Traps have been rather busy this week, particularly with yellow underwings. I’m noting around 90 species each night, not bad for mid September. Like Raymond and others getting a lot of second or third brood moths including Heart & Dart, White & Buff Ermines, Buff Arches, Dark Arches, Rosy Footman and Gold Spot to name a few.
A Small Wainscot was only the second Bawdsey record on 14th. 12 Lunar Yellow Underwing on 10 September was a record count. Many autumn species now flying with decent numbers of Lunar Underwing, Beaded Chestnut, a few Feathered Ranunculus, Feathered Brindle, Sallow, Pink-barred Sallow, Autumnal Rustic and Brick. Also an early Mottled Umber.
Migrants have included Bedstraw Hawk on 16th, six Convolvulus Hawks in the last couple of weeks, Pearly Underwing on 16th, red-striped Vestal, male Gem, two Golden Twin-spot, Palpita vitrealis on 16th along with the more routine migrants.
Wow Matthew, you actually mean 90 species per night, that is incredible for this time of year…..
Yes, around 90 species for a single night. The Suffolk coast really comes into its own in the autumn. I expect good catches right through until end of October and into early November. Conversely, the spring is always really poor here.
These totals of moths the guys on the coast are getting at present are absolutely incredible. I would class myself as in a pretty good trapping area but I’m only averaging around 35 species a night. Not large quantities of moths caught either. Last night despite the warm conditions I only had 21sp! Did include a Four-spotted footman though so wasn’t all bad. Just being that little bit further inland certainly seems to make a difference. Be interesting to hear how other recorders further inland are getting on.
I’m not seeing any of the regular autumnal moths here either that others are getting for some strange reason. Something weird seems to be going on in my local area!
Matthew’s count of orbona is impressive too. This is a moth that breeds on the site here, but I’ve only caught 2 so far!
Incredible! Any houses for sale in the Shingle Street area!
yes