Slightly better numbers this morning with 26 moths of 18 species. Nothing new for the year-a Privet Hawk-moth was about the most interesting. The other new (for me) macro species I photographed at the weekend in East Sussex was Poplar Kitten-rather a worn specimen unfortunately. I've only ever had Sallow Kitten in the garden.

Poplar Kitten

Last night was probably my worst ever July night with just 5 moths of 5 species this morning. The temperature went down just below 10c last night and it was also windy, I didn't trap Saturday night but went over to East Sussex to see some moths trapped at Hastings Country Park. I managed to photograph Pigmy Footman, which was a new species for me. There were also a couple of new micros: Metzneria metzneriella and Helcystogramma rufescens. I was pleased to be able to photograph The Drinker, which I've seen before but not at home.

Pigmy Footman

The Drinker

             
 

My best night of the year so far which ws also the warmest with a low of 15c. There were 49 moths of 29 species including Waved Black which is always a nice one to see and 2 new species for the Garden List. The first was The Festoon and the second was slightly less welcome Case-bearing Clothes Moth. Also new for the year were: The Codling Moth, and Plain Pug.

The Festoon

 Waved Black

I had high hopes that last night would be good and with a low of 14.5c it was probably the warmest night of the year. However, there was only 16 moths of 11 species this morning. There was one new species for the year: Willow Ermine.

 Willow Ermine

 

39 moths of 26 species this morning. Yesterday's Footman was, as suspected, Dingy. New this morning for the year were: D.alpinana, Common Grass-veneer, Mother of Pearl, Swallow-tailed Moth, & Elephant Hawk-moth.

Mother of Pearl

44 Moths of 27 species this morning. New for the year were Large Twin-spot Carpet & a Footman which is probably Dingy but I think might be Buff. Any suggestions gratefully received,

Dingy/Buff Footman

46 moths of 26 species this morning. New for the year were Dark Fruit-tree Tortrix and the Meal Moth.

44 moths of 25 species this morning. New for the year were V-Pug, Scarce Footman, & my 2nd Garden record of Oak Nycteolene.

Oak Nycteolene

Scarce Footman

Heavy rain on Friday night meant soggy egg boxes Saturday morning & only 16 moths of 8 species (7 Common Footman). This morning after a cool night,  with a low of 11c, 26 moths of 16 species. Nothing new for the year.

This morning was fairly good with 49 moths of 29 species. New for the year were Acleris forsskaleana, Purple Thorn, & my 3rd garden record of Latticed Heath. Also this morning at Dungeness I photographed The Magpie Moth on the ARC pit Willow Trail. Along the path to the main hide at the ARC pit I had a glimpse of an interesting large dragonfly, which was probably a Lesser Emperor.

 Latticed Heath

The Magpie

 

A dry night with a low of 14c produced 75 moths of 31 species, about as good as it gets this year? There was new macro species for my garden list: the aptly named Dingy Shears. Also new for the year was Batia unitella, Yellow-barred Tortrix (P.congawana) & Cloaked Minor.

Dingy Shears

Yellow-barred Tortrix

An unusually dry night with 33 moths of 21 species this morning. New for the year were: Agapeta hamana, Phycita roborella, Slender Pug, Varied Coronet & The Lychnis. I've now reached 100 macros for the year. However this milestone is about a month later this year than last.

Varied Coronet

The Lychnis

Another dampish night with 36 moths of 24 species this morning. New for the year were: Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing, Common/Lesser Common Rustic, Dun-bar, Dot Moth, Small Emerald, & Catoptria falsella.

Small Emerald

36 moths of 20 species this morning. New for the year were "Ash" Pug & Dark Fruit-tree Tortrix. See Moths of Calgary for one of the largest Silk Moths in N.America.

Dark Fruit-tree Tortrix

Another wet night. 39 moths of 20 species this morning. There was my 2nd Privet Hawk-moth of this summer. However, I was very pleased to get the Star-wort, which was my 2nd garden record. The last one was in 2004. Nothing else new for the year. 

The Star-wort

No trap last night due to heavy rain/thunder/lightning etc. However, I did visit Dene Park Wood near Tonbridge yesterday after lunch. I had to dodge the showers but there were a couple of spells of warm sunshine when I was able to photograph a White Admiral. Failed to see the Silver-washed Fritillaries but I understand that they are there. No Purple Emperors seen yet this year I'm told. In the end I had to beat hasty retreat in the face of Thunder/ Lightning etc.

White Admiral

40 moths of 23 species this morning, one of which, Hoary Footman,  was new for the garden list. Also new for the year were: Common Wainscot, The Snout, Argyresthia goedartella & Udea prunalis.

 Hoary Footman

50 moths of 26 species this morning. New for the year were: Small Blood-vein, Clouded Border, Scalloped Oak, Single-dotted Wave and Grey Pug.

 Small Blood-vein

Yesterday evening just after 9pm I noticed a Humming-bird Hawk-moth feeding on the lavender in front of our house. The first one I've seen this year. This morning there were 37 moths of 20 species in the trap. New for the year were The Fan-foot & Nephopterix angustella. In between downpours yesterday afternoon I visited East Blean Woods. There were a few Heath Fritillaries around the car park. I also found a couple of Four-spotted Footman and a Rosy Footman, but failed to see any White Admirals.

Nephopterix angustella

More rain last night: 44 moths of 24 species. Nothing new for the year.

Mottled Beauty

A cooler night with 35 moths of 23 species. Nothing new for the year. Below is a Dark Green Fritillary from Lullinstone CP on Friday.

Dark Green Fritillary

Despite the overnight rain there were 51 moths of 26 species this morning. New for the year were Buff-tip, Crambus perlela, Agonopterix arenella, & Zeraphera ratzeburgiana.

Zeraphera ratzeburgiana

 Buff-tip

Well 50 moths of 27 species is more like I expect at this time of year. Highlight was a new micro for the garden list: 1202 Eucosoma obumbratana. Also the 1st Poplar Hawk-moth of the year. Made my first visit to Lullingstone CP for 13 years to see the Dark Green Fritillaries. Photos on Flickr soon.

Eucosama obumbratana

 Poplar Hawk-moth

37 moths of 25 species this morning. Quite a few micros including 2 new ones for the Garden list: The Hawthorn Moth & Gypsonoma consociana. Also new for the year were: Endotricha flammealis, The White Plume Moth, Eudonia mercurella, & Brown China-mark.

 Gypsonoma sociana

The Hawthorn Moth (Scythropia crataegella)

23 moths of 15 species this morning. New for the year were Least Carpet & Lesser Yellow Underwing.

Least Carpet

With 302 species July is easily the best month for moth species in our garden. However the poor year continues with just 12 moths of 11 species this morning. The same day last year proced 30 species. I forgot to mention that when putting the trap out on Saturday evening I found a Cream-bordered Green-pea Moth on the ivy near the trap site. This was only my 2nd record of this species in the garden and I suppose shows that something unusual can still turn up even in a poor year.  

Only 18 moths of 12 species for the last night of June but nevertheless the first new macro species for the garden list this year: Bird's Wing. Garden list now 471. Nothing else new for the year so the garden list for the year stands at 117 species compared to 161 by the end of June last year. The macros have been most affected with 75 species this year compared with 114 at thie same stage last year.

 Bird's Wing