I just realised that earlier this week I put the event at Cheddington down as sat. 6th July when it should Sunday the 6th.

Also there is an event on this Friday (4th July) as part of Moth Week at Filcombe Farm (NT). Meet up at the car park of the 'Clockhouse' pub in Chideock at 8.15. Chideock (Dorset) is on the A35 and the pub is opposite a church at the end of the village.

Left my trap out in Butleigh Wood again last night. Lots of Satin Beauties and July Highflyers, FFY, Clouded Border, Scalloped Oak and a Large Emerald.

Just found a Small Dusty Wave (FFY) in the bathroom, presumably came into the house overnight.

A few FFYs here amidst the Heart & Darts and Black Arches, - Peach Blossom, Common Rustic agg., Barred Straw, A male Ghost and a FFG, Eucosma campoliliana.

71 moths of 21 species incl. 32 C. culmella. Dingy Shears was FFG and Lackey & Common Rustic agg. FFY.

Dingy Shears

Christine, To find the Recorder's address etc. go to the Home Page on this Website, then A-Z Page Listing where you'll find a link to the Contacts page.

Best night so far this year with 69 moths of 24 species.  ffy magie, buff tip, grey dagger, barred yellow, sallow tailed etc.  Can someone kindly provide me with the name and address of the county moth recorder so that I can send in my half yearly sightings record?

Best moth last night was a Black neck, only the 4th record for my garden. Other firsts for the year were Rosy Footman and Scalloped Oak.

The following species were seen during today's Somerset Ornithological Society Fieldtrip to Haddon Hill: Common Carpet, Northern Spinach, Smoky Wave, Brown Silver-line, Celypha lacunana, Catoptria margaritella & Crambus pascuella.

Smoky Wave

My first trapping session for nearly three weeks, due to weather and holidays, with 81 moths of 27 species. 19 species were FFY, including Riband Wave (10), Elephant Hawk Moth (2), Light Emerald, Small Angle Shades and Burnished Brass (3). Top scorer was Heart & Dart (28).

Not a big catch but 12 Elephant HMs, and several FFYs, Small Blood-vein, Swallow-tailed Moth, Yellow-tail, Marbled Beauty, Small Dotted Buff & V-Pug.

Whitefield, Wiveliscombe - Min Temp 11.6 degrees and very wet.

Over 300 moths of 56 species with Heart and Dart 119, Dark Arches 53 and Elephant Hawk Moth 12.  FFY - Common Emerald (4).

Some of my best moths come in pairs; Orange Moth, Large Tabby, Shoulder Striped Wainscot and Brussels Lace, with singles of Eyed Hawk Moth, Small Elephant Hawk Moth and Orange Footman. My last two trappings (Weds. and the previous Weds.) have produced a massive 29 Elephant Hawkmoths but otherwise I've had very few Hawkmoths, just the one Eyed, and a couple of Small Elephants and Poplars.

Reasonable numbers last night but nothing new except a suspected Suspected. This would be a first for me and looking at the distribution records it would be a good moth for this part of the county.

I think this is the case of Psyche casta - found last weekend on an alder leaf, at the Peat Moors Centre in Shapwick Heath.  Can someone please confirm this?

Mark Parsons (BCHQ) has checked the Charlton Mackrell area sites for Grapholita pallifrontana (Liquorice piercer) again this year and found the moth.

I have searched a historic site for the plant near Pitney but it no longer exists there.

Does anyone know of other sites for Wild Liquorice in Somerset? It's most likely to be in green lanes on the Poldens and possibly the Mendips.

Any help much appreciated! This moth is in decline.

This event has been cancelled (weather!) and will take place next Sun. 6th July instead of Bickham Wood. So July 6th - Cheddington Woods, meet; Wood Gate, Holt Lane (East of Golf Club off A356) ST48067 at 8.15pm.

Last weeks Hadden Hill produced 102 species from nearly 1000 moths and many highlights:

Beautiful Brocade - 11
Beautiful Snout - 12
Bilberry Pug - 4
Brindled White-spot - 2

Clouded Buff - 6
Double Line - 12
Grass Emerald -18
July Belle - 53
Lead Belle - 6
Lead-coloured Pug - 1
Northern Spinach - 48
Narrow-winged Pug 12
Plain Wave - 51
Red-necked Footman -6
Scallop Shell - 1
Scalloped Hook-tip - 8
Smoky Wave - 2
Striped Wainscot -1
Waved Carpet -3
Welsh Wave - 5
edited 26/6 - sorry - no Brown Scallop. Attended by Robin Clatworthy, Mike Ridge, Pat Owen and me.

