And now, the end is near....

...and so I face the final curtain.....de da de da .....

The last couple of nights have been very sparse on the moth front, the highlight being a couple of these, December Moths. This is my final 'expected' species of the year for my garden list, so its' time to wind down. I'll still try and select mild nights well into November and maybe even December. If the snow keeps away...

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

More of the same...a lot more...

Now that my new bulbs have arrived, I put the trap out from 6.30pm until 11.30pm last night. I was pleased to find 17 moths in there when I did the inspection, just a pity there were only 2 species. But it is November after all...

1631 December Moth (Poecilocampa populi) 16, a suprising number...
2264 Yellow-line Quaker (Agrochola macilenta) 1
I had a single Winter Moth on the road when out with the dog too.

It must be December....

December Moths in profusion...

Although it was a mild 10 degrees last night, each night sees the number of moths dwindling. I hope I can get to the end of the Garden Moth Survey on 5th November without any blanks. My last blank session was right at the beginning of March...

Taxa

1631 December Moth (Poecilocampa populi) 6, a good count.
1769 Spruce Carpet (Thera britannica) 1
2263 Red-line Quaker (Agrochola lota) 1
2306 Angle Shades (Phlogophora meticulosa) 1
2441 Silver Y (Autographa gamma) 1

Only 10 moths of 5 species.

Angle Shades

Furry Moth...

Delayed update from Thursday night due to working late yesterday...

December Moth. A favourite of mine, is there a moth more suited to its name, with its furry black coat to keep it warm... 

Thursday 21/10/10

Taxa
1631 December Moth (Poecilocampa populi) 1
1760 Red-green Carpet (Chloroclysta siterata) 2
1769 Spruce Carpet (Thera britannica) 1
1923 Feathered Thorn (Colotois pennaria) 3
2126 Setaceous Hebrew Character (Xestia c-nigrum) 1
2263 Red-line Quaker (Agrochola lota) 1
2264 Yellow-line Quaker (Agrochola macilenta) 3

12 moths of 7 species...

and last night GMS -

Taxa
1041 Acleris sparsana 1
1631 December Moth (Poecilocampa populi) 3
1760 Red-green Carpet (Chloroclysta siterata) 5
1769 Spruce Carpet (Thera britannica) 7
1795x November Moth agg. (Epirrita dilutata agg.) 2
2258 Chestnut (Conistra vaccinii) 1
2263 Red-line Quaker (Agrochola lota) 1
2264 Yellow-line Quaker (Agrochola macilenta) 2

22 moths of 8 species. 7 Spruce Carpets ( above) is my highest count ...