Green Silver-lines

Green Silver-lines

Common Swift

Clouded Silver

Green Oak Tortrix

Green Oak Tortrix

 

Fifteen Sandwich Terns and 4 Mediterranean Gulls (2 adults and 2 first-summers) off Mudbank at lunchtime. Otherwise deadly quiet!

This Week's Moths

 

 

Diamond-back Moth

 

Tens of thousands of Diamond-backs were 'kicked up' from long grass and weedy areas around the bases of hedges on Orcombe earlier in the week. This afternoon there were still plenty around but numbers had clearly dropped.

Nettle-tap

Highlight of the week was this Treble Brown Spot, courtesy of Nick who has trapped up to six this week. A brand new species for me and a real stunner. Nick also trapped this Orange Footman (below) - a species I've only ever seen on a couple occasions and again, a really smart little moth.

Possible Hoary Footman

Ruddy Carpet - Orcombe Point - very tricky to photograph.

 

 

Galium Carpet - Orcombe Point

Silver-ground Carpet - Orcombe Point

Grey Pug - Orcombe Point

Grass Wave

Grass Wave

A new moth for me. Chanced upon this afternoon whilst walking the dog on Woodbury Common. It is a localised heathland species - unlikely to turn up in the garden trap. Masses of Diamond-backs seen today too. I had about a dozen fly up from the pavement as I walked home from work. Plenty in the back garden too.

Light Brocade

Light Brocade is a common species that, until now, has avoided my trapping efforts - a subtle but very attractive species. This one required me getting the step ladder out - choosing a spot below my son's bedroom window in preference to the trap itself. Well worth the effort though. Several other common species were trapped but the only immigrant was a single Diamond-back. Otherwise a day of football today with no birding.

 

Angle Shades

Thistle Ermine

Common Marbled Carpet - a highly variable species. Compare with yesterday's specimen.

Shuttle-shaped Dart

Today's Moths

Shoulder-striped Wainscot

 

A few common species in the trap last night and only 4 Diamond-backs.

Pale Tussock

Poplar Grey

Common Marbled Carpet

Small Seraphim

micro sp - Edit - many thanks to Andrew and Nick for identifying this as Elachista argentella or Swan-feather Dwarf.

Small Fan-foot

Freyer's Pug

Diamond-backs

I found hundreds of these Diamond-back Moths in a tiny area on Orcombe Point today. They reckon they had millions on Portland yesterday so the numbers in the UK must be astronomical at the moment. They are easily disturbed from long grass and hedgerows so check your garden and see if any of this tiny immigrant moth species have paid you a visit.

I also found several remarkable-looking Alabonia geofrella (above) whilst searching for Diamond-backs along Gore Lane, as well as a number of other moth species like Common Carpet (below).

This Poplar Kitten was trapped by Nick last Night. It's only the second one I've ever seen. Nick also trapped Lunar Thorn and 10 Diamond-backs along with a decent haul of other more regular species.