Yet another new micro and a Tree Pipit over.

Monday 15th August 2022.

This small micro moth, Epiblema foenella, was my first ever. 

There was hardly a breath of wind this morning and after another balmy night, it was still relatively warm at first this morning, though a little overcast. Another nice showing of moths this morning that included 71 moths of 34 species and three more yet to be ID’d. Among them was yet another ‘lifer’ micro moth, Epiblema foenella. Though common around the UK, it was my first ever and increases my ever expanding micro moth life list. Other notable moths included my second Vestal of the year, a smart individual perched on the outside of my moth box. Two Jersey Tigers were present again (a very good year for them and believed to be breeding in the UK now), though Garden Tigers were down to just three individuals.

My second Vestal moth of the year.

Other migrant moths included another Bordered Straw and a Diamond-back Moth, while my third fresh-looking Blood-vein was perched on the fence behind the white sheet. Two Tree-lichen Beauties were also pleasing.

My third Blood-vein moth of the year.

While checking the moths, a Tree Pipit was heard and then seen flying over the rooftops heading north-east and a Greenfinch was seen heading north. Visible migration is now starting! Yesterday, while entertaining the family in the back garden, I pointed out to everyone a superb Hummingbird Hawk-moth feeding around the flowers.

One of two Tree-lichen Beauties seen this morning.

Moths present this morning include the following:

• 1 Vestal 
• 2 Jersey Tiger
• 3 Garden Tiger
• 6 Brimstone Moth
• 5 Willow Beauty
• 2 Tree-lichen Beauty
• 3 Lime-speck Pug
• 6 Double-striped Pug
• 1 Bordered Straw
• 1 Blood-vein
• 3 Marbled Beauty
• 2 Small Dusty Wave
• 1 Pale Mottled Willow
• 3 Square-spot Rustic
• 1 L-album Wainscot
• 1 Cabbage Moth
• 1 Bright-line Brown-eye
• 1 Yellow-barred Brindle
• 2 Bryotropha  basaltinella
• 1 Clepsis consimilana
• 3 Bryotropha affinis
• 3 Apple Leaf Miner
• 1 Epiblema foenella (NFY + LIFER)
• 5 Common Plume
• 1 Rusty-dot Pearl
• 1 White-shouldered House Moth
• 3 Tachystola acroxantha
• 2 Light Brown Apple Moth
• 1 Hawthorn Moth
• 1 Codling moth
• 1 Cherrybark Moth
• 1 Diamond-back Moth
• 1 Blastobasis rebeli
• 1 Brown House Moth