T Min 14.5°C. 86 moths of 27 species. Burnished Brass, Scalloped Oak, Dwarf Cream Wave and Double Square-spot all FFY.

Robin Clatworthy trapped an individual of 1380 Phlyctaenia (Anania) perlucidalis at Merriott on the night of 25th - the first Somerset record for this Pyralid which is extending its range. The larva feeds on Thistles.

A bit breezy last night, so numbers down somewhat.  170 moths so far, of 48 species.  Only 13 Acentria ephemerella compared with 162 two nights ago - they clearly don't like to swarm when it's windy !!  There were several FFY - Buff-tip (2), Grey/Dark Dagger agg (2), Muslin Footman (2), Common Emerald, Poplar Grey, Rustic, and Udea prunalis.  Several more escapees to be rounded up this evening.

Whitefield, Wiveliscombe - Min Temp 11.1 degrees

170 moths of 44 species including FFY - a Double Lobed.

June has added several species, in addition to the Eastern Bordered Straw, to my garden list in Burnham. A long overdue Cream-bordered Green Pea.

Pempelia formosa

Tinea semifulvella

Adela croesella

Double Dart

and not an addition but a good variation of Tawny-barred Angle f. nigrofulvetta

June has added several species, in addition to the Eastern Bordered Straw, to my garden list in Burnham. .

Whitefield, Wiveliscombe - Min Temp 14 degrees

275 moths of 66 species including FFY - Light Arches, Barred straw, Mother of Pearl and a Single Dotted Wave. Also our first, second brood Early Thorn.

125W MV ran for 2 hours last night at Crook Peak recording 74 species including:

• Small Eggar (larval web)
• 1 Green Arches
• 1 Shoulder-striped Wainscot
• 1 Crescent Dart
• 1 Broom
• 2 Plain Golden Y
• 2 Shark
• 1 Pretty Chalk Carpet
• 1 Gothic
• 4 Grass Emerald
• 8 July Belle
• 2 Anarsia spartiella

Trapped at Netherclay until 02:00 this morning. 251 moths of 69 species including Lime & Elephant Hawk, Beautiful Hook-tip, Double Lobed, Brussels Lace, Green Arches, Oak Nycteoline, Plain Golden Y, Burnished Brass, Clouded Brindle, Engrailed, Barred Yellow, Mottled Rustic etc. The micros. included Bramble Shoot Moth, Marbled Orchard Tortrix, Barred Fruit Tree Tortrix, Large Fruit Tree Tortrix, Eudonia delunella and Notocelia trimaculana

1343 Eudonia delunella

Oak Nycteoline

Whitefield, Wiveliscombe - Min temp 13.6 degrees

Over 260 moths of 54 species including 54 Heart and Dart. FFY - Lilac Beauty, Smoky Wainscot and Plain Wave. Also a handsome Hawthorne Shield Bug the first I have been able to ID with the help of my newly acquired copy of The Insects of Britain and Ireland by Paul D.Brock.

A grand total of 286 moths, but this includes 162 Water Veneers (Acentria ephemerella) which swarm at this time of year - (I had almost 300 on one night in 2006). There were 52 other species, with FFY Lackey, Yellow-tail, Common Plume, Lilac Beauty, Small Fan-footed Wave, Fan-foot, Mother of Pearl, Clepsis consimilana & Phycitodes binaevella. 

However, the real highlight was a Kent Black Arches, which John Bebbington tells me is only the second Somerset record, and the first for VC 6.

I have just had confirmation from David Agassiz, to whom my thanks, that a mystery micro from 17/6 was Ancylis achatana, a new species for me here.

Earlier in the month I collected the mines of Laburnum Leaf Miner (Leucoptera laburnella) at Locksbrook Cemetery in Bath. These have ben kept in polythene bags hanging up in my workshop.  The larvae left the leaves and pupated in a cocoon on the side of the polythene bag approximately two weeks ago, today ten adults emerged and what truly smashing moths they are (albeit very hard to photograph, they just don't stop moving!)

55 moths of 22 species. Common Emerald & Small Fan-foot were FFG & Wax Moth FFY.

Just found 2 Scarlet Tigers "in cop" near our pond.  Only the second record here, the first being June 2009.

