Autumnal

No, I've not given up already! I have had a couple of busy weeks at work though, and the weather has been generally crappy so not been able to do a lot to post about. I've been out today looking at/for fungi so I'll post about those sometime soon, and the garden traps have been back out a few nights recently, bringing in more autumnal moths. Like these.

Pink-barred Sallow

Beaded Chestnut

Barred Sallow

Lunar Underwing

Lunar Underwing

Frosted Orange

Burnished Brass

Summer is here ...

... Swallow-tailed Moth last night!

Actually, a second brood is not unprecedented but this is my latest ever (after a few September individuals in 2006). Right on with the summaries for 1st & 2nd.

01/10/2011 : Total catch 81 of 32sp.
(125W MV 27 of 16, 22W/18W Synergetic/CFL combo 54 of 25)

0464 Diamond-back Moth (Plutella xylostella) 1
0648 White-shouldered House Moth (Endrosis sarcitrella) 1
0870 Oegoconia quadripuncta 1
0874 Blastobasis lacticolella 3
0998 Light Brown Apple Moth (Epiphyas postvittana) 9
1041 Acleris sparsana 4
1042 Rhomboid Tortrix (Acleris rhombana) 1
1048 Garden Rose Tortrix (Acleris variegana) 6
1054 Acleris cristana 1
1497 Amblyptilia acanthadactyla 1
1524 Emmelina monodactyla 3
1760 Red-green Carpet (Chloroclysta siterata) 1
1937 Willow Beauty (Peribatodes rhomboidaria) 1
2092 Shuttle-shaped Dart (Agrotis puta) 1
2107 Large Yellow Underwing (Noctua pronuba) 11
2109 Lesser Yellow Underwing (Noctua comes) 5
2126 Setaceous Hebrew Character (Xestia c-nigrum) 2
2134 Square-spot Rustic (Xestia xanthographa) 2
2240 Blair's Shoulder-knot (Lithophane leautieri hesperica) 2
2245 Green-brindled Crescent (Allophyes oxyacanthae) 3
2262 Brick (Agrochola circellaris) 1
2263 Red-line Quaker (Agrochola lota) 2
2264 Yellow-line Quaker (Agrochola macilenta) 1
2266 Brown-spot Pinion (Agrochola litura) 1
2267 Beaded Chestnut (Agrochola lychnidis) 6
2270 Lunar Underwing (Omphaloscelis lunosa) 1
2272 Barred Sallow (Xanthia aurago) 5
2273 Pink-barred Sallow (Xanthia togata) 1
2274 Sallow (Xanthia icteritia) 1
2361 Rosy Rustic (Hydraecia micacea) 1
2389 Pale Mottled Willow (Paradrina clavipalpis) 1
2477 Snout (Hypena proboscidalis) 1

I'm convinced this is Oegoconia deauratella (albeit late!). I added this species to the VC55 list in 2003, based on an individual that looked different and turned out right after gen. det. This one has a witness of the markings on the costa just beyond the basal markings, which should make it deauratella.

Oegoconia quadripuncta - gen. det. by Jon Clifton Jan 2012

Barred Sallow - a nice richly marked one

Beaded Chestnut - this is the best year for this species in the garden, the previous best being 2001.

02/10/2011 : Total catch 85 of 34sp.
(125W MV 27 of 19, 22W/18W Synergetic/CFL combo 58 of 26)

0246 Tinea semifulvella 1
0648 White-shouldered House Moth (Endrosis sarcitrella) 2
0688 Agonopterix heracliana 1
0874 Blastobasis lacticolella 2
0994 Clepsis consimilana 1
0998 Light Brown Apple Moth (Epiphyas postvittana) 2
1041 Acleris sparsana 4
1042 Rhomboid Tortrix (Acleris rhombana) 1
1048 Garden Rose Tortrix (Acleris variegana) 5
1062 Acleris emargana 1 (NFY)
1497 Amblyptilia acanthadactyla 1
1760 Red-green Carpet (Chloroclysta siterata) 1
1764 Common Marbled Carpet (Chloroclysta truncata) 1
1795x November Moth agg. (Epirrita dilutata agg.) 1 (NFY)
1922 Swallow-tailed Moth (Ourapteryx sambucaria) 1
2092 Shuttle-shaped Dart (Agrotis puta) 5
2107 Large Yellow Underwing (Noctua pronuba) 6
2109 Lesser Yellow Underwing (Noctua comes) 7
2126 Setaceous Hebrew Character (Xestia c-nigrum) 1
2232 Black Rustic (Aporophyla nigra) 3
2240 Blair's Shoulder-knot (Lithophane leautieri hesperica) 8
2259 Dark Chestnut (Conistra ligula) 2
2262 Brick (Agrochola circellaris) 2
2263 Red-line Quaker (Agrochola lota) 3
2264 Yellow-line Quaker (Agrochola macilenta) 1
2267 Beaded Chestnut (Agrochola lychnidis) 2
2270 Lunar Underwing (Omphaloscelis lunosa) 1
2272 Barred Sallow (Xanthia aurago) 9
2273 Pink-barred Sallow (Xanthia togata) 1
2274 Sallow (Xanthia icteritia) 1
2306 Angle Shades (Phlogophora meticulosa) 1
2361 Rosy Rustic (Hydraecia micacea) 2
2441 Silver Y (Autographa gamma) 4
2477 Snout (Hypena proboscidalis) 1

