Another good haul of moths.

Monday 29th August 2022.

The Spectacle moth which I found hidden behind the moth box.

A cool clear start to the morning with a bit of a breeze blowing in the garden. Up just before 6am and after the coffee was made, straight into checking the moth box. No real surprises this morning, but both the Large Thorn and I think, a different Clancy’s Rustic were present.

Langmaid's Yellow Underwing.

There were at least 142 moths present this morning of 38 species and though nothing new for the year, there were some nice moths present including the long staying Large Thorn that was still propped up on our neighbours kitchen wall! Also present was a Spectacle moth (see photo), Yellow Shell, 2 Flounced Rustic, Pearly Underwing, Angle Shades and a Langmaid’s Yellow Underwing. There was also a Wasp within the moth box that had obviously caused some carnage due to the wings of moths scattered around the box. Grrrr! Other insects within the moth box included a probable Lygus pratensis which is a Myriad species of Beetle and do vary in colour.

One of two Flounced Rustics.

The following moths were present this morning:

• 3 Small Dusty Wave
• 2 Flounced Rustic
• 1 Spectacle
• 7 Double-striped Pug
• 11 Vine’s Rustic
• 1 Clancy’s Rustic
• 8 Lime-speck Pug
• 6 Willow Beauty
• 4 Brimstone
• 1 Yellow Shell
• 4 Setaceous Hebrew Character
• 24 Pale Mottled Willow
• 1 Shuttle-shaped Dart
• 1 Pearly Underwing
• 8 Square-spot Rustic
• 3 L-album Wainscot
• 1 Angle Shades
• 5 Cabbage Moth
• 5 Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing
• 2 Large Yellow Underwing
• 1 Langmaid’s Yellow Underwing
• 2 Garden Tiger
• 5 Marbled Beauty
• 1 Silver Y
• 1 Garden Carpet
• 1 Large Thorn
• 9 Box Tree Moth
• 3 Common Plume
• 4 Garden Pebble
• 4 Apple Leaf Miner
• 2 Tachystola acroxantha
• 1 Horse Chestnut Leaf Miner
• 1 Anania coronata
• 1 Rusty-dot Pearl
• 3 Agriphila geniculea
• 1 Bryotropha affinis
• 1 Ancylis achatana
• 1 Yellow-barred Brindle

On the birding scene, I heard some ‘alba’ Wagtails flying over, but failed to locate them in the clear blue sky, which was frustrating and the ‘ticking’ Robin was back in the garden, which eventually began singing. A lot of the ‘Lazee Birders’ were over Pennington Marshes this morning, ‘ticking off’ a Pectoral Sandpiper that has a Little Stint for company and a Sanderling! A Wryneck has been found at Farlington Marshes this morning although playing 'hide and seek' with the Birders on the north wall! 

From top to bottom, Pectoral Sandpiper, Water Rail and Little Stint at Pennington Marshes today. All photos photographed by Andy Tew.  

A quick moth update: one of my potted micros was in fact my first Ancylis achatana of the year and now I am just waiting on one more to be ID'd. Also, I found a Yellow-barred Brindle literally sitting just above the water line of Scruffs water bowl, which I promptly rescued! I hope all those reading this like the updated look to my blog.

My first Ancylis achatana micro moth of the year.