Single 125W MV ran for 2.5 hours last night recording 70 species including:

• 4 Red-necked Footman
• 2 Beautiful Golden Y
• 1 Tinea semifulvella
• 5 Blomer's Rivulet
• 3 Clouded Magpie
• 3 Coxcomb Prominent
• 1 Carpatolechia proximella
• 1 Beautiful Carpet (appears to be previously unrecorded in Weston)

Whitefield, Wiveliscombe - Min temp 11.9 degrees

240 moths of 56 species including FFY - Grey Arches, Four Dotted Footman, and a Swallow-tailed Moth.

A very quiet night in spite of the warmth and waning moon.  44 moths only, of 20 species, and only 1 FFY Clepsis spectrana (Cyclamen Tortrix).

Trapped for the first time at this location, lots of interesting moths and FFYs including Marbled White Spot, Beautiful Golden Y, Spruce Carpet, July Highflyer, Blotched Emerald, Fern, Small Dotted Buff, Common Lutestring, Lackey, Purple Clay, Miller, Barred Yellow, Satin Beauty and micros including 1437 Acrobasis consociella, Aethes rubigana, Variegated Golden, Large Fruit-tree and Marbled Orchard Tortrixes.

Varied Coronet a first for me here in Bath.

A further 16 moths and 3 species rounded up last evening - no FFY.  I found an interesting-looking caterpillar on one of our silver birches yesterday (20th) - identified from Jim Porter's book as a Pebble Hook-tip. It seems to be well-developed for the time of year, a couple of weeks earlier than described in the book.  So far this year the adult of this species hasn't appeared in my traps, but clearly is still around.

The mystery micro from 14th June has been determined by David Agassiz, to whom my thanks, as Paraswammerdamia albicapitella, a new species for this site.

The first Meadow Brown of the summer today (21st) - in the greenhouse !!

Ringlet & Small Copper on the wing today, plus lots of 6-spot Burnets nectaring on anything they could find.

Whitefield, Wiveliscombe - Min temp 12.7 degrees

Over 280 moths of 80 species including FFY - Miller (2), Dot Moth (2), Drinker, Small Yellow-Wave, Brown China-mark and A.hamana.  We also had our second Privet Hawk-moth for the year.

A big increase in species over the last 2 days, topping 50, with FFG Brown Silver-lines and lots of FFYs including Coronet, Dark Arches, Small Fan-footed and Riband Waves, Mottled Rustic, Rustic and Uncertain, Green and Currant Pug, Smoky Wainscot, Common Footman, The Fan-foot and Small Fan-foot and micros Eudonia mercurella and delunella, Chilo phragmitella, Celypha striana and Bee Moth.

Fewer than I expected as it was mild, with only half a moon.  Total so far 105 moths of 43 species - FFY were Dark Sword-grass, Smoky Wainscot, Buff Arches, Small Elephant Hawk, and Brown China-mark.  The SEH is the second record here, the other being in 2007, and the BC-M only the third record.

Singles of Vestal and Udea ferrugalis last night.

Whitefield, Wiveliscombe - Min temp 13.6 degrees.

Over 200 moths of 57 species including FFY - Buff Arches, Beautiful Hook-tip, Heart and Club, Peacock and a Beautiful Plume.

49 moths of 17 species. Elephant Hawkmoth, Swallow-tailed Moth & Dot Moth FFY.

A further 47 moths rounded up last evening (I knew there had been some escapees, but not as many as this !) of 8 more species, including FFY Blue-bordered Carpet.  This is only my third record here, and the first since 2010.

Whitefield, Wiveliscombe - Min Temp 13.6 degrees

250 moths of 48 specie including FFY - Grey/Dark Dagger, Sycamore, Green Silver-Lines and C. lathionellus

Another fresh breezy night, but a reasonably large catch in spite ot the coolness.  110 moths of 41 species so far, plus the round-up of escapees this evening.  FFY were Celypha striana, Barred Yellow and Eudonia delunella. This last is only the third record here, and the first since 2009.

Andrew , that is a special migrant . According to Atropos it is the first of the year and I think possibly the first UK record since 2006. It would be great to put it on the Atropos latest sightings blog.

Whitefield, Wiveliscombe

A cooler night with 140 moths of 40 species including FFY - a Common Lute String and a lifetime first for me, a Beautiful Plume.

Both Large & Small Skippers in our orchard this lunchtime. This is the first time we've seen both species in the same year.  Also 4 6-spot Burnets on the wing.

