Snout playing dirty tricks

I thought the trap was going to get a soaking last night, but luckily the storm missed.  A bit of stalking during the evening produced a few new moths, and included the nights highlight - Buttoned Snout.  However it was half-way up my house wall, so the only way I could id it was to get my 300mm lens and flash gun out and hope it was in focus!  Luckily it worked:

Buttoned Snout about 11 feet up the side of my house

Otherwise five new for the year: Buttoned Snout, Large Nutmeg, Poplar Grey, Mottled Pug, and Scalloped Hazel.

The rest of the nights crew:

1776 Green Carpet - 1

2334 Rustic Shoulder-knot - 2

17 Common Swift - 16

1728 Garden Carpet - 2

2337x Marbled Minor agg. - 2

2480 Buttoned Snout - 1 NFY

1834 Common Pug - 1

2092 Shuttle-shaped Dart - 5

2157 Light Brocade - 1

1906 Brimstone Moth - 1

2389 Pale Mottled Willow - 2

2306 Angle Shades - 1

2333 Large Nutmeg - 1 NFY

2028 Pale Tussock - 1

1752 Purple Bar - 1

2278 Poplar Grey - 1 NFY
1920 Scalloped Hazel - 1 NFY

1819 Mottled Pug - 2 NFY

Scalloped Hazel

Slim shady

Shed-load of Common Swifts

Three new ones last night, and a shed load more Common Swifts:
1981 Poplar Hawk-moth - 1
2069 Cinnabar - 1
17 Common Swift - 26
2306 Angle Shades - 1 NFY
2334 Rustic Shoulder-knot - 2
2028 Pale Tussock - 1
1906 Brimstone Moth - 1 NFY
2092 Shuttle-shaped Dart - 3
2337x Marbled Minor agg. - 2
2089 Heart and Dart - 1 NFY

Who will win the Hawk-moth cup? Poplar Hawk-moth

Will the real Slim Shady please stand up? Angle Shades.

We are the Campions

Last night was a belter for me, with 20 different species recorded. Haven't got any photos, so here's a spangly Campion from last week to go with the list.
Buff-tip 2
Green Carpet 2
Large Nutmeg 2
Garden Carpet 1
Brimstone 1
Light Brocade 1
Rustic Shoulder-knot 1
Treble lines 6
Pale Tussock 1 NFY
Heart and Dart 1 NFY
Common Swift 2
Campion 1
Peppered Moth 1
Bordered White 1 NFY
The Shears 1 NFY
Bright line Brown Eye 1
Chinese Character 1
Oak Hook-tip 1 NFY
Mottled Pug 2 NFY
Minor agg 1

Over 40's

Another good night with over 40 moths trapped, and five new for the year:
1728 Garden Carpet - 1 NFY
1654 Figure of Eighty - 1 NFY
17 Common Swift - 21
2334 Rustic Shoulder-knot - 2
2088 Heart and Club - 3
1937 Willow Beauty - 1
2007 Swallow Prominent - 2
2384 Vine's Rustic - 1
2092 Shuttle-shaped Dart - 2
1752 Purple Bar - 1
2028 Pale Tussock - 1 NFY
2157 Light Brocade - 1 NFY
1834 Common Pug - 1 NFY
1776 Green Carpet - 1

Seeing Treble

Well, I was away for the weekend so only managed to moth last night. Apart from 20 Treble Lines and a few of the other common ones for this time of year, I had a Poplar Hawkmoth, a White Ermine, Figure of Eighty, Large Nutmeg, Small Waved Umber and a Poplar Grey. I would take some pictures out but can't find my camera...

Purple chocolate kittens

Purple Bar

What a lovely weekend!  The warm weather has certainly upped the mothing in recent evenings.  Now up to about 40 (macro) species with the weekends lighlights being Poplar Kitten (tbc), Chocolate-tip, and a stunning Purple Bar.

Here are the lists for the three nights:
27th May
1998 Poplar Kitten - 1
17 Common Swift - 17
2092 Shuttle-shaped Dart - 1
2007 Swallow Prominent - 1
2337x Marbled Minor agg. - 2
2389 Pale Mottled Willow - 1
1776 Green Carpet - 1
2019 Chocolate-tip - 1
2380 Treble Lines - 1
2061 Buff Ermine - 1
2088 Heart and Club - 1
2384 Vine's Rustic - 2
2334 Rustic Shoulder-knot - 1

Chocolate-tip

26th May
1981 Poplar Hawk-moth - 1
2069 Cinnabar - 1
2092 Shuttle-shaped Dart - 1
17 Common Swift - 2

Chinese Character

25th May
1937 Willow Beauty - 1
2389 Pale Mottled Willow - 1
17 Common Swift - 4
2334 Rustic Shoulder-knot - 1
2069 Cinnabar - 1
1981 Poplar Hawk-moth - 1
2092 Shuttle-shaped Dart - 2
1752 Purple Bar - 1
2145 Nutmeg - 1
1651 Chinese Character - 1

Captain Hook (tip)

28 moths of only seven species last night. 19 Common Swifts was a big count though. Not many other highlights mind you - the best of the rest was an Oak Hook-tip.

Hawk!

A giant Poplar Hawkmoth amongs a humongous haul from last night. The play for the hawk cup begins!

Humongous might be playing up the magnitude of last nights catch somewhat. However it was more than the three moths I catch usually. Other goodies included a Chocolate-tip, and a Bright-line brown-eye. Just got to sort out these pugs...

Some light entertainment

Moth numbers are still on the low side down my way but a light brocade was a very welcome addition last night.

Toad in the hole

I put the trap out last night and it turned out to be one of those 'quality not quantity' nights.  Only one moth caught - but it was a toadflax brocade.  At least that's what I think it is!

Just the two

A bit windy last night in Biggleswade, and only two moths in the trap this morning.  Two new ones for the year though - Spectacle, and Powdered Quaker.  Where did April go?

Sharky and George

After only catching three months in the whole of April, the warm weather on Tuesday gave me hope of finally catching some new species. An iron prominent, nut-tree tussock and red twin-spot carpet were all potted before I left the trap for the night, hoping for lots more goodies in the morning. Unfortunately the weather had other ideas, and when I checked the trap in the morning it was both very wet, and empty. On the sheet to the side though was one odd looking moth, which I quickly stuck in a pot. A brief check in the book later and it was clear I had some sort of Shark, and even better, the time of year and patterning made it look good for the much rarer Chamomile Shark, only recorded 23 times before in Bedfordshire! Photos were duly taken and sent off to the county recorder, and confirmation soon followed, result!