25th Nov 2012 ...Migrant micro

It was a nice day in Bedfordshire today, a brief respite between two weather fronts.
So I dragged my knackered knee and daughters dog along the local river Ivel, a feeder for the the Great Ouse.
As I wandered downstream of Jordans Mill (of health food bars fame) I was thrilled by the sight of a Kingfisher whirring past with the sunlight reflecting from its superb plumage, a strong contender for Britains most beautiful bird.

Pathway along the river Ivel

Found this leaf mine on an oak sapling that had retained its browning leaves, maybe a Stigmella spp. ?

Mine on oak leaf

I have switched on the garden traps tonight but had to cover them at 19.30 hrs as the next weather front moved in with its accompanying rain, but I found this Rusty Dot Pearl Udea ferrugalis on the trap before the covers were hastily put in place a couple of  hours ago.....

1395 Udea ferrugalis

26th Nov  am.... 8deg min with frequent periods of rain
Trap results:-
1 x 0998 Epiphyas postvittana, Light Brown Apple Moth
1 x 1395 Udea ferrugalis, Rusty Dot Pearl
1 x 2256 Eupsilia transversa, Satellite

20th Nov, 2012 ... Garden Trap

A warm night produced a few moths, the first since the 15th Nov, mainly micros
Once again, the rain didn't seem to bother them.
A Pseudargyrotoza conwagana was a surprise as I had missed it in the Summer ? But checking the micro book I see they also fly in Sept and Nov.
9 moths of  7 species was a good result.......

3 x 0998..... Epiphyas postvittana
1 x 1011..... Pseudargyrotoza conwagana, year first
1 x 1044/5...Acleris ferrugana/notana
1 x 1047..... Acleris schalleriana
1 x 1342..... Eudonia angustea
1 x 1524..... Emmelina monodactyla
1 x 2441..... Silver Y

Some poor pics shot in the pots.....

Pseudargyrotoza conwagana

Acleris ferrugana or notana

Eudonia angustea

15th Nov 2012 ... Garden trap

A late Willow Beauty

Just 5 moths recorded.
None actually in the trap (Twin 20w blacklight/15w actinic skinner)

1... 1937 Willow Beauty
1... 2087 Turnip Moth
1... 2109 Lesser Yellow Underwing
1... 2267 Beaded Chestnut
1... 2306 Angle Shades

13th Nov 2012... Garden Traps

A few moths were about last night, enjoying the 10 deg. min temperature.
The previous 4 nights tally was zero !
All of the micros were caught in the early evening and there were no macros to be seen before 01.00 am when I went to bed after checking the traps.

2... 0229 Monopis obviella
2... 0284 Caloptilia rufipennella ... below

1... 0647 Hofmanophila pseudospretella
3... 0998 Epiphyas postvittana
1... 1524 Emmelina monodactyla
1... 1760 Red-green Carpet ... below...probably the best marked example I have seen at The Dells

1... 2256 Satellite ... below

1... 2267 Beaded Chestnut
3... 2306 Angle Shades ... below

6/7/8/9th Nov 2012 .. Slim pickings

Not much to report from The Dells garden traps over the last few nights.
Weather has been OK but moths are thin in the air.

6th Nov
Light Brown Apple Moth
Common Plume
Dark Chestnut
Angle Shades

7th Nov
Black Rustic

8th Nov
1, Lesser Yellow Underwing
3, Blair's Shoulder-knot
2, Light Brown Apple Moth
2, Common Plume

9th Nov
Just two moths........

998 Epiphyas postvittana, Light Brown Apple Moth

1760 Red-green Carpet, Chloroclysta siterata

5th Nov 2012 ... Leaf mine adds another micro

I haven't seen a moth for days now, except in Matts wallet, so I checked my Silver Birch and amongst the Lyonetia clerkella mines was this 0034...Ectoedemia occultella.
verification....D V Manning (County micro recorder Beds & Northants)

Normal daylight

Against window

Torchlight