Surreybirder's lep blog (1 Viewer)

[Surreybirder]

19 Jan 07

It's incredibly mild here, though damp and breezy. I caught five moths. After my last effort I'm nervous of naming them but I reckon they may be:
small brindled beauty (melanistic) ??
spring usher (2)
mottled umber
common quaker.
Ken

 

[MikeWall]

Hi, Pete, I reckon you must have the best garden in the UK (with the possible exception of some on south coast promontories)! Will you be posting a 2006 list eventually?
Have a good 2007!
Ken

John Langmaid in Southsea has something like 950 on his garden list (and his garden is about 30 x 50 feet!), but then he has trapped there for over 40 years...

 

[Pete Haynes]

John Langmaid in Southsea has something like 950 on his garden list (and his garden is about 30 x 50 feet!), but then he has trapped there for over 40 years...

Now that really is impressive!!! :t:

Had my first Dotted Border of the year last night - sitting on the conservatory window along with a Pale Brindled Beauty and a Spring Usher. Min temp last night 0.7C and dropping!

All the best

Pete H

 

[hjalava]

Hello!
Temperature this morning -17C, -11C at moment. We have winter here, unlike you there in the warm south...

 

[Surreybirder]

Hi, Harri.
You're only jealous
Ken

 

[Surreybirder]

Last night:
chestnut (new for year)
pale brindled beauty (3)

 

[Surreybirder]

Last night:
the satellite (new for year)
spring usher (3)
micro (Acleris sp. possibly)

 

[Brian Stone]

How irritating! I took a couple of traps out to a bit of local woodland yesterday in the blistering January heat and came back with nothing. I have, however recorded one moth so far this year - a Bright-line Brown-eye (Lacanobia oleracea), which flew into the house on Friday evening! What that's doing out at this time of year is anyone's guess.

 

[Surreybirder]

A nice find, Brian,
Wed is set to reach 14 deg C here, so I might even leave the trap on overnight.
Ken

 

[Pete Haynes]

A nice find, Brian,
Wed is set to reach 14 deg C here, so I might even leave the trap on overnight.
Ken

Hi Ken,

According to the weather forecast (24hr regional on BBC News 24 text) it is due to be down to 2-3C by about 6pm tonight! Last night was cloudy, calm and 6.1C min and encouraged a few moths to come out. Ran two 125MV Robinsons in the garden and the 40W Actinic inside the conservatory. Counted 10 PBBs, 3 Spring Ushers, a Mottled Umber and an Oak Beauty on the conservatory windows and outside the traps.

Inside the traps this morning there were:
Red-green Carpet (1) - new for year
Pale Brindled Beauty (2)
Oak Beauty (3)
Spring Usher (3)
Satellite (1)
Chestnut (4)
Tortricodes alternella (3) - new for year and first micro too

Not too bad for a January night.

All the best

Pete H

 

[Surreybirder]

Well done, Pete. I'm glad you've got time to post a few lists at the moment!
I saw a forecast on TV that talked about it reaching 14 deg tomorrow, but of course they keep changing the forecasts!
Ken

 

[Brian Stone]

Inside the traps this morning there were:
Red-green Carpet (1) - new for year
Pale Brindled Beauty (2)
Oak Beauty (3)
Spring Usher (3)
Satellite (1)
Chestnut (4)
Tortricodes alternella (3) - new for year and first micro too

You're not winning any mates you know

Having said that I do get all of those in the garden, I just have to wait a bit and this perpetual early spring this year doesn't seem to be making much difference.

 

[Surreybirder]

Could anyone help with this one, please, my suspected Acleris from 28th.
Ken

 

[Brian Stone]

Almost looks like it could be Light Brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana.

 

[Surreybirder]

I did wonder but the white spots don't look right?
Ken

 

[MikeWall]

I did wonder but the white spots don't look right?
Ken

I'd say that was a likely Acleris ferrugana / notana from what I can make out, but not a great pic to ID from :-S

 

[Surreybirder]

Thanks, Mike. 'Fraid it's the best my camera will do. But I may get it dissected.
There's a meeting coming up about the fieldwork for the smaller moths of Surrey, so I may be able to hand the body over then.
Ken

 

[MikeWall]

Thanks, Mike. 'Fraid it's the best my camera will do. But I may get it dissected.
There's a meeting coming up about the fieldwork for the smaller moths of Surrey, so I may be able to hand the body over then.
Ken

Question for you, Ken... I've been contacted by someone on the Hants/Surrey border who's involved in a fauna survey for a small reserve and is trying to compile a list of key contacts for all taxa. He's asked whether there is a Surrey moth group. A search on the web reveals nothing useful. I've put him in touch with the county recorder(s) but wondered whether there's a friendly bunch of mothists in the west of the county who might be more relevant. Got any gen?

 

[Surreybirder]

Hi, Mike,
Graham Collins is the best person to contact. He'll know anyone who's anyone in mothing.
Cheers,
Ken

 

[MikeWall]

Hi, Mike,
Graham Collins is the best person to contact. He'll know anyone who's anyone in mothing.
Cheers,
Ken

Cheers Ken, I've given him Graham's contact details already. Hopefully he'll be able to help.

Mike