Westcott, Bucks

December Moth put in its first garden appearance of the year here last night with four individuals turning up, all of them male.

December Moth, Westcott 8th November

They were accompanied by Acleris variegana (1), Acleris kochiella (1), Red-green Carpet (6), Winter Moth (1), Feathered Thorn (1), Silver Y (1), Sprawler (14), Yellow-line Quaker (1) & Beaded Chestnut (1), so quite an acceptable result for this point in the year.  Sprawler seems to be doing reasonably well at the moment as that's 37 of them I've had here over the past four nights, taking this season's garden total to 55.  However, the moth will have to get a move on to reach 2018's count of 154!  Acleris kochiella is a regular here (there is plenty of elm both locally and within the garden) although the only other example to appear at Westcott this year was also a winter specimen back in February.  I keep hoping for the rather similar Acleris logiana (a birch feeder) which visited the garden a couple of times in 2020 but has yet to put in an appearance this year.  It is another one which over-winters as an adult.

Acleris kochiella, Westcott 8th November

Dave Wilton Westcott, Bucks