Autumn Colours Already

Last night's collection of moths in the garden at Westcott proved to be better than expected with about 120 species coming to light.  Canary-shouldered Thorn was a very early harbinger of autumn (I usually get my first arrival during the last week of this month), but the best splash of colour was provided by the garden's first ever Rosy Footman.  I imagine this must have been a wanderer from Bernwood which is conveniently upwind from here by about 7 miles.  That's where the majority of Bucks records have come from and the moth doesn't seem to be found in any of the many closer woodlands.  An even more impressive arrival here in my books was the micro Ptocheuusa paupella, for which I believe the only previous record for VC24 is one I took at Calvert in 2011.

Canary-shouldered Thorn, Westcott 10th July

Rosy Footman, Westcott 10th July

Ptocheuusa paupella, Westcott 10th July

Other species new for the garden year list last night included Zelleria hepariella, Eucosma campoliliana, Catoptria pinella, Wormwood Pug & Magpie Moth, as well as a migrant Small Mottled Willow.  The latter was accompanied by two examples of Nomophila noctuella (Rush Veneer).

Small Mottled Willow, Westcott 10th July

Dave Wilton
Westcott, Bucks