Just a quick review of the first half of October when all trapping has been at home. The weather hasn’t seemed to merit excursions elsewhere. Have picked up most of my usual autumnal moths now except for the Blair’s Shoulder-knot. Good numbers of Merveille du Jour this year and the Feathered Brindle is still turning up in most catches. I think they must be breeding locally as the numbers are far too high to be coming in off the coastal habitats. Picked up a first Juniper Carpet for my site on 11th. Quite pleased on this as I know a number have been caught at Bawdsey. Micros generally on the way out but the common Acleris variegana turned up a stunningly ornate specimen at the start of October.
Well it does happen! A mis-identification. As Matthew points out it is a Cypress Carpet not a Juniper, so not another first for the site. Pretty moth all the same! Whilst I am editing may as well point out I also have yet to pick up a Feathered Thorn but the November Moth is around.
Migrants have continued to come in. Mostly what I would call the regular species at this time of the year; Plutella xylostella, Udea ferrugalis, Nomophila noctuella. Silver Y and Dark Sword-grass. Plutella xylostella hit a low since the spring invasion of just two for a couple of days but is up again now. The less regular Convolvulus Hawk-moth has turned up singly on two occasions and there was a Scarce Bordered Straw on 6th. The best migrant in this period though has been my first White-speck on 8th. There have been a lot reported on the southern coast so I was due one.
Raymond, your moth is a Cypress Carpet (not a Juniper). Cypress Carpet is now regular at Bawdsey – I think it has colonised feeding on the leylandi at the Hall. I get the odd Juniper Carpet but this species is much less regular with me.
Well done on the White-speck – I’ve only taken this moth on three occasions at Bawdsey in the last 14 years. The moth is resident in Cornwall, the Isles of Scilly and possibly other parts of the South Coast but a migrant with us here in Suffolk.