Westcott, Bucks

The last two nights have been very good in the garden.  In fact last night, despite intermittent heavy rain, I got 598 individuals of 91 species which is excellent for this stage of the moth season.  New species for the year continue to appear:

(23rd August)  Acleris rhombana, Pammene populana, Nephopterix angustella
(24th August)  Aglossa pinguinalis, Platyptilia gonodactyla, Tawny Speckled Pug, Frosted Orange,
                        Lesser-spotted Pinion

Nephopterix angustella, Westcott 23rd August

 

Platyptilia gonodactyla, Westcott 24th August

Frosted Orange, Westcott 24th August

Lesser-spotted Pinion, Westcott 24th August

The Acleris rhombana has been retained for critical examination because it seems rather early.  Large Tabby Aglossa pinguinalis hasn't been recorded in the garden since 2007 while Platyptilia gonodactyla was last seen here in 2009, so it was particularly nice to see the return of those two micros (the plume in fact came to the outside light rather than the trap itself).  You might have to take my word for the Lesser-spotted Pinion which had obviously seen better days but it will also get critical examination just to be absolutely certain - beggars can't be choosers when it comes to the condition of moths which are completely new for the garden list!  This is new macro No.3 for 2016. 

I spoke too soon about Large Yellow Underwing because 69 came to light in the garden here last night.  They haven't yet caught up with Small Square-spot (94 last night) but I'm sure it won't take long.  Amongst last night's also-rans were fresh singletons of Figure of Eighty and Yellow-tail.  I haven't seen either for weeks now and the Figure of Eighty at least must be a second brood.

Despite good conditions for migration I continue to get only Udea ferrugalis and Nomophila noctuella in the garden.  However, an otherwise uninteresting performance from a single MV in the M40 Compensation Area at Bernwood Forest last night did produce the Vestal shown below.

Vestal, Bernwood Forest 24th August

Dave Wilton
Westcott, Bucks