Sunday 4 September 2022

Migrants at Worminghall, Bucks

A very good night here last night for migrants (in fact one of my best). After chasing a Loxostege sticticalis around the garden yesterday, trying in vain to get a photo, it or another one was back on the side of the trap this morning and I managed to get it in the pot this time. Also my first Convolvulus Hawkmoth for the garden and supporting cast included 2 Vestals, 2 Dark Sword Grass, 3 Rush Veneer and also 4 White Points, a Turnip, 3 European Corn Borer, Angle Shades, 2 Pale Mottled Willow and at least 3 presumed Beet Moths. 

I've not been trapping here long enough to know for sure but this year seems exceptional for migrants (compared to the previous couple of years). Also recently (last few weeks) had Small Mottled Willow, L-album Wainscot, Pearly Underwing, Bordered Straw, Hummingbird Hawkmoths, up to 8 Vestals now this year, lost count of Dark Sword Grass, daily Rush Veneer for weeks now (peaking at 27 one night) etc plus what ever is going on with all these Beet Moths (up to 72 here on night). It's been really enjoyable! 

Also an Old Lady which was another new for year. Garden year list 463 (unratified). 

Loxostege sticticalis
Convolvulus Hawkmoth 
Vestal
Dark Sword Grass
Rush Veneer
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3 comments:

  1. Martin Albertini4 September 2022 at 17:32

    Well done Peter and there is plenty of time for more to come along!

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  2. Dave Wilton4 September 2022 at 17:59

    Maybe I should move back to Worminghall, having left the village in 2001!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Peter Alfrey5 September 2022 at 08:38

    Worminghall seems to have coped with the drought quite well, there's a brook that runs through our garden so the water table isn't far below the surface in the village and not too many signs of early autumn in the trees etc. I did wonder whether or not there was some kind of oasis effect going on here to explain why so many migrants?? Also I'm running two traps every night now, the MV and the Actinic and the Actinic is performing much better- eg the hawkmoth and loxostege were both in the Actinic (about 150 moths in the actinic and half that in the MV recently).

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