Having not caught many immigrants this year I was surprised to get this Eastern Bordered Straw.

I was at Green Down yesterday afternoon looking for Large Blues. This reserve no longer appears to have restricted access and I saw a couple of males feeding on Thyme. I also came across an orange Meadow Brown.  Imagine a Meadow Brown sized Small Heath resting with its wings wide open and you'll get the picture. I managed some reasonable photographs but haven't yet learnt how to get them onto the website!

Back down to more easily managed numbers after a chilly and windy night.  55 moths of 28 species so far, with FFY Shoulder-striped Wainscot, Single-dotted Wave, and Hedya pruniana (2). No doubt there will be a few more strays this evening.

60 moths of 19 species. No FFY's but a Cypress Carpet was FFG.

195 moths of 55 species last night with my best moth being my first Haworth's Pug. This was the smallest moth in the trap that I identified but it was joined by lots of bigger Hawk Moths. These included 7 Eyed, 6 Elephant and 2 Privet.

Whitefield, Wiveliscombe - Min Temp 15 degrees

Over 250 moths of 63 species including FFY - Purple Clay (3), Vines Rustic, Uncertain, Sandy Carpet, Marbled White-spot and a Bramble-shoot Moth. I agree with you Paul, the Flame is having a good year.There were 24 in our trap last night.

After a busy time rounding up the morning's strays, I finished up with another 62 moths and another 5 species - totals now 214/57.  Additional FFY were Lozotaenia forsterana and Wormwood Pug.  The Flame seems to be having an exceptional year - there were 18 this time, far more than I have ever had at one time.

Best night of the year so far here as well. 104 moths of 38 species. Ghost Moth & Middle-barred Minor were both FFG and Figure of Eighty, Snout, Garden Carpet, Sycamore & Freyer's Pug all FFY. The best of the micros was 1109 Lobesia littoralis which is described as 'Rare & Very Local' on this website and as 'a thinly distributed and uncommon resident' in Moths of the Bristol Region. The LHP is Thrift so, not suprisingly, it is more often found near the coast than inland.

1109 Lobesia littoralis

Whitefield, Wiveliscombe - Min Temp 15 degrees

Easily the best night of the year to date with 250 moths of 60 species including FFY - Barred Yellow, Peach Blossom, Tawny-barred Angle including the melanic form nigrofulvata, the two forms of Riband Wave and an early Scalloped Oak. We also had two very worn moths an Eyed hawkmoth and a Puss Moth.

Wandering around Sand Point this morning I bumped into a Common Heath. I haven't been able to find any previous records in the Weston area for this species.

Common Heath

A few traps were run on the Mendips again on Friday night recording 53 species including what appeared to be one or two Nightjars responding to the sound of our generators. Highlights were:

• Map-winged Swift
• Lead Belle
• Common Heath
• Narrow-winged Pug
• Fox Moth
• Small Rufous
• Green Arches
• Broom Moth
• Elachista subalbidella
• Neofaculta ericetella
• Stigmella salicis

A nice warm muggy night, and a new battery for my actinic trap, so lots of moths.  So far 156 of 52 species, including 18 FFY, namely Dark Arches (6), Light Arches, Lime-speck Pug, Gold Spot, Beautiful Golden Y, both forms of Riband Wave, Sharp-angled Peacock, Pale Mottled Willow, Mottled Rustic, Scorched Carpet, Green Pug, Epiblema(now Notocelia) uddmanniana, Archips podana, Gold Triangle, Phlyctaenia (now Anania) coronata, Eudonia pallida, Scoparia ambigualis, and a FFG Ash Bud Moth (Prays fraxinella). There is also one UFO micro which will need determination in due course.

As I mentioned on the 12th, I have been keeping an eye on the 6-spot Burnet chrysalises. Today, so far, two moths have emerged intact, and one of them was nectaring on a nearby buttercup.  Very pleasing, as the area where they are was under water in the Winter - good to know they've survived.  On looking more closely, I have now located a total of 7 chrysalises, mostly on grass stems, but some on other plants. I find they're not all that easy to spot until one gets one's eye in.

Despite 150 moths of 50 species last night was disappointing. With near perfect conditions I would have expected well over 200 moths at this time of year. A number of annual firsts including Miller, Double Square Spot, Brussels Lace, Lobster Moth and Green Silver Lines.

