Back this morning for the fourth time, on a cold and fairly sparse night; and this is definitely a different specimen, fresher and with less wing edge damage. I wonder if the Kent and Norfolk Broads colonies in the past were bigger than recorded because there were no light traps for most of their existence? Otherwise things have been quite busy on the warmer nights, with Orange Sallow, Feathered Gothic and a couple of Old Ladies among a host of Square-spot Rustics, Hebrew Characters, Silver Ys, Light Emeralds, Brimstones (the latter two favouring out-of-trap perches) and assorted Yellow Underwings plus my first Autumnal Rustic today. Martin Wainwright, Thrupp, Oxon
Hello Martin,
ReplyDeleteThat one is certainly in excellent condition and looks to be newly-emerged. Maybe their emergence is spread out because the moth has been flying for a month already in our area.
Hi Dave - it's a fascinating business, isn't it? The first I had here, last year, was on 19 September, so still plenty of time for more. I hope that someone is writing a learned paper - and also that the alternative name of Blue Underwing doesn't catch on. What could be grander and mor mysterious than Clifden Nonpareil? All v best M
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