eupithecia vulgata) 3
1837 Grey Pug (Eupithecia subfuscata) 1 NFY
1844 Ochreous Pug (Eupithecia indigata) 1
1851 Golden-rod Pug (Eupithecia virgaureata) 2
1902 Brown Silver-line (Petrophora chlorosata) 2
1906 Brimstone Moth (Opisthograptis luteolata) 2
1918 Lunar Thorn (Selenia lunularia) 4
1920 Scalloped Hazel (Odontopera bidentata) 2
1931 Peppered Moth (Biston betularia) 1
1981 Poplar Hawk-moth (Laothoe populi) 3
1994 Buff-tip (Phalera bucephala) 1
2008 Coxcomb Prominent (Ptilodon capucina) 1
2060 White Ermine (Spilosoma lubricipeda) 7
2061 Buff Ermine (Spilosoma luteum) 3
2089 Heart and Dart (Agrotis exclamationis) 1
2098 Flame (Axylia putris) 1 NFY
2102 Flame Shoulder (Ochropleura plecta) 2
2123 Small Square-spot (Diarsia rubi) 6
2160 Bright-line Brown-eye (Lacanobia oleracea) 1
2173 Lychnis (Hadena bicruris) 3
2326 Clouded-bordered Brindle (Apamea crenata) 5
2334 Rustic Shoulder-knot (Apamea sordens) 8
2442 Beautiful Golden Y (Autographa pulchrina) 1

116 Moths of 36 sp. Still a pug to id but its worn...

A good night after the crap weather of late.

Cochylimorpha straminea

Celypha lacunana

Grey Pug

Green Carpet

Flame

And a mystery very small pug same size as Ochreous Pug...

What is this. Dwarf?

Ochreous Pug

You...are GOLD....

Tonight when I was out with the dog in our village wood I was surprised to find a pair of  0016  Gold Swift (Hepialus hecta)  'lekking'. The female was vibrating on grass while the male hovered about nearby seeking her out.

I left to get the camera and returned straight away. There was no sign of the displaying moths. After a bit of a look around I found the pair, now in cop,on bracken. They look a bit worn after their efforts. They are a good bit smaller than the other swifts ( I have the full set in the Village).

The previous earliest record of this scarce species in the county was on 7th June 2003. Last year I had them in late June, so hopefully I'll find a fresher specimen to photograph. One day I might get it on the garden list, the site is only a couple of hundred yards away...

Weather Forecast...

...the North / South divide.

This is really starting to piss me off.

This whole month has been like March up here. Since the weekend ( and maybe earlier) its been blowing a cold gale from the west. I've just been up the lane and I can see my breath in the places where the wind doesn't instantly blow it away. All we see  on the news is that farmers are suffering a drought and its sweltering in that there London. Great I say, but here its a bog standard, bloody awful ,cold, windy, damp May. Business as usual.

I've decided I'm not going to bother with the trap until the next calm night with a temp of above 8 degrees.

Any positives? Well there's another freezing wet northerly forecast for Thursday, so I might just focus all attention towards the sea. It might just push some of those westerly Long tailed Skuas into view.

A typical Northumberland May...

Shears

Shears

Common Marbled Carpet ( orange type)

Down to a baltic 6 degrees here last night and clear until the early hours when clouded over. Breezy too. I hear that there are places in the UK where it has been warm, calm and rain free lately? Can't imagine that, can you?


Taxa
1727  Silver-ground Carpet (Xanthorhoe montanata)  2
1728  Garden Carpet (Xanthorhoe fluctuata)  1
1750  Water Carpet (Lampropteryx suffumata)  1
1764  Common Marbled Carpet (Chloroclysta truncata)  1
1920  Scalloped Hazel (Odontopera bidentata)  2
1994  Buff-tip (Phalera bucephala)  1
2060  White Ermine (Spilosoma lubricipeda)  2
2063  Muslin Moth (Diaphora mendica)  3
2089  Heart and Dart (Agrotis exclamationis)  2
2092  Shuttle-shaped Dart (Agrotis puta)  3
2102  Flame Shoulder (Ochropleura plecta)  1
2123  Small Square-spot (Diarsia rubi)  1
2147  Shears (Hada plebeja)  1 NFY
2173  Lychnis (Hadena bicruris)  2
2188  Clouded Drab (Orthosia incerta)  1
2334  Rustic Shoulder-knot (Apamea sordens)  1
2450  Spectacle (Abrostola tripartita)  1


26 moths of 17 sp. No Hebrew Characters!

