And still they come

Two more migrant moths pitched up in the garden at Westcott over the last couple of nights, showing that it is never too late to get something of interest (well, maybe not all that interesting really, but in December and this far inland we beggars can't be choosers!).  On the 21st a Diamond-back Moth Plutella xylostella and last night a large fresh Silver Y, both the latest examples ever seen here.

Silver Y, Westcott 22nd December

This December has been the best I can recall for moths in the garden.  The actinic has now brought in 20 species for the month and on only four nights produced a nil return (12th to 15th, when it was really too cold by dusk).  Mottled Umber has done phenomenally well and this season's garden count has already reached 70, whereas the previous high was 27 in 2017 and prior to that the average was in single digits.  December Moth had another little burst of activity on the 21st when three males turned up, the first I've seen here for three weeks.  Their count mirrors that of Mottled Umber in that I've now had 54 this season yet the previous highest was 22 (again, in 2017).  Satellite, Chestnut and Dark Chestnut have appeared several times in December and by way of a change it was nice to see a Grey Shoulder-knot similarly tempted out of hibernation on the 20th.

Grey Shoulder-knot, Westcott 20th December

No sign of that oversized female starting to sing here just yet but I suppose she won't be long now...

Happy Christmas one and all!

Dave Wilton
Westcott, Bucks