Author Archives: tonyhopkins

I think the couple of wild nights we’ve just had have tipped us into autumn. I trapped in the garden last night; the comparison was interesting. Total catch on the 8th was 153 moths of 35 species. Last night was … Continue reading →

I can feel the temperature dropping. I suspect it will be a while before I get the moth trap on again, and the garden list is going to a lot shorter and more autumnal. Last night’s catch included red underwing, … Continue reading →

It seems that tonight is going to be the last of the ‘mild’ nights. Didn’t feel very mild here over last couple of nights, but the moths have been coming to light (though not always actually into the moth trap). … Continue reading →

An interesting night last night. Cooler evening, clear at first, but cloudy and milder late on. Wind SW, not as strong as last night. Result: another 8 vestals. Making 11 over the two nights. Has anyone else recorded so many … Continue reading →

Having just posted a short piece about getting just two migrants last night (including one vestal), I’ve just walked down the garden and discovered another two vestals sitting about ten yard downwind of where the trap had been. Although it’s … Continue reading →

Despite the wind and rain I left a trap out last night. Surely there must be a migrant or two? And there were – literally, two. A vestal (brown striped form) and a dark sword-grass. Being ten miles from the … Continue reading →

Trap on last night for first time in ten days. Generally as expected.. Dominants were lunar underwing, large yellow underwing and setaceous hebrew character (far fewer square-spot rustic). Firsts for the autumn were dusky lemon sallow, large ranunculus, brindled green … Continue reading →

Things quietening down; a lot of very worn moths in the garden MV. New last night was clouded buff and a very pretty Ethmia bipunctella – which vindicates having planted lots of bugloss over the past few years. It’s been … Continue reading →

The last few nights have been moonlit and cooler, but I kept the garden trap going on two of the last four nights. Total numbers quite low, but a few surprises – scarce silver lines and cream-bordered green pea a … Continue reading →