Sunday 3 August 2014

Empty Egg-boxes

July ended on a high here at Westcott, Bucks with another 100+ species count in the garden trap on the 31st, although Tawny Speckled Pug and Oak Nycteoline were the only species new for the year list.  However, the last two nights have been dire, especially last night when I caught a grand total of 29 moths of 22 species.  That's not to be wondered at, though, after a day of torrential thundery showers and then a clearance to bring on a very chilly night.  Tonight might be better if (and it is always a big "if" where anything to do with the Met Office is concerned) the promised cloud cover appears.  Later this coming week might see more of an improvement, with southerly winds and warmer overnight temperatures even though there may be a bit of rain about.  Perhaps it will be my turn for a Bedstraw Hawk-moth?!  Apart from Diamond-backs (Plutella xylostella), migrants have been avoiding my garden so far this year and even Silver Ys have been few and far between.

Dave Wilton 

2 comments:

  1. Hi Dave, perhaps the shortage of migrants is about to change. I have just had my first Clouded Yellow butterfly in the garden this morning - I have never seen one in my garden before.

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  2. There do seem to be lots of Clouded Yellows around at the moment although one hasn't seen me yet. A very nice garden record! Maybe things have started to improve here a little as I had a Silver Y in last night's trap and this morning a Hummingbird Hawk-moth was seen fighting for space amongst the butterflies on the garden buddleia.

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