June 7th 2013 ... Eyed like some more of these ....

1980 ... Eyed Hawk-moth ... Smerinthus ocellata

Last year I had given up with Eyed Hawk, resigned to "dipping out".
After all, it was early September so no chance.
But, on a chilly October 14th evening, following a warm, sunny day, one appeared on the wall beside the trap.
That was the latest record for Bedfordshire, the previous latest being August 5th.*
The above creature was in the trap this morning and gave me the usual "start" when the egg box was turned to reveal it ....These Hawks are amazing !
At least it was not totally unexpected.
The NE wind had the usual bite to it, and although the thermometer was reading 7 degrees (the same as the night before) it felt much colder and the numbers were considerably lower than the previous night.
Common Swift was also added to the garden year list, which is trailing 2012 by a margin, and 2012 was a bad year !
I think it will pick up very soon, ever optimistic .. if the glass is half empty all the the time, get a bigger bottle!
Last nights catch :-
Micro moths
0648 ... Endrosis sarcitrella ... White-shouldered House-moth ... 2
0808 ... Playedra subcinerea ... Mallow Groundling ... 1

808 ... Patyedra subcinerea

0874 ... Blastobasis lacticolella ... London Dowd ... 1
0998 ... Epiphyas postvittana ... Light Brown Apple Moth ... 1
Macro moths
0017 ... Common Swift ... Hepialus lupulinus ... 1 ... YF

17 ... Common Swift ... Hepialus lupulinus

1728 ... Garden Carpet ... Xanthorhoe fluctuata ... 2
1776 ... Green Carpet ... Colostygia pectinataria
1834 ... Common Pug ... Eupithecia vulgata ... 2
1920 ... Scalloped Hazel ... Odontopera bidentata ... 1
1931 ... Peppered Moth ... Biston betularia ... 1

1931 ... Peppered Moth ... Biston betularia

1980 ... Eyed Hawk-moth ... Smerinthus ocellata ...1 ... YF
2060 ... White Ermine ... Spilosoma lubricipeda ... 1
2069 ... Cinnabar ... Tyria jacobaeae ... 1
2089 ... Heart and Dart ... Agrotis exclamationis ... 1
2092 ... Shuttle-shaped Dart ... Agrotis puta ... 4
2154 ... Cabbage Moth ... Mamestra brassicae ... 1
2279 ... Sycamore ... Acronicta aceris ... 1
2283/4. Dark/Grey Dagger agg. ... Acronicta tridens/psi ... 1
2334 ... Rustic Shoulder-knot ... Apamea sordens ... 1
2337/9. Marbled Minor agg. ... 1
2380 ... Treble Lines ... 1



*Courtesy of Andy and Melissa Banthorpe, Bedfordshire VC30 Macro moth recorders.