Making the most of the weather

If only this warm spell had come in July.  By the beginning of September the number of active moth species has usually fallen off a cliff so this period has really been a waste of excellent night-time temperatures!  Still, one has to make do with what one gets and on Thursday night I made a last-minute decision to venture out and make my monthly visit to BBOWT's Yoesden Bank near Radnage, Bucks.  I took just two traps, a 15w synergetic Heath and a 125w MV Robinson, and surprisingly the former out-performed the latter.  70 species were recorded altogether but there was little of note, although it was good to see nine examples of Argyresthia semitestacella and four of Hedge Rustic (the latter not a common species in Bucks).  Large Yellow Underwing, Square-spot Rustic & Common Wainscot provided the highest counts.

Hedge Rustic male, Yoesden Bank 7th September

Hedge Rustic female, Yoesden Bank 7th September

Last night (8th September) I was joined once again by Martin Albertini and Neil Fletcher, this time at BBOWT's Grangelands reserve near Princes Risborough, Bucks.  Here we managed over 100 species between us although again there wasn't a great deal of particular interest.  Antler Moth was good to see, while species to be expected now that Summer is over included Brindled Green, Black Rustic, Brown-spot Pinion, Barred Sallow, Centre-barred Sallow & Autumnal Rustic (as well as one more Hedge Rustic).  Migrants comprised Plutella xylostella, Cydia amplana, Udea ferrugalis and yet another Delicate, of which Cydia amplana (a rather worn example) is a good record for Bucks with sightings still in single digits.

Autumnal Rustic, Grangelands 8th September

Cydia amplana, Grangelands 8th September

Dave Wilton Westcott, Bucks