A very warm night (14.5c min) produced only 31 moths of 19 species. However did get the 1st Hawk-moth of the year-Privet. Dwarf Cream Wave also new for the year. Visited Sissinghurst Castle yesterday. When the sun finally came out late afternoon the Downy Emeralds were easy to see on one of the ponds. They didn't settle for a photograph however. Did get some pictures of the Beautiful Demoiselles on the stream there-we don't get these in East Kent-only the Banded variety. Finally Volucella inflata was a good hoverfly record-only the 2nd one I've ever seen.

Beautiful Demoiselle

 Volucella inflata

Things are warming up a bit with 54 moths of 31 species. New for the year were: Common Footman, Shoulder-striped Wainscot, Red-barred Tortrix, Epinotia bilunana, Rhodophaea formosa, Monopis obviella, and a tiny micro yet to be identified. No Hawk Moths yet!

Shoulder-striped Wainscot

 Rhodophaea formosa

48 moths of 26 species this morning. New for the year were: Green Oak Tortrix, Treble Brown-spot, Flame Carpet, Yellow Shell, Ringed China-mark, Hollyhock Seed Moth, Batia lunaris, Diamond-back, Eusosoma cana, and Homoeosoma sinuella, which was a new species for the garden list.

Homoeosoma sinuella

29 moths of 16 species this morning. New for the year were: Foxglove Pug, The Coronet, & Middle-barred Minor.

The Coronet

A bit of an improvement with 35 moths of 19 species. New for the year were Riband Wave, Double Square-spot, & Seatceous Hebrew Character. Cinnabars are on the wing now too. The one below was photographed at Oare marshes today. I also made a short visit to Lorenden Park, Painter's Forstall where the Marbled Whites are on the wing. Somewhat to my surprise there was also a flock of around 12 Mediterranean Gulls overhead.

Cinnabar Moth

Med Gull

Only 9 moths of 7 species this morning. However, July Highflyer, Green Pug, and The Uncertain were all new for the year. Since yesterday's posting I've confirmed the identity of a new tortrix for the garden list from yesterday morning: Flax Tortrix (Cnephasia asseclana).

Flax Tortrix

Put the trap out more in hope than expectation-well it is National Moth Night weekend. 18 moths of 13 species this morning. However after a 9 year wait I finally got the 2nd garden record of Ruddy Carpet this morning. It was very difficult to photograph but persistence paid off in the end.

 Ruddy Carpet

A bit better night with 17 moths of 13 species. New for the year were: Bryotropha affinis, Mottled Beauty, Dark Arches, The Shears, & Marbled Minor (agg.)

The Shears

Had a better night on 20th with 15 species with Brown Rustic, Bright-line Brown-eye, & Celypha striana all new for the year. This morning after a wiondy night back to just 7 species.

Celypha striana

13 moths of 11 species this morning. New for the year were: Ephestia parasitella, Small Magpie, Common White Wave, & Buff Ermine. Yesterday a male Stag Beetle took a likeing to a rug on our washing line.

Stag Beetle

Just 11 moths of 8 species this morning. New for the year was Carcina quercana.

Carcina quercana

A better night last night with 20 moths of 16 species-my best so far this year. New for the year were Peppered Moth, Heart & Club, Garden Grass-veneer, and Eudonia lacustrata.

Eudonia lacustrata

This day last year I had 22 species in the trap. This year it was 8. New for the year were B. lacticollela, Bramble-shoot Moth, The Flame & Heart & Dart.

Bramble Shoot Moth

I haven't been putting the trap out much lately. Results still poor. Since my last report Lime-speck Pug, Flame Shoulder, Common Marbled Carpet, Scoparia ambigualis have all been new for the year.

Heath Fritillary

Just 10 moths of 8 species this morning with the first Large Yellow Underwing of the year being the only record of any note. Went to East Blean Woods around lunchtime today. Saw about 6 Heath Fritillaries in the car park area along with a Hornet.

Hornet

 

 Heath Fritillary

The bad weather continues so I've not much to report that's particularly exiting. I did have my 2nd record of Mompha subbstrigella on 6th June; & this morning I had the first Mottled Pug & Eudonia mercurella of the year.I always find this group of Pyralids very difficult.

Eudonia mercurella

Just 13 moths of 7 species this morning. Just Vine's Rustic new for the year.

Well we've reached the end of May. By this date last year I'd recorded 87 species in my garden compared to 56 this year. However, the figures for the macros is worse with 72 last year compared to 39 this year. I've actually had 2 more micro species this year so far: 17 compared with 15 last year. Only 7 species this morning with Currant Pug new for the year.

 Common Swift