Gardens are best

Two nights ago Finemere Wood, Bucks produced a grand total of 14 moths of 12 species to a single trap in three and a half hours.  I was quite pleased to get my first Svensson's Copper Underwing of the year (they seem to be difficult to find this season) but there was absolutely nothing else of interest.  Last night I joined Marc Botham and Mary Elford at Besselsleigh Wood, Oxon (but VC 22) where we managed a little better but barely scraped 30 species between three traps.  Autumnal Rustic and Orange Sallow were nice to see but again there was little else worthy of note.

However, like Marc's garden trap near Benson (see his report below), my actinic trap here at Westcott, Bucks is doing really well at the moment.   Two nights ago it produced 317 moths of 44 species, with Galleria mellonella (Wax Moth) and Beaded Chestnut new for the year, while last night it managed 251 moths of 36 species with Dark Sword-grass and Brindled Green new for the year.  While I couldn't match Marc's migrant Pearly Underwing, I was quite pleased with the pair of Dark Sword-grass which were my first of the year anywhere.  Cabbage Moth was also good to see (not a regular here), while Lunar Underwing has quickly risen to knock Square-spot Rustic off its perch as top dog (counts of 72 and 63 respectively last night).

Dave Wilton

Dark Sword-grass, Westcott 17th September

Brindled Green, Westcott 17th September

Cabbage Moth, Westcott 17th September