SP9326: 09/06/12 - Moving Swiftly on. . .

Under-whelming, but a couple of images not previously featured :-)

0017 Common Swift

2061 Buff Ermine

2334 Rustic Shoulder-knot

List for SP9326: 09/06/12

    17   Common Swift    1
  998    Light Brown Apple Moth    1
1728    Garden Carpet    2
1860    Green Pug    1
2061    Buff Ermine    1
2089    Heart & Dart    2
2334    Rustic Shoulder-knot    1
2337    Marbled Minor agg.    1

Total: 8 Species

SP9326: 01/06/12 - Garden Shears

Similar variety compared to this time last year, but bio-mass down markedly.

1334 Scoparia ambigualis

1819 Mottled pug

2147 The Shears

2384 Vine's Rustic

List for SP9326: 01/06/12

    17     Common Swift      1
  648      White-shouldered House-moth      1
  998      Light Brown Apple Moth      1
1334      Scoparia ambigualis      1
1728      Garden Carpet      2
1819      Mottled Pug      1
1834      Common Pug      4
2064      Ruby Tiger      1
2089      Heart & Dart      6
2092      Shuttle-shaped Dart      3
2147      The Shears      1
2337      Marbled Minor agg.    1
2380      Treble Lines      3

2384      Vine's Rustic      1

Total: 14 Species

SP9326: May 2012 - A Scorcher

Another poor month, choosing instead to build a shed with patio during the hot spell. Doh ! Despite this, two new* moths for the garden were Large Tabby and Scorched Wing.

1174 Epiblema cynosbatella

1421* Large Tabby

1819 Mottled Pug

1904* Scorched Wing

2450 The Spectacle

List for SP9326: May, 2012

    17     Common Swift    2
  998      Light Brown Apple Moth      1
1174      Epiblema cynosbatella      1
1421*     Large Tabby      1
1428      Bee Moth      2
1651      Chinese Character      1
1728      Garden Carpet      2
1819      Mottled Pug      1
1834      Common Pug      4
1904*     Scorched Wing      1
1906      Brimstone Moth      1
1994      Buff-tip      1
2102      Flame Shoulder      1

2334      Rustic Shoulder-knot      1 (field record) 
2380      Treble Lines      1
2450      The Spectacle      1

Total: 16 species in 1 trap session and one field record

SP9326: April 2012 - Satellite watching

Only managed three trap nights at home all month - the results speak for themselves. Two examples of the The Satellite were noted - both of the white colour 'form'.
Over the years I've watched man-made satellites pass overhead, this is usually best a few hours after dusk. The 'Mir' space station was quite bright but was ditched some years ago. The ISS is visible (check a 'prediction' website to find out when and where). It will often suddenly appear, travel an arc, and then disappear as it comes out from the Earths' shadow and then back in. Other satellites can be seen too, although less bright - some even appear to flash on and off as they rotate, catching sunlight on more reflective components. Travelling relatively fast and direct they don't 'twinkle' like stars, and don't have coloured lights like an aeroplane.

1852 Brindled Pug

2256 The Satellite

List for SP9326: April, 2012

1524    Emmelina monodactyla    1
1852    Brindled Pug    1
1862    Double-striped Pug    1
2182    Small Quaker    1
2187    Common Quaker    2
2188    Clouded Drab    2

2190    Hebrew Character    1 
2256    The Satellite    2

Total: 8 species in 3 trap sessions

TL0024: March 2012

Two trips to TL0024 using the Heath trap produced nothing spectacular.

663 Diurnea fagella - melanic form

1663 March Moth

1934 Dotted Border

2190 Hebrew Character

List for TL0024: March, 2012

0663    Diurnea fagella    1

1663    March Moth    1

1934    Dotted Border    1

2190    Hebrew Character    10

Total: 4 species in 2 trap sessions

SP9326: March 2012 - Dribs-and-Drabs

There wasn't much to raise the cardiac output in the garden during March - aside from two new* moths. A Twin-spotted Quaker on the 13th, and a Lead-coloured Drab on the 29th, the latter was confidently identified after consulting the comparative photos of  Lead-coloured/Clouded Drabs taken by Mr Matt Burgess of Upper Caldecote. What was notable about these two moths (but adds absolutely nothing to science) is that they both have hyphenated English names.
Astounding, I think you'll agree . . .

1524 Emmelina monodactyla

2063 Muslin moth 

2182 Small Quaker

2185* Lead-coloured Drab

2187 Common Quaker

2188 Clouded Drab

2189* Twin-spotted Quaker

List for SP9326: March, 2012

1497    Amblyptilia acanthadactyla    1
1524    Emmelina monodactyla    2
2063    Muslin Moth    1
2182    Small Quaker    24
2185*   Lead-coloured Drab    1
2187    Common Quaker    33
2188    Clouded Drab    5
2189*   Twin-spotted Quaker    1
2190    Hebrew Character    23
2243    Early Grey    3
2258    The Chestnut    2

Total: 11 species in 16 trap sessions

SP9326: W/Ending 26/02/12 - first moths of the year

A mild snap saw the traps out for the first time this year. Two attempts with the 'Heath' produced nothing. Using the 'Ratface' Skinner on the 24th, however, resulted in the first moths since November '11 - two Tortricodes alternella were new* for the garden, a common moth of the tortrix family flying from February to April.

1025* Tortricodes alternella

1025* Tortricodes alternella

List for SP9326: W/Ending 26/02/12

1025*    Tortricodes alternella    2

Total: 1 species in 3 trap sessions