Acleris emargana - only the second for the garden (first 2003)

Acleris sparsana

Light Brown Apple Moth - the massive decline continues, only 77 individuals so far this year (versus 219 in 2010, a peak of 902 in 2002, and an average of 545 2003 - 2009)

Dark Chestnut

From the garden trap 22/09/2011

... but before that, a garden tick from yesterday evening in the form of a leaf-mine on a large cultivated rose that is actually growing in the neighbours garden although the branch that yielded this is overhanging the fence into my garden (good enough for me anyway!).

Stigmella anomalella

More than double both the individuals and species in the traps last night compared to Wednesday, with three more yearticks but nothing to get the adrenaline going (it's been a good five years now since any decent autumnal migrants landed in my garden traps). Sadly the Black Rustic was a bit too scuffed to bother photographing.

Total catch 63 of 27sp.
(125W MV 24 of 17, 22W/18W Synergetic/CFL combo 39 of 22)

0648 White-shouldered House Moth (Endrosis sarcitrella) 3
0874 Blastobasis lacticolella 1
0985 Carnation Tortrix (Cacoecimorpha pronubana) 1 (NFY)
0998 Light Brown Apple Moth (Epiphyas postvittana) 1
1042 Rhomboid Tortrix (Acleris rhombana) 1
1048 Garden Rose Tortrix (Acleris variegana) 3
1138 Epinotia nisella 1
1524 Emmelina monodactyla 7
1760 Red-green Carpet (Chloroclysta siterata) 1
1764 Common Marbled Carpet (Chloroclysta truncata) 3
1906 Brimstone Moth (Opisthograptis luteolata) 1
1937 Willow Beauty (Peribatodes rhomboidaria) 3
2092 Shuttle-shaped Dart (Agrotis puta) 1
2107 Large Yellow Underwing (Noctua pronuba) 9
2109 Lesser Yellow Underwing (Noctua comes) 5
2126 Setaceous Hebrew Character (Xestia c-nigrum) 2
2134 Square-spot Rustic (Xestia xanthographa) 3
2199 Common Wainscot (Mythimna pallens) 2
2232 Black Rustic (Aporophyla nigra) 1 (NFY)
2267 Beaded Chestnut (Agrochola lychnidis) 2
2270 Lunar Underwing (Omphaloscelis lunosa) 2
2272 Barred Sallow (Xanthia aurago) 1 (NFY)
2273 Pink-barred Sallow (Xanthia togata) 3
2274 Sallow (Xanthia icteritia) 3
2297 Copper Underwing (Amphipyra pyramidea) 1
2306 Angle Shades (Phlogophora meticulosa) 1
2477 Snout (Hypena proboscidalis) 1

Barred Sallow

Red-green Carpet (first since 13th January!)

Common Wainscot

And following a comment from Matt, here's the periodicity plots for my Common Wainscot records:

A bit of fresh air

Took today off of work - lots going on and I wanted a bit of fresh air to clear my head! I had intended to go for a full day's birding out of county, but with the shite weather and lack of interest on the news services I opted instead to just have a couple of hours out and stay local(ish). I headed over to Eyebrook Res, where it was blowy, chilly and damp. It was also very busy with birdlife - albeit masses of common stuff and not a great deal of interest.

As ever at Eyebrook, there is plenty of shoreline that can't be properly seen. The fishermen's boats were also active, so most stuff was pushed down to the inflow end. Loads of waders - but they were all Lapwings. Loads of gulls - but they were all Black-headed / Common / Lesser Black-backed / Herring. Every wagtail was Pied, every pipit was Meadow, every small finch flock was devoid of anything bit Linnets. Still - I thoroughly enjoyed the relative peace and it was good to see most of the wintering duck species back plus a few Pintail which tend to bugger of from VC55 before the harshest weather.

Damned ugly terns ..

You appreciate how small Teal are when you see them roosting next to Mallards.

The right-hand Cormorant appears to be telling the Mute to feck right off.

Also as usual at Eyebrook, loads of damned thick Pheasants and Red-legged Partidges loitering around after recent release. I'm not pro-shooting anyway, but where is the sport in rearing and shooting these stupid feckers!? I'd much rather they got on with blasting a load of Canadas and feral Greylags.

The weather was meant to clear up a bit by late morning / early afternoon - but there appeared to be little sign of that actually happening and it really was unseasonably crap. I headed over to Rutland Water, but I had no intention of flogging round the reserve unless I had something to suggest it would be worthwhile. I poked my nose over Manton Bridge - 4 Ruff, 1 Green Sand, 1 Snipe, another 10 or so Pintail and 7 Little Egrets but no Calidris spp. I decided to head back home and do something else. Fair-weather birder me.


