Apart from the night of Sunday 27th when we had our first proper frost of the autumn and only three moths turned up, species counts in the garden actinic trap have continued in the teens and last night's collection was fairly representative: Red-green Carpet (1), November Moth (2), Pale November Moth (1), November Moth agg. (2 females), Feathered Thorn (1), Mottled Umber (1), Figure of Eight (1), Sprawler (1), Green-brindled Crescent (3), Sallow (1), Beaded Chestnut (1), Red-line Quaker (1), Yellow-line Quaker (1), Brick (4), Chestnut (1), Dark Chestnut (6), Blair's Shoulder-knot (1), Merveille du Jour (1) & Black Rustic (3). As usual, getting on for half of them were potted up from the lawn, walls and windows close to the light.
Emmelina monodactyla and Grey Shoulder-knot (both 29th) have been the only other species recorded since last weekend - I've seen one or two reports of December Moth already but it hasn't appeared here yet.
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| Black Rustic, Westcott 30th October |
As I've already mentioned, Black Rustic has been one of this year's real winners locally. The garden count for 2019 has now reached 925 and it has been present in the garden trap every single night since 14th September. The moth was first seen here on 3rd September and the peak count was on 29th September when 77 were recorded. It usually peters out by the end of October but I have had November records for the garden in 2011, 2012, 2015 & 2018 so there's still a chance of a handful more yet.
Dave Wilton
Westcott, Bucks
It was a similar garden species count last night (31st) but double the number of moths: 66 individuals of 19 species, including Autumnal Moth new for the year and Dusky-lemon Sallow, Satellite & Large Yellow Underwing additional for the week. Tonight looks as though it could be reasonable again too, with the added possibility of migrants on southerly winds.
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