Whitefield, Wiveliscombe

A better night with 130 moths of 46 species including FFY - Plain Golden Y (6), Mother of Pearl and a Nettle Tap moth. The Heart and Dart numbers rose to 30.

Whitefield, Wiveliscombe

Another cool night with 57 moths of 24 species including FFY - a Brussels Lace.

Still not many - full moon and chilly temperatures to blame I think.  25 moths of 16 species, with FFY Barred Straw and Heart & Club, otherwise not much to shout about.

T Min 12°C. 24 moths of 14 species. Treble Brown Spot, Riband Wave, Flame and Common Wainscot all FFY.

Whitefield, Wiveliscombe - Min Temp 8 degrees

The cooler night produced reduced numbers. 47 moths of 24 species including one FFY - a Small Seraphim. We also had 6 Cinnabar which are having a very good year here.

Back to low numbers in the traps again - a chilly night produced only 21 moths of 14 species.  No FFY.  I'm keeping an eye on the chrysalises of the 6-spot Burnets found as larvae a couple of weeks ago - should be emerging soon. Exciting times!!

Trapped at the foot of the wooded section with 20w Wemlite & Robinson, 45 sps. with lots of FFYs, Tawny-barred Angle, Four-dotted Footman, Small Phoenix, Scorched Carpet, Light Emerald,Ingrailed Clay, Haworth's Pug, Grey Arches, Pretty Chalk Carpet and Green silver-lines. Also some interesting micros including Apotomis capreana confirmed by DA.

I was out searching for the Laburnum Leaf Miner (Leucoptera laburnella) in Locksbrook Cemetery, Bath yesterday when I found this Large Tabby in the entrance porch to the Chapel of Rest.

Amongst the relatively low numbers of micros in our trap at Widcombe in Bath yesterday was this beautiful Phtheochroa rugosana.

Only just identified this apparently uncommon Elachistaidae species as Spuleria flavicaput taken at light in Widcombe, Bath a couple of weeks ago.

Whitefield, Wiveliscombe.

72 moths of 28 species including FFY - Light Emerald and Pebble Hook-Tip.

T Min 10°C. 21 moths of 12 species with Ringed China-mark, Small Magpie & Buff Arches all FFY.

I had a chance to put the moth trap out over the weekend - Friday (MV bulb) & Saturday (Actinic) night. 350 moths on Friday , including 98 Small Square-spot, 26 H & D and 28 SHC. Only 43 moths on Saturday night - however, there was a FFG - Small Clouded Brindle - which looked just like a Common Rustic. Overall, I had 56 macros and 16 or so micros - not all identified. Notables included Eyed Hawk-moth, Light Brocade, Purple Bar, Sharp-angled Peacock, Coronet, Scorched Wing, Mottled Beauty, Brown Silver-lines (FFG), Obscure Wainscot, Ingrailed Clay and Least Black Arches. For some reason the Ingrailed Clay is the first I remember getting here and yet it is supposed to be common!

Round-up complete - 9 more moths, total now 80 of 33 species.  No more FFY.

Whitefield, Wiveliscombe - Min Temp 12 degrees.

Over 100 moths of 38 species including FFY - Green Arches, Small Fan Foot, C.Culmella and Small Elephant Hawk moth.

Saturday 28th June 2014 – daytime searching Priddy Mineries and Stockhill Plantation, Somerset.  ST548 513 2.00pm Meet at the car park on the Old Bristol Road, within the plantation edge at the above grid reference. Will also be attended by members of the Bristol group. All welcome.

Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 June THE BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS OF MOUNT FANCY FARM RESERVE, above Staple Fitzpaine. Leaders: Nigel Spring (tel: 01963 23559) and Liz Marsden (tel: 01460 240184) Join us for our open weekend. Mount Fancy Farm Butterfly Reserve will be alive with wildlife and the flowers will be approaching their best! Starting with a BBQ and moth trapping from 7pm on Saturday evening (anyone who would like to stay overnight can book for camping – contact nigelspring@yahoo.co.uk, 01963.23559 or 07981 776767. Bring tent, sleeping bag, eating utensils etc and food and drink to share.) From 9am on Sunday, the moth catch from the previous night will be analysed, followed by refreshments at 10.30am and a walk around the BC reserve at 11am. Please bring a packed lunch if you would like to picnic on the reserve and explore further in the afternoon. In 2011 we found 106 moth species- the locality holds a good number of scarce species so exciting finds are a real possibility. Butterflies on the wing are likely to include Large Skipper, Large White, Green-veined White, Speckled Wood, Meadow Brown, Green Hairstreak and Common Blue, with an outside chance of Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary and Wood White. If the weather is kind, we should also see bats and nightjars. Park in the FC Staple Hill car park on north side of minor road between Widcombe and Castle Neroche at OS ref ST 247 159 and then a 5 min walk from here down the Herepath to Mount Fancy Farm (OS ref ST252164). Sorry - no parking available at Mount Fancy Farm. Telephone contact on the day: 07981 776767. Contact Nigel Spring on email above for further information. ALL WELCOME!

