Jan 25th...2011.... Another Y. ustella ?

Just checked my garden trap and lights, it's peeing it down but temperature is still above 7 deg C. This brave little micro was found on the shed wall, attracted by the wash of actinic light.
I think this is another Ypsolopha ustella but in a different outfit to the one caught earlier on 13th Jan.

This is the 13th Jan edition, posted for comparison. These are a very variable species but there are no oak trees nearby and I wonder if there is another food plant ? It is still early doors so I'm hoping for a break in the rain. The heady 7deg C may tempt a few more to exercise their wings tonight.............

FOOTNOTE :

Our esteemed micro recorder, Mr David Manning, is now back from his hols in NZ and informs me that the Y. ustella in the bottom pic is only the 11th county record and only the second record in TL14 since the first in 1985.

So if the top pic is confirmed as Y. ustella that will be the 12th and 3rd repectively....fame at last !

I.D. confirmed by VC30

Name that Caterpillar...any takers ?

Not much happening on the moth front now that we are in the grip of another cold spell.
I've dug up some caterpillar pics and wondered if anyone knows the ID ? They were all from my garden ....................................
Marbled Beauty......... thanks Pabs !

Jan 18th...2011...Too cold, but a bonus

No traps out last night as temperatures hit freezing point, but I notched a little Brucie bonus when I found this Dark Chestnut on the brick vent of the dining room.
I have probably let this in, or inadvertently carried it in on my clothing the night before, as I use the dining room patio door to inspect the traps and walls during the evenings.
SO, a year first and my 2nd macro for the year list.
The "bottle of wine" challenge with Sir Matt of Upper Caldecote, thetrappingsofsuccess, has resumed and already I am 3-2 down (macros).
I was thoroughly whipped last year, losing by 40, so a big effort is required.
I still have to pay my debt of one bottle of classy red wine for last years defeat.....a nice Bulgarian maybe !
......................................................................................................................................
DARK CHESTNUT

Jan 17th...2011...Then the rain came

Perfect conditions last night until 22.30 when the rain put an end to the proceedings.
This little beetle was foraging around on my wall, it is quite common in my garden but I've no idea what it is......anyone ?
Another Winter moth was found on the brick wall near the trap, but as for my hopes of something new turning up.....Bloody rain !
.........................................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................................
UNIDENTIFIED BEETLE

WINTER MOTH

SAME WINTER MOTH

Jan 16th...2010...Emmy award for persistence

Blowing a gale again tonight, but suddenly at 1900 hrs, the wind stopped and with my temperature gauge showing 8.8 deg C I turned on the traps.
Perfect I thought and then down came the rain which resulted in a mad scramble to cover up the traps.
By 10.30 the rain had stopped and the sky had cleared so where were the expected moths ?
No Mottled Umbers, Winter Moths, Chestnuts etc but at least I got my first E.monodactyla of the year............I may have to add them in the morning when I check the traps. Hope springs eternal
.........................................................
Emmelina monodactyla

The warmer weather stirred this Large Yellow Underwing larva into action....no doubt my traps will be full of LYU's later in the year. Highest count in one evening last year was 99 in two traps.

For the last couple of years or so my garden has been a fairly regular calling place for a pair of Stock Doves. So today, I fired off a shot with my Lumix through a double glazed window for a passable pic. I don't know what attracts them to my garden but they are now enjoying the corn I scatter on the lawn and so are the Woodies and Collared Doves.

13th Jan 2011...Early micro

The higher temperatures stirred this little micro into action. It is almost certainly Ypsolopha ustella, as the other members of its kind are not on the wing at this time of year.
Our "micro man" is away on his hols, so a positive ID will have to wait for a week, but our "macro man" seems to think it is ustella which looks like a good call.
Could be a garden "first" for The Dells

7th Jan 2011.....IT STARTS !

WINTER MOTH

The new year kicked off last night with a Winter Moth. Temperatures were at a heady 9degC until the early hours so on went the traps.

Driving along the Cardington Road to Bedford at 20.30 last night I spotted several moths in the car headlights.

They looked to be of three distinct sizes so I assume there were 3 different species, one being very large, but the bulk would have been Winter Moths.

As an added bonus, I also saw, Rabbits, a Fox, Tawny Owl, Muntjak Deer and a mouse !

A stiff breeze and rain showers didn't help but it was nice to get the Winter on the illuminated shed door to start the season.

2010 macro total for my urban Biggleswade garden was 207 which was a poor second to the "Rodent" in Upper Caldecote, whose designer "Ratface" trap accounted for almost 150 macros, costing me the rough end of a side bet ( unpaid to date !)

SO, obviously the target total is 208 + for 2011 and as it was officially the coldest December since records began in 1910, I expect to do better at the back end of this year. Surely it won't be colder.............

A happy New Year to all,,, full traps.

........................................................................................................................................................................