Its blowing a hooly here now but still mild so I might try and anchor the trap. This could end up costly....

9.20pm Chickened Out. Put trap away, trees bending outside now....

Shark...Great, right.

7 degrees at dawn, cloudy with clear spells.

Taxa
0464 Diamond-back Moth (Plutella xylostella) 1
0672 Parsnip Moth (Depressaria heraclei) 1
0697 Agonopterix arenella 1
1174 Epiblema cynosbatella 1 NFY
1376 Small Magpie (Eurrhypara hortulata) 1
1722 Flame Carpet (Xanthorhoe designata) 2
1727 Silver-ground Carpet (Xanthorhoe montanata) 6
1728 Garden Carpet (Xanthorhoe fluctuata) 2
1738 Common Carpet (Epirrhoe alternata) 1
1802 Rivulet (Perizoma affinitata) 1
1851 Golden-rod Pug (Eupithecia virgaureata)  1 NEW 2nd for VC68
1902 Brown Silver-line (Petrophora chlorosata) 1
2007 Swallow Prominent (Pheosia tremula) 1 NFY
2008 Coxcomb Prominent (Ptilodon capucina) 1 NFY
2060 White Ermine (Spilosoma lubricipeda) 5
2061 Buff Ermine (Spilosoma luteum) 2
2089 Heart and Dart (Agrotis exclamationis) 5
2091 Dark Sword-grass (Agrotis ipsilon) 1
2092 Shuttle-shaped Dart (Agrotis puta) 1
2102 Flame Shoulder (Ochropleura plecta) 2
2123 Small Square-spot (Diarsia rubi) 9
2173 Lychnis (Hadena bicruris) 4
2190 Hebrew Character (Orthosia gothica) 2
2216 Shark (Cucullia umbratica) 1 NEW 16th for VC68
2302 Brown Rustic (Rusina ferruginea) 1 NFY
2326 Clouded-bordered Brindle (Apamea crenata) 2
2425 Nut-tree Tussock (Colocasia coryli) 1
2442 Beautiful Golden Y (Autographa pulchrina) 1 NFY

58 Moths of 28 sp.

The Shark is a cracking moth, all angular and silver. Using Toms pic on Northumberlands Moths id was quite straight forward, for a moth that doesnt occur before late June anyway...

The Shark.

Swallow Prominent

Coxcomb Prominent

Beautiful Golden Y

Brown Rustic

Epiblema cynosbatella. Its yellow nose stood out a mile!

Pug sp, click for a bigger image. Golden Rod Pug!

This is the mystery pug, above. I tried to do a better shot but the wind blew it away! Those wavy lines look quite distinctive? Help, anyone? it looked like a more uniform grey Oak Tree Pug but bigger.

Update on puggery...

Tom Tams, County Recorder has just sent me another photo, of Golden Rod Pug, just like mine. In life, the paler patterning was more obvious especially the dots down from the thorax. I had considered Grey Pug but there was too much patterning generally and its not as round winged to me. Thanks too to Trent for suggesting Common Pug. I had gone down that route as this is one of the commonest species for me. The small white specks in the corner of the forewing had me thinking of Common, but nothing else fitted.

Next one I'll get a better picture.

Mild 12 degrees at dawn, windy, overcast. A more summery look to the catch with the first of many Silver Ground Carpets. Still three species of Orthosia so as we don't get too carried away...