The list of species trapped by Robin Clatworthy in a garden trap at Merriot for the month of May 2014 - 89 species, 13 sessions, 125w Robinson MV trap (in order of appearance, with a few of the more interesting ones in bold print - LM)

Waved Umber, Brimstone Moth
Powdered Quaker, Common Marbled Carpet
Red Twin-spot Carpet, Common Pug
Iron Prominent, Pebble Prominent
Muslin Moth, Shuttle-shaped Dart
Common Quaker, Clouded Drab
Spectacle, Hebrew Character
Flame Shoulder, Nut-tree Tussock
Grey Shoulder-knot, Pale Tussock
Early Grey, Ingrailed Clay, Broken-barred Carpet
Scalloped Hazel, Cinnabar
Coxcomb Prominent, Cabbage Moth
Setaceous Hebrew Character
Dwarf Pug, Purple Bar
Peppered Moth, Chinese Character
Flame, Treble Lines
May Highflyer, Oak-tree Pug
Brindled Beauty, Small Phoenix
Figure of Eighty
Eyed Hawk-moth, Poplar Hawk-moth
Poplar Grey, Pebble Hook-tip
V-Pug, Light Emerald
Garden Carpet, Flame Carpet
Scorched Carpet, Light Brocade
Knot Grass, Heart and Dart
Marbled Minor, Grey Dagger
Silver-ground Carpet, Buff-tip Rustic Shoulder-knot, Dark Arches
Silver Y, Willow Beauty
Clouded-bordered Brindle, Mottled Rustic
Pale Mottled Willow, Large Yellow Underwing
Pearly Underwing, Grey Pug
Bright-line Brown-eye, Scorched Wing
Orange Footman, Mottled Pug
Swallow Prominent, White Ermine
Maiden's Blush, Angle Shades
Small Angle Shades, Tawny Marbled Minor
Vine's Rustic, True Lover's Knot
Small Dusty Wave, Lime-speck Pug
Sandy Carpet, Buff Ermine
Dark Sword-grass, Small Square-spot
Blood-vein, Elephant Hawk-moth
Rufous Minor, Middle-barred Minor

Bee Moth
Garden Peeble
Small Magpie

The best night of the year so far - 71 moths of 28 species, plus the usual addition of escapees this evening. Several FFY - Chrysoteuchia culmella (2) (no doubt the first of many), Large Yellow Underwing (likewise), Beautiful Hook-tip, Brussels Lace, and Eudonia(formerly Dipleurina, as on MapMate) lacustrata (2).

There is a bald-headed (presumably old) and very tame robin which has clearly noted the activity around the morning trap-unloading, and flew into the room twice to see if it could have breakfast at my expense !!

Whitefield, Wiveliscombe - Min Temp 12.7 degrees.

Over a hundred moths of 39 species including FFY - a Privet Hawk-moth.

32 moths of 15 species with Buff Ermine, Green Pug & Miller all FFY.

Very odd looking moth in my trap this morning- turned out to be a Marbled Minor agg with vestigial hind wings. Flying very well!

Lots of other FFYs, Willow Beauty, Light Emerald, Small Elephant HM., Angle Shades, Snout, Buff Arches, Thistle Ermine, Udea olivalis and Small Tort caterpillars on the nettles.

a further 12 moths and 3 additional species, making 43 of 18.  Nothing of interest in this later batch.

Whitefield, Wiveliscombe - (Friday) Min temp 13 degrees

113 moths of 40 species including FFY - Lunar Thorn (2), Double Square-Spot and a Broken-Barred Carpet.

On Saturday when the Min Temp was 10 degrees we had 87 moths of 31 species including FFY - Mottled Rustic and a Snout. By day we had a Red Admiral nectaring on Valerian.

A better night, with 46 moths of 24 species. FFY were Common Swift, The Flame, Setaceous Hebrew Character, The Snout and a couple of different Minors (possibly, Marbled and Middle-barred). Most numerous was Heart and Dart, with 14.

