A very mild night with minimum temp of 11.5˚C, but only 5 moths - 2 Winter Moth, 1 December Moth, 1 Dark Chestnut, 1 Hebrew Character.

Like Paul I was hopeful of a bumper catch with ideal conditions but, less than a week after having 36 December Moths, I only caught one last night. I did have a Pale Brindled Beauty which seems early to me but according to the books it can be seen in late December.

Another mild night, and a new moon, so I was hopeful of another bumper crop like 21st, but in the event it was a bit disappointing. Only 7 moths in total, 4 December Moths, 1 Winter Moth, 1 beautifully marked Mottled Umber and a very late Angle Shades (yet another out-of-season record). I checked back, and found that the Mottled Umbers are the first here since 2007 when I had my only other record. This year I've had 7 in total.

Despite a warm night (min. 10˚C) only four moths - one Mottled Umber, three December Moths.

INSECT PHOTOGRAPHY
In addition to updating the MapMate database in preparation for the publication of the new Atlas I have spent much of the last year writing and illustrating a book on insect photography. I've just had the first proofs and the cover proofs from the publishers (Crowood Press). The book is due out late next year.

I hope to bring some copies to the Moth Group AGM!

Very best wishes to everyone for Christmas and the New Year.

36 December Moths and 2 Winter Moths here last night. This is a huge number for my garden and easily beats last years record of 26 in one night. It was wonderful to see every egg tray in the trap have something on it.

Whitefield, Wiveliscombe - Min Temp 8 degrees

The warmer night produced 38 moths of three species - one Winter Moth, one Chestnut and 36 December Moths.

Christmas has come early !!  A nice mild night, very little moon, no rain, moths everywhere.  3 Mottled Umbers, 1 Light Brown Apple Moth, & 16 December Moths, plus 2 more Winter Moths trying to get into the kitchen. Oddly enough, all the Umbers and 7 of the Decembers were outside the trap, quietly sitting on the walls nearby, waiting for me to collect them up and save them from the sparrows.

Happy Christmas and New Year to all readers.

Given up on the trap this week but the kitchen window has provided 3 Winter Moths

and a Mottled Umber

looks like its warming up, so the trap can come out for Christmas!

Whitefield, Wiveliscombe - Min Temp 2 degrees

At last a frost free night and 3 December Moths.

I have been unwilling to put traps out given the inclement conditions, but apparently there are moths still out there in spite of the cold &/or wet weather. No fewer than four Winter moth males paid a visit to our lighted windows last night.

Mind you, this is nowhere near the 20-odd I used to get on a regular basis at my former home near Pylle, 6 or 7 years ago.  I remember noticing at the time that they seemed to be quite territorial as to which kitchen window they came to, with more than one per pane being unusual !! I suspect they were attracted by the kitchen's fluorescent lighting, as they hardly ever came to any of the other house windows, even with quite bright lights shining in the other rooms.

Despite temperatures only dropping to 3.9C last night I am pleased to join the empty trap brigade with my first blank night of the whole year.

At last! A single December Moth! Minimum temp. 4˚C.

I have just been given the new Plume Moth book - it looks excellent, and I'm looking forward to reading it in depth and to looking at more of these exquisite little moths.

British Plume Moths - a guide to their identification and biology by Colin Hart. BENHS November 2011.

Details on the Atropos or Pemberley Books websites.

Whitefield, Wiveliscombe

Min temp zero and No Moths!

British Wildlife (1999 - 2010) and The Entomologists Record and Journal of Variation (2000 - 2008)

I have to clear my shelves and if any member would like to have these magazines please let me know (01984-624312) otherwise they will go to the tip!

Things have improved !! Four moths altogether - one very late Silver Y, 2 very differently marked Mottled Umbers, (my first record since 2007 and only the fourth since I moved here in 2005) and a Dotted Border (like Peter's, very early - I've never previously had one before mid-February).

I have the feeling that there have been a number of records this year of moths being unseasonably early or late - has anyone else had similar impressions ?

Photo: Scarce Umber

Two moths in the trap this morning; Epiphyas postvittana and a garden first Scarce Umber. Weston looks to be one of the few strongholds for this species in the northern half of VC6. That makes 115 new species for the garden this year. My target of 22 at the beginning of the year now seems rather reserved.

Whitefield, Wiveliscombe - min temp 7 degrees

Despite heavy rain we had two moths so, unlike Paul, we do not need a thesaurus to report one December Moth and more exciting - one Dotted Border - which according the SMG database is the first to be recorded in December.