The garden traps were last out on Wednesday night. It was very mild with good cloud cover and a very light breeze, though heavy rain was forecast to move in. I put the traps out with great expectation of both a good haul and getting wet in the morning whilst emptying. I was wrong on both counts - Thursday morning was damp from some light drizzle and it was cold, but the traps were very quiet. 41 of 15sp, with Barred Sallow and Black Rustic being the only garden firsts for the year.

0647 Brown House Moth (Hofmannophila pseudospretella) 1
0998 Light Brown Apple Moth (Epiphyas postvittana) 5
1398 Rush Veneer (Nomophila noctuella) 1
1524 Emmelina monodactyla 3
1682 Blood-vein (Timandra comae) 1
1760 Red-green Carpet (Chloroclysta siterata) 1
2107 Large Yellow Underwing (Noctua pronuba) 10
2109 Lesser Yellow Underwing (Noctua comes) 10
2154 Cabbage Moth (Mamestra brassicae) 1
2232 Black Rustic (Aporophyla nigra) 1
2240 Blair's Shoulder-knot (Lithophane leautieri hesperica) 1
2272 Barred Sallow (Xanthia aurago) 2
2273 Pink-barred Sallow (Xanthia togata) 1
2274 Sallow (Xanthia icteritia) 1
2441 Silver Y (Autographa gamma) 2

Barred Sallow

Red-green Carpet

From the garden trap & Hazleborough Forest

From the garden trap 07/09/09 Numbers in the MV picked up with a fresh bulb fitted, and the trap immediately scored a garden tick - nice! Cochylimorpha straminea Total catch 137 of 29sp. (125W MV 58 of 21sp., 80W actinic 79 of 17sp.) First for garden: Cochylimorpha straminea 1 First for year in garden: Black Rustic (Aporophyla nigra) 1 Frosted Orange (Gortyna flavago) 1 Highest counts: Large Yellow Underwing (Noctua pronuba) 36 Light Brown Apple Moth (Epiphyas postvittana) 28 Lesser Yellow Underwing (Noctua comes) 17 Other highlights: Eudonia angustea 1 Gold Spot (Plusia festucae) 1 Hazleborough Forest 08/09/09 Last nights session at Hazleborough was with a particular target in mind - a species that is extremely scarce/local in VC55. We were hopeful of getting one or two - turned out to be the commonest moth of the night! Oak Lutestring Total catch was a relatively low 138 of 40sp., however we only trapped for a couple of hours or so and were somewhat distracted by the Lutestrings and bastard Hornets. British Tick: Oak Lutestring (Cymatophorima diluta hartwiegi) 27 Other highlights: Argyresthia semitestacella 1 Epinotia maculana 1 Red-green Carpet (Chloroclysta siterata) 1 Centre-barred Sallow (Atethmia centrago) 12 Orange Sallow (Xanthia citrago) 1 Barred Sallow (Xanthia aurago) 2 Small Wainscot (Chortodes pygmina) 1 Frosted Orange (Gortyna flavago) 1 Barred Sallow - superfresh Centre-barred Sallow Catoptria falsella From the garden trap 08/09/09 Better numbers but no major excitement. Total catch 176 of 33sp. (125W MV 91 of 22sp., 80W actinic 85 of 21sp.) First for year in garden: Red-green Carpet (Chloroclysta siterata) 1 Highest counts: Light Brown Apple Moth (Epiphyas postvittana) 51 Large Yellow Underwing (Noctua pronuba) 41 Lesser Yellow Underwing (Noctua comes) 17 Other highlights: Eudonia angustea 1 Centre-barred Sallow (Atethmia centrago) 1 Rosy Rustic (Hydraecia micacea) 2 Frosted Orange (Gortyna flavago) 1 Vine's Rustic (Hoplodrina ambigua) 2 Red-green Carpet

From the garden trap - 27/08/2008

Another bumper catch, rounded off nicely with two very unexpected garden-first micros: Caloptilia populetorum - a county tick for me aswell. Don't think there are many previous records; Andy Mackay took it as a VC55 first in 2003. Roeslerstammia erxlebella - again not many previous records other than mine in 2006 from Charnwood Lodge and Enderby Quarry. This one is a bit knackered but shows (just) the whitish band on the antennae, golden-yellow head and metallic sheen to forewing. Total catch 568 of 52sp. (125W MV 207 of 42sp., 80W actinic 361 of 35sp.) First for garden: Caloptilia populetorum 1 Roeslerstammia erxlebella 1 First for year in garden: Meal Moth (Pyralis farinalis) 1 Barred Sallow (Xanthia aurago) 1 Highest counts: Large Yellow Underwing (Noctua pronuba) 239 [180 act, 59 MV] Lesser Yellow Underwing (Noctua comes) 42 [29 act, 13 MV] Light Brown Apple Moth (Epiphyas postvittana) 31 [17 MV, 14 act] Square-spot Rustic (Xestia xanthographa) 31 [18 act, 13 MV] Garden Carpet (Xanthorhoe fluctuata) 25 [17 act, 8 MV] Willow Beauty (Peribatodes rhomboidaria) 23 [13 MV, 10 act] Agriphila geniculea 21 [12 act, 9 MV] Other highlights: Old Lady (Mormo maura) 2 Gold Spot (Plusia festucae) 4 Barred Sallow - another nice yellowy one