Nice to see a specimen of Olethreutes Arcuella whilst hunting for Heath Fritillaries at Haddon Hill today.

A couple of interesting Micros from Friday night's trapping. 1133 Epinotia bilunana and 1184 Epiblema scutulana, (DA confirmed)

73 moths of 30 species last night, FFYs Large Yellow U.W.,Heart & Club, Marbled Min.Agg.,Engrailed, Elephant HM., Shoulder-striped Wainscot, a clutch of common Micros, and a FFG- Mottled Pug.

Just over 30 moths so far of 15 species (escapees to be rounded up this evening as per usual) Along with 2 Elephant Hawks, there were FFY Privet Hawk and Common White Wave. Otherwise the usual crowd.

A much quieter night all round last night but it did produce my garden's first ever Alder Kitten. Looking at the distribution map for this moth the only records seem to be down here in the south of the county.

My portable 15W actinic survived the storm and had 64 macros of 27 sps. Still ID ing the Micros. FFY were Mottled Beauty, Engrailed, Brussels Lace, Clouded Silver, Heart & Club, Clouded Brindle, Treble Bar, Marbled Minor agg.& Brown Rustic.

I too was out at 04:45am in the garden before the rain reached Weston and potted some interesting moths. Biggest surprise were two day flyers: Hummingbird Hawk-moth and Alabonia geofrella, the latter being new for the garden. 12 year ticks in total including Teleiodes luculella, Ephestia parasitella and Crescent Dart. I also have two nepticulids to ID which may need the chop.

Was woken by the thunder & lightning at 04:30h and just managed to get the trap into the garage before the heavens opened. T Min a sticky 16C but only 33 moths of 14 species. Flame Carpet was FFG and Lychnis, Light Emerald, Chrysoteuchia culmella and Udea olivalis FFY.

Despite the wind and the rain last night was easily the best night of the year here with 195 macros of 53 species. best of the bunch were a White Pinion Spotted. This is the only time I've recorded it here except for 3 adults in 2010. I also recorded only my 2nd Small Clouded Brindle.
Lots and lots of micros including a number I don't think I've seen before. Perhaps the time is coming to start to try to id some of them!

Thanks for your thoughts Paul & Nigel (the latter on Twitter).

Hedya nubiferana looks a good bet. There's a good photo on Google.

(See my Bishopswood Meadows entry dated Tues 3rd June).

It would appear that perhaps 1274 Dichrorampha alpinana isn't quite that rare after all. I have just netted one in the Oxeye Daisy patch in the back garden...... Just been back outside (20:25h) and found at least 6 flying around the Oxeye Daisies. Looks like I've got my very own colony!

• Garden moth list now up to 155 for the year with Cryptoblabes bistriga and Crambus pascuella two recent new for the garden additions. Whilst out at Sand Point this morning I was scanning a clump of Red Valerian for any interesting insects and was very surprised to see a Narrow-bordered Bee Hawk-moth.
• Rob, how about Hedya nubiferana for your mystery micro?

Narrow-bordered Bee Hawk-moth

Another poor night here, seemingly going backwards! 13 moths of 12 species, including FFG Orange Footman and FFY Freyer's Pug. Also this micro that has been troubling me. Does anyone have any ideas, please?

Ran the trap at Netherclay until 01:45h. 72 moths of 31 species included Lime & Poplar Hawkmoths and my first Large Yellow Underwing and Snout of the year. Amongst the micros were Nematopogon swammerdamella, Blastobasis lacticolella and a Parornix sp. On the same date last year I had 163 moths of 37 species of which 75 were Green Carpet; just one Green Carpet this year!

A new moth for me at Ash Priors Common today - Middle-barred Minor. Small enough to be a micro. Not a lot else about.

Not so good here either, only 41 moths of 10sps, but a few FFY, Blood Vein, Rustic Shoulder-knot and Small Magpie.

Not a good night, quite chilly and breezy, so only 16 moths of 9 species, Just one FFY, a Vine's Rustic.

Skinner 40W actinic. Min temp 9.4°C. Dry and cloudy. Just 18 moths of 12 species, 6 new species for the year - Common Marbled Carpet, Light Emerald, Willow Beauty, Buff Tip, Buff Ermine and Marbled Minor Ag. (possibly Rufous Minor).

