Shed rummage produces a Herald

A Herald was added to the year list but with no trapping involved.
This one was found in the garden shed whilst rummaging around for something so unimportant that the sight of this moth made me forget what I was rummaging for.
After a couple of quick camera snaps I returned it to its dormancy in the shed to wait for warmer nights.

Herald - Scoliopterix libatrix

4th Feb 2016 ... Garden Moths

A warmer, calmer night saw the garden traps on for the first time since storms Gertrude and Henry raged through. (no immediate signs of Imogen yet)
8.7 deg. C was the minimum temperature with light SW winds.
Three species were added to the year list including the unusual shaped tortrix Tortricodes alternella, which is long and narrow compared to other tortrix's and easily recognised.
3 x 0688 Agonopterix heracliana, year first
3 x 0998 Epiphyas postvittana
1 x 1025 Tortricodes alternella, year first
1 x 1497 Amblyptilia acanthadactyla, year first
2 x 1524 Emmelina monodactyla
3 x 1862 Double-striped Pug

688 Agonopterix heracliana

 

1025 Tortricodes alternella

17th Dec 2015 ... Black-spotted Chestnut

I had the pleasure of catching Bedfordshire's first record of Black-spotted Chestnut last night.
This may have been blown in on the mild SSW wind from its Kent stronghold or possibly from western Spain, Portugal or France, we'll never know.
The only other records outside of Kent are from Felixstowe, Suffolk in 2014 so this one is the most Northerly record for the UK.

BF 2259a - Black-spotted Chestnut . Conistra rubiginosa.
17/12/2015 - TL14 -VC30 - L. Burgess

Update: 
Another was caught on the 18th December in Upper Caldecote, about 3 miles away by Matt Burgess (son).
He lives approximately 1 mile north of me so his moth (on the left below ) now becomes the most northerly record ...

The two VC30 Black-spotted Chestnut's - photo: Melissa Banthorpe

Both moths were males and were released in suitable habitat in the vicinity of capture by the county recorders, Andy and Melissa Banthorpe.

25th Nov 2015 - December Moth

A common moth but quite rare in my town garden. This December Moth (male) is only my second record since Nov 2009.
This is possibly due to larvae released on a small Hawthorn tree in the garden back in early April this year.

December Moth larvae approx. 1 week old on Hawthorn, April 17th 2015

December Moth ♂ 25th Nov 2015

December Moth (male) 25th Nov. 2015

15th Nov 2015 ... Ni Moth

Just one trap on last night as it was blowing a near gale, but still very mild.
Only 3 moths to show for it, Epiphyas postvittana, Herald and a garden 1st Ni Moth.
Ni Moth is a rare immigrant and this one is only the second record for VC30, since one was caught in 2006...

Herald

Ni Moth

Ni Moth