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| Nov.14th |
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A White-speck moth was trapped overnight. |
| Nov.8th |
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A Gem was trapped overnight and a Clouded Yellow was seen during the day. |
| Nov.6th |
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A Gem was trapped overnight and a Clouded Yellow was seen during the day. |
| Oct.31st |
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A Delicate, a Pearly Underwing, 20 Silver Y, 13 Nomophila noctuella and 20 Udea ferrugalis were the only significant migrants trapped overnight. |
| Oct.30th |
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A Vestal, a Pearly Underwing, 27 Nomophila noctuella and 12 Udea ferrugalis were the only migrants of note in the moth-traps. |
| Oct.29th |
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Another decent night for migrant moths with four Gems, a Vestal, 24 Nomophila noctuella and 28 Udea ferrugalis. An Autumnal Moth was a new species for the Observatory. |
| Oct.28th |
|
Another superb nights moth trapping with the outstanding highlight of a Silver-striped Hawk-moth. Other migrants included two Vestals, a Gem, two Pearly Underwing, four Delicates, 228 Nomophila noctuella and 36 Udea ferrugalis.
|
| Oct.27th |
|
A Scarce Bordered Straw was trapped overnight and a Vestal moth, a Clouded Yellow butterfly and a Harlequin Ladybird were seen during the day. |
| Oct.26th |
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The outstanding highlight of the day was the catching of a Crimson Speckled moth.
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| Oct.25th |
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A surprisingly good night for migrant moths with a Gem, two Vestals, three Pearly Underwings, two Delicates, a Scarce Bordered Straw, 24 Udea ferrugalis and 