Whitefield, Wiveliscombe -Min Temp 9.6 degrees and very wet.

87 moths of 32 species including FFY - Blood-vein and Common Carpet.

Whitefield, Wiveliscombe - Min temp 11.6 degrees

47 moths of 23 species including FFY - Burnished Brass and Ghost Moth.

Over the last six days a Humming-bird Hawk-Moth has visitd our garden feeding on Red Valerian, this is the only moth i can see during the day, trapping not possible due to back problems.

An overcast afternoon but managed to find three macro- and 11 micro-moth species at Bishopswood Meadows including three examples of 1274 Dichrorampha alpinana which is listed as Rare / Very Local in VC 5 & 6. Given that it is similar to 1275 Dichrorampha flavidorsana I posted the photos on to the ukmicromoths Yahoo newsgroup where they were confirmed as D. alpinana by John Langmaid. This species should be quite easy to find where present since they seem to spend time sat on Oxeye Daisy flowers, the LHP, during the day.

Attended by Mike Ridge, Robin Clatworthy, Nigel Cottle and Liz Marsden.
Over 600 moths of 7 micro species and 78 macro species plus a few awaiting ID.  Highlights were; Barred(5) and Oak(4) Hooktips, Mocha(35),Maiden's Blush(3), Clay Triple-lines(4), Cream Wave(4), Pauper Pug(2), Larch Pug(2), Blomer's Rivulet(4), Little Thorn(2), Lunar Thorn(2),Square Spot(5), Puss Moth(1), Marbled Brown(1), Orange Footman(43),Light Brocade(1), Alder Moth(8), Large Nutmeg(1), and Green Silver-lines(7).  With Nigel's Monopis weaverella the micro Dioyctria abietella is also new for Young Wood along with those in bold print. I can email a full list to anyone who wants one.

I'm envious of some of you lot out there! Just 26 moths of 10 species here including Yellow-barred Brindle, Vine's Rustic, Lime-speck Pug and Marbled Minor agg.

Whitefield, Wiveliscombe - Min Temp 8.6 degrees

79 moths of 28 species including FFY - Treble Brown Spot and Garden Pebble. Also a first in 14 years here, a Peppered Moth of the Black variety Columbaria. It was so black that it was difficult to see against the black of the wall of the trap.

A reasonable night here too. 112 moths of 39 species. Firsts for year were Treble Brown Spot, Ghost Moth, Elephant Hawk Moth, Mocha, Middle barred Minor and Pearly Underwing. The latter was joined by 2 Silver Y's. Perhaps the south coast migrants are now moving inland.

Another reasonable night - 51 moths so far, of 29 species.  FFY were Willow Beauty, Clouded Border, & Small Clouded Brindle (3).  I also found a Pale Tussock almost drowned in a rainwater butt - knight in shining armour (well, t-shirt anyway) to the rescue !!

A reasonably good night, with 54 moths so far, of 21 species.  FFY were Silver Y, Straw Dot (2), Cinnabar (2), Clouded SIlver (3), LIght Emerald, Pseudargyrotoza conwagana (second record here, the last one in 2007) and new for this site Epinotia bilunana.

P.S.  rounded up a couple of strays this evening (10.00 pm) - 2 FFY - Mottled Pug (3rd record here, and first since 2011) and Crambus lathoniellus.

After a few days away, I had high hopes when setting up the trap last night. Alas, it was not to be - just 17 moths of 13 species. The only FFY was a Large Yellow Underwing. The figures are similar to those of this time last year and we all know how bad that was!

On a more positive note, I saw my FFY Hummingbird Hawk-Moth in the garden this morning, feeding on Valerian.

Trapped an example of 1146 Epinotia rubiginosana on the SMG Fieldtrip to Young Wood on Friday night. According to the website this species is rare in the county; 'Moths of the Bristol Region' states that it has not been recorded in that area and Turner (1955) says 'very scarce and local amongst Pine' so I was very happy to have caught one.

Epinotia rubiginosana

Ive been trapping in my garden in Weston-super-Mare now for the last 3 or 4 years and this has to be the worst year so far.  The last couple of weeks has seen on average about 7 moths in the trap! This may have something to do with the new housing estate that has been built on part of the park that backs on to my garden.  However Im not giving up and last night saw my largest number so far.  27 moths of 12 species.  Not a massive amount but on the increase. This includes Small sqaure spot, light emerald, poplar hawkmoth, shuttle shaped dart, treble lines to name a few.