Mild 12 degrees at dawn, windy, overcast. A more summery look to the catch with the first of many Silver Ground Carpets. Still three species of Orthosia so as we don't get too carried away...

Taxa
0697 Agonopterix arenella 1
0986 Syndemis musculana 1
1428 Bee Moth (Aphomia sociella) 2
1722 Flame Carpet (Xanthorhoe designata) 1
1727 Silver-ground Carpet (Xanthorhoe montanata) 2 NFY
1738 Common Carpet (Epirrhoe alternata) 5
1759 Small Phoenix (Ecliptopera silaceata) 1
1769 Spruce Carpet (Thera britannica) 2
1852 Brindled Pug (Eupithecia abbreviata) 1
1862 Double-striped Pug (Gymnoscelis rufifasciata) 1
1902 Brown Silver-line (Petrophora chlorosata) 1
1918 Lunar Thorn (Selenia lunularia) 1
1920 Scalloped Hazel (Odontopera bidentata) 1
1931 Peppered Moth (Biston betularia) 1 NFY
1958 Clouded Silver (Lomographa temerata) 2 NFY
1994 Buff-tip (Phalera bucephala) 1
2006 Lesser Swallow Prominent (Pheosia gnoma) 1
2060 White Ermine (Spilosoma lubricipeda) 2
2063 Muslin Moth (Diaphora mendica) 1
2092 Shuttle-shaped Dart (Agrotis puta) 2
2102 Flame Shoulder (Ochropleura plecta) 2
2123 Small Square-spot (Diarsia rubi) 7
2158 Pale-shouldered Brocade (Lacanobia thalassina) 1
2160 Bright-line Brown-eye (Lacanobia oleracea) 1 NFY
2186 Powdered Quaker (Orthosia gracilis) 1
2188 Clouded Drab (Orthosia incerta) 3
2190 Hebrew Character (Orthosia gothica) 1
2334 Rustic Shoulder-knot (Apamea sordens) 2
2337x Marbled Minor agg. (Oligia strigilis agg.) 1 NFY
2425 Nut-tree Tussock (Colocasia coryli) 1

50 moths of 30 sp 5 new. The most species in a night so far this year...

Peppered Moth

Bright Line, Brown Eye

Marbled Minor. Yes it is.

Silver Ground Carpet

Clouded Silver from last year, tonights two flew off.

Faves of 2010...No1

As this year looks to be done and dusted as far as moths are concerned I think I'll stick a few posts in with my personal highlights from the garden and beyond...In no particular order...

No1. Clouded Silver.

Only a single specimen of this lovely moth was caught this year. In the early hours of 23rd May I was up to cover the trap and it was lucky I did, because this one was resting outside on the rain guard.

First recorded in Northumberland in VC68 at Fenwick Wood in 1970, it was closely followed by a second at Belford in 1971. Since then it has become a widespread species with 160 records of 241 individuals from 52 sites.

2010 has been the best year for them so far in the county with 45 records.

I was well impressed with this one, a little cracker.