It's an interesting point you make about Silver Y records in 2017, Chris. It's been the third worst year here for the species. As a matter of interest, Im setting out my annual totals below:

2007 47, 2008 20, 2009 89, 2010 114, 2011 16, 2012 18, 2013 50, 2014 9, 2015 5, 2016 21, 2017 11

I'm starting to look through my 2017 records, and am very surprised to find that I have only recorded one Silver Y this year.  Has it been other people's experience that few have made it over here this year?

The forecast for a (relatively) mild night tempted me to run a trap last night. 22 moths showed up for the christmas party, comprising : December Moth (11) ; Mottled Umber (6) : Yellow-line Quaker (4) and a lone Chestnut.

Not trapping for the rest of the year but a very fresh Rusty Dot Pearl Udea ferrugalis in the house on Sunday morning (17th) - probably garden bred.

Disturbed from the wood store, Depressaria radiella and Digitivalva pulicariae, more fruitful that the trap! Also plenty of Agon. alstromeriana and heracliana agg. A very Happy Christmas to one and all.

I will be starting up trapping again in the new year, at my new/old address (I lived here from 1989 to 2005 and recorded from 2002) so it will be interesting to see what moths turn up from now on.

Meanwhile, a very happy Xmas and good New Year to all.

On Sunday evening I found a caterpillar on the house wall in rather chilly conditions. It turned out to be a Small Angle Shades!

Now that most of us have put our traps away for the winter, it's a good time to start getting our records together for John Bebbington, our Recorder.

I hope all members have a good Christmas and (moth-filled) New Year!

Here too things have been thin - one Light Brown Apple Moth and two December Moths since the beginning of the month so the trap has gone into hibernation. I'll be out looking for wingless female Winter and Mottled Umber if we get any mild periods.

In the meantime best wishes for Christmas and the New Year to everyone.

Ivy with hoar frost

Just 2 December Moths, 4 Yellow-line quakers and a Ruby tiger larva (clinging to the outside of the trap) It looks weatherwise as though this could be the last trapping for a while, so compliments of the season to all.

An even milder night produced 11 December Moths, Feathered Thorn, Dark Sword Grass, Yellow line Quaker and a very early Hebrew Character.

A slightly milder night produced just 3 moths. They were Chestnut, Cypress Carpet and a Dark Sword Grass.
A cider orchard that was planted behind my garden 3 years ago has failed to deliver any noticeable increase in moths apart from hundreds of Apple/Orchard Ermine. However this is the first year it has really cropped properly and the apples were never picked.We now have literally hundreds, possibly as many as a thousand, Fieldfares and Redwings noisily feeding. At least it is good for some wildlife.