With an overnight temperature last night (23rd) of about 14 degrees at Bawdsey; on a par with Barcelona, a massive arrival of moths took place for late October. I had more than 400 moths of 45 species to process this morning. The highlight was a single of the ‘tropical’ pyralid Antigastra catalaunalis which I haven’t seen in Suffolk since the vintage migrant autumn of 2006. How this species from North Africa and Spain (where the original type-specimen was taken in Catalunya) gets here on a northeasterly I just can’t comprehend!
Other migrants included: 3 Diamond-back Moth, 4 Rusty-dot Pearl, 54 Rush Veneer, 3 Gem (2 male and 1 female) , 7 Turnip, 20 Dark Sword-grass, 90 Large Yellow Underwing, 1 Pearly Underwing, 1 Delicate, 20 L-album Wainscot, 46 Angle Shades, 2 Small Mottled Willow, 3 Silver Y and 2 Dark Spectacle.
Residents included lots of Mallow, Black Rustic and Beaded Chestnut; November and December Moths, Herald, Feathered Thorn and late examples of Cabbage and Garden Carpet.
Also Common Darter and Silver-diving Beetle to light.