Bringsty Common September 14-15th

Having been away for 9 days, it always amazes me how fast things change. Whilst Large Yellow Underwings still dominate, numbers are down to under 40 each night. The Square-spot Rustics are just finishing their season and I'm now getting Black Rustic, Autumnal Rustic, Feathered Gothic, Sallow, Red-green Carpet, Small Square-spot, Brown-spot Pinion and Lunar Underwings.  Plus Red Underwings in the trap and also (more typically) on the house walls during the daytime. Second generations also include Light Emerald and Green Carpet. Migrants were limited to a Dark Sword Grass. Few micros and they were dominated by Acleris laterana and variegana. Over the 2 nights, 26 macro species and 7 micro. Peter Hall

Bringsty Common: Red Underwing

Bringsty Common: Dark Sword Grass

Bringsty Common: Autumnal Rustic

NMN

Two further nights team trapping at Norchard with Mike Southall for NMN was rained on all night Friday then clear and cool on Saturday evening. This scruffy Scarce Bordered Straw on the 11th was not really expected this far inland and was backed up by a nice show of resident Brown-spot Pinions. The Convolvulus did not come in again but several Silver Y's were about the flowers and in traps. A Tawny Pinion on sugar was the real bonus on Saturday. Friday's micros included Cochylis hybridella and 2 Dichrorampha simplicianas. Sallows, Lunar Underwings and Black Rustic gave a more autumn feel to proceedings.

Norchard: Brown-spot Pinion

Norchard: Scarce Bordered Straw

Convolvulus Hawk-moth

Following a sighting of a Convolvulus Hawk-moth flying over my Nicotiana plants last night. I have just found this one on the grass next to my Robinson at 9.30pm this evening. I just need one here for my public event on Saturday night. You are all welcome to attend of course. Mike Southall

Hummingbird Hawkmoth

Numbers of moths in the trap have dropped off over the past week and there is a predominance of "brown" apart from the yellow of Brimstones and and Sallows. Autumn feels like it is here.

So I was delighted to come across this Hummingbird Hawkmoth nectaring on the Buddleia and even more delighted to have my camera at hand. A bit of a tricky customer to photograph flitting from one flower head to another and there were very many other shots that went straight to trash.

We have four Buddleia bushes, two purple and two white and interestingly the HHM only went on the purple often flying past the white bushes to get to a purple one despite the white having the more and fresher blooms. The attendant butterflies were not so fussy but were  favouring the white.

Hummingbird Hawkmoth

Pete Smith - Dodford

Shocking

It has been a long wait for a nice moth here in Bodenham. I was pleased to find this lovely Vestal in the trap this morning. Definitely the pinkest that I have ever seen. Apart from a few of the commoner migrants I feel a little bye passed by the better moths this year.

Bodenham: Vestal

Robin Hemming
Bodenham

Sugaring

Doing some sugaring here at Norchard and thoroughly enjoying it, as are the moths!  Mike Southall

Bringsty Common

I thought I'd post a brief update. On nights when the weather has been kinder for trapping, I've run the mv light in the garden. Recently it's been the 29th and last night - although it was a tad damp this morning. Not wet enough to deter Large Yellow Underwings though, which came in top at 138 individuals, followed by Setaceous Hebrew Character at 42. Species counts continue to decline with each outing and more early Autumnal species appear. The latest being Centre-barred Sallow. There was a nice Red Underwing in the trap on the 29th too. Yesterday I caught my first second brood Light Emerald - about a quarter of normal size and I attach an image with my index finger alongside to give a little scale. 26 macro species and 8 micro species last night. Migrants continue to boycott my garden for the most part, with just a Dark Sword Grass making a token appearance his week. I suspect the recent sightings of Convolvulus Hawk-moth in the country are going past right now on their way to Bodenham (!). Peter Hall

Bringsty Common August 30th: Centre-barred Sallow

Bringsty Common August 30th: Light Emerald

Bringsty Common August 29th: Red Underwing