5th September here in Bradwell saw 65 species of which highlights were Vestal, Wax Moth, 9 Rusty-dot Pearl which outnumbered Diamond-back. New for the progressing season was Frosted Orange.More seasonal moths followed on the 7th with Sallow and Black Rustic firsts for year. Highlight was a Dark Sword-grass, seen less often than Vestal here in the last four years. Rusty-dot Pearl numbers rose to 13 this night. Single Rush Veneer seen as has been the case for previous few nights. On the 8th European Corn-borer was probably the best, very late for here. Satellite, which I thought was pretty early, and a Red Under-wing the pick of the bunch.
Now onto those nights which could hopefully produce some interesting migrants starting with the 12th. Unfortunately yet again as was always the case last year a favourable wind off the continent coincided with a full moon and cloudless skies. This undoubtedly decreased the yield at traps throughout the Country as if cloudy I think there would have been widespread decent results. In an effort to increase the catch I placed an mv in an un-trapped location this season in some shade where I discovered that I did indeed have some wasps after all, such high numbers infact that I pulled the plug on the trap without going through it, the actinic did dismally as expected under the conditions 36 species recorded with nothing worth a mention other than Red Under-wing and Rusty-dots. Annoyingly, thick cloud cover was visible on the horizon, this arrived at dawn and lingered until 2pm. I didn’t bother again until the 15th as high cloud tarnished the moons appearance a little which encouraged me. Diamond-back numbers were high at 42 but a Palpita vitrealis, my third for home, was the highlight. The first Brown-spot Pinions of the Autumn seen.