Another wet night and a low of 8c. I was pleased to find 5 moths this morning: 1 LBAM, 1 Lesser Yellow Underwing, 1 Lunar Underwing & 2 Feathered Ranunculus.

After not trapping for 2 nights due to the weather I decided to risk it last night. However heavy thundery rain late yesterday evening meant only 5 moths this morning: 2 LBAM, 1 Flounced Rustic, 1 Turnip and, new for the year, a Lunar Underwing.  

Lunar Underwing

Not much of interest the last 2 nights. A low of 7c both nights meant 18 moths of 9 species yesterday and 10 moths of 8 species this morning. The 2nd Feathered Ranunculus of the year this morning was the only one of interest. I've not had had a Lunar Underwing yet, which is unusual.

I didn't trap on Tuesday night. Wednesday night was quite cold, down to 8c and there were only 3 moths in the trap: 2 Square-spot Rustics & a Pale Mottled Willow. This morning was better after a fairly cold night (9.5c) with 13 moths of 10 species. New for the year was Feathered Ranunculus. Another Centre-barred Sallow also provided a bit of autumn colour.

 Feathered Ranunculus

   

With a shower overnight and a low of 11c there were only 21 moths this morning of 11 species. Nothing new for the year. A 2nd autumn L-Album Wainscot was the only one of interest.

L-Album Wainscot

Yesterday morning there were 34 moths of 11 species-nothing new for the year. This morning just 26 moths (13 Large Yellow Underwings) of 10 species. A 3rd Centre-barred Sallow for the year and the 2nd Garden Rose Tortrix were the only ones of interest.

Centre-barred Sallow

 Garden Rose Tortrix

Just 32 moths of 13 species this morning. Flounced Rustics down to only 2. New for the year was the Wax Moth.

Wax Moth

No Red Underwings this morning but there were 34 moths of 15 species. New for the year were a rather worn Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing, my 1st for 3 years, and Garden Rose Tortrix. Also of interest was the 2nd Centre-barred Sallow and 2 Light Emeralds.  

Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing

 Garden Rose Tortrix

With rain overnight and a low of 8.5c I wasn't expecting too much this morning and there were 28 moths of 13 species with Large Yellow Underwings and Flounced Rustics accounting for 15 of the 28. However, I was very pleased to get my 1st ever Red Underwing after nearly 13 years of trapping in this garden. I know they're fairly common but not in my garden! I've just got to Photoshop the plastic box out of the picture. The L-Album Wainscot was also new for the year. I then had a good day at Dungeness today with good views of the Pectoral Sandpiper & my 1st ever Great Crested Newt.

Red Underwing

 Red Underwing

Pectoral Sandpiper

 L-Album Wainscot

The temperature plunged to 7c last night so fewer moths this morning with just 24 of 10 species. Nothing new this morning and no micros at all.

Autumn has definitely arrived the 1st Sallow of the year. For the 1st time for some while Flounced Rustics (17) were not the most numerous species with Large Yellow Underwing (18) taking that spot. Overall there were 61 moths of 16 species.

The Sallow

Not much to report from yesterday morning: 35 moths (17 Flounced Rustics) of 12 species. Slightly better this morning with 48 moths (18 Flounced Rustics) of 16 species. New for the year was Centre-barred Sallow. Also 2nd Cochylis molliculana of the year.

Centre-barred Sallow

A low of 10c last night. there 56 moths (20 Flounced Rustics) of 22 species this morning. Not a bad list but nothing new. I was surprised that the Common Marbled Carpet was only the 3rd of the year. Had a quiet day at Dungeness yesterday so phpotgraphed some Grasshoppers, a group I've found difficult to get to grips with. I'm fairly sure the 2 below are identified correctly.

Lesser Marsh Grasshopper

Field Grasshopper

The temperature fell to 8c last night so only 42 moths this morning of 10 species (24 Flounced Rustics). There was my 2nd Old Lady of the year and yesterday's tortrix identity has been confirmed.

A low of 13c last night produced 70 moths of 21 species. There was 1 tortrix which may be new for the garden. I think it's Cochylis molliculana, but am waiting for confirmation. Nothing else new for the year.

Cochylis molliculana?

Just 36 moths of 11 species this morning (19 Flounced Rustics). Nothing new for the year. It's been nice to see a few Small Tortoiseshells in the garden again after a very lean period for this species.

Small Tortoiseshell

56 moths of 16 species this morning. However nothing new with 20 Flounced Rustics and a lot of other "brown jobs".

A few more last night: 48 moths of 20 species (22 Flounced Rustics). Nothing new for the year. Here's another picture from Dunge on Friday.

Hoverfly-Volucella zonaria

A slightly warmer night (11.5c) produced 26 moths of 9 species (16 Flounced Rustics). We've now reached the end of August and the warmer weather recently has boosted numbers for the year. At the end of August last year I had recorded 253 species ( 164 Macros & 89 Micros). This year the figures are 235 species (142 nacros & 93 Micros). So somewhat surprisingly the Micros have passed lasy year's figure-helped a bit by the new Micro Field Guide, but the Macros are still well down.