Taxa
0697 Agonopterix arenella 1
0986 Syndemis musculana 1
1428 Bee Moth (Aphomia sociella) 2
1722 Flame Carpet (Xanthorhoe designata) 1
1727 Silver-ground Carpet (Xanthorhoe montanata) 2 NFY
1738 Common Carpet (Epirrhoe alternata) 5
1759 Small Phoenix (Ecliptopera silaceata) 1
1769 Spruce Carpet (Thera britannica) 2
1852 Brindled Pug (Eupithecia abbreviata) 1
1862 Double-striped Pug (Gymnoscelis rufifasciata) 1
1902 Brown Silver-line (Petrophora chlorosata) 1
1918 Lunar Thorn (Selenia lunularia) 1
1920 Scalloped Hazel (Odontopera bidentata) 1
1931 Peppered Moth (Biston betularia) 1 NFY
1958 Clouded Silver (Lomographa temerata) 2 NFY
1994 Buff-tip (Phalera bucephala) 1
2006 Lesser Swallow Prominent (Pheosia gnoma) 1
2060 White Ermine (Spilosoma lubricipeda) 2
2063 Muslin Moth (Diaphora mendica) 1
2092 Shuttle-shaped Dart (Agrotis puta) 2
2102 Flame Shoulder (Ochropleura plecta) 2
2123 Small Square-spot (Diarsia rubi) 7
2158 Pale-shouldered Brocade (Lacanobia thalassina) 1
2160 Bright-line Brown-eye (Lacanobia oleracea) 1 NFY
2186 Powdered Quaker (Orthosia gracilis) 1
2188 Clouded Drab (Orthosia incerta) 3
2190 Hebrew Character (Orthosia gothica) 1
2334 Rustic Shoulder-knot (Apamea sordens) 2
2337x Marbled Minor agg. (Oligia strigilis agg.) 1 NFY
2425 Nut-tree Tussock (Colocasia coryli) 1

50 moths of 30 sp 5 new. The most species in a night so far this year...

Peppered Moth

Bright Line, Brown Eye

Marbled Minor. Yes it is.

Silver Ground Carpet

Clouded Silver from last year, tonights two flew off.

Honeysuckle...

Yesterday I noticed this Honeysuckle Moth caterpillar on the flowers at our front door. Its funny how the cat always seems a bit big for the moth.

This is what it will turn into ...

Little and Large

Mild 12 degrees all night showers and breezy. Overcast.

Taxa
Cnephasia species (Cnephasia sp.) 1 NFY
0017 Common Swift (Hepialus lupulinus) 1
0293 Caloptilia syringella 1 NFY
0464 Diamond-back Moth (Plutella xylostella) 1
0986 Syndemis musculana 2
1376 Small Magpie (Eurrhypara hortulata) 1 NFY
1428 Bee Moth (Aphomia sociella) 2
1738 Common Carpet (Epirrhoe alternata) 5
1902 Brown Silver-line (Petrophora chlorosata) 2
1906 Brimstone Moth (Opisthograptis luteolata) 1 NFY
1920 Scalloped Hazel (Odontopera bidentata) 1
1991 Elephant Hawk-moth (Deilephila elpenor) 1 NFY
2063 Muslin Moth (Diaphora mendica) 1
2123 Small Square-spot (Diarsia rubi) 5
2190 Hebrew Character (Orthosia gothica) 2
2305 Small Angle Shades (Euplexia lucipara) 1 NFY
2334 Rustic Shoulder-knot (Apamea sordens) 1

29 moths of 17 sp. 6 new.

Caloptilia syringella

Small Magpie

Brimstone

Small Angles Shades

Elephant Hawk Moth

Day Searching...

Well, not much searching, just standing drinking tea and having a scone after doing a WeBs suvey at Branton Gravel Pits, near Powburn with John Rutter this morning. We found these near the car ...

Taxa
1011 Pseudargyrotoza conwagana 1 adult on Alder. Another county earliest by a full two weeks.
1631 December Moth (Poecilocampa populi) 1 Final Instar Caterpillar of the pale grey form (Ref UK Leps Leverton)
1799 Winter Moth (Operophtera brumata) 1 Caterpillar.

Pseudargyrotoza conwagana

December Moth Caterpillar

Winter Moth Caterpillar

A cool 6 degrees with a bright three quarter moon and a north westerly didn't bode well for GMS night...

Taxa
1428 Bee Moth (Aphomia sociella) 1
1764 Common Marbled Carpet (Chloroclysta truncata) 1 NFY
2063 Muslin Moth (Diaphora mendica) 1
2123 Small Square-spot (Diarsia rubi) 3
2173 Lychnis (Hadena bicruris) 1
2186 Powdered Quaker (Orthosia gracilis) 1 the orthosias still hanging on. I had them until June last year...
2190 Hebrew Character (Orthosia gothica) 1
2326 Clouded-bordered Brindle (Apamea crenata) 1 NFY
2334 Rustic Shoulder-knot (Apamea sordens) 1

11 moths of 9 species with 2 new, was about what could be expected...

I was hoping to get up on the moor tonight but the weather is against us again.

Common Marbled Carpet

Clouded Bordered Brindle