22nd Dec 2011...Garden update

Still warm and a few moths about, too windy later in evening.
4 moths recorded :-
Double-striped Pug
Satellite
Endrosis sarcitrella
Dark Chestnut

No traps set on 23rd....too cold
No traps on 24th...Santas' landing lights switched on in garden !

Merry Christmas all !

21st Dec... Hi-ho Silver

Overnight min temp...6.2 deg. overcast, little breeze.
At 8pm the temperature was still above 10 degrees, Ideal conditions.             My target was a December Moth and I thought I had come up trumps until I got a little closer to a Silver Y on the wall near the trap, maybe tonight then.
4 species recorded :-
An Emmelina monodactyla completed a record for every month of 2011

Emmelina monodactyla

 Agonopterix heracliana was only the second micro recorded in December to date

Agonopterix heracliana

Two macros .... Angle Shades....common in my garden, and one of my favourites. The shape and the pattern of the various shades of brown are amazing, also they are easy to photograph.

Angle Shades

 A very late Silver Y

Silver Y

20th Dec 2011

The next two nights look promising if the rain holds off.
Minimum temp tonight is forecast to be 8 degrees so I will have the traps on in the hope of getting some of the winter species that I have dipped out on.
Last night I had a couple of traps on the go and caught a single Dark Chestnut.



Dark Chestnut



19th Dec 2011

A mini mild spell is upon us...temps rose from 3.8 at 1500 hrs, to 6 throughout the evening.
No last minute additions to the 2011 garden list but it was nice to see another Winter Moth on the wall above the trap....

Winter Moth

11th Dec 2011....a moth !

The cold snap put paid to the moth catch, so it's been a good time to send my records to the county recorders.
Only 2 moths recorded since my last posting...
Satellite, 3rd Dec... min temp 4.6 deg
Winter Moth, last night (11th Dec)...min temp 1.2 deg
I intend to leave a trap on during December on the warmer nights, just in case, but the light pollution at present is at maximum with all the christmas lights blazing away.

WINTER MOTH

30th Nov 2011

Overnight min temp...8.2 deg
Strong winds with light showers until some time in the wee wee hours.
Nothing to add to the year list, but two macros' were recorded.

Large Nutmeg..."Inhabiting dry pasture and woodland fringes, the adults fly in June and July, and are attracted to light and sugar".....from UK Moths


30th November catch :-
1 x Large Nutmeg !
1 x Silver Y

LARGE NUTMEG

Can anyone name this Catty ?... Found on the shed wall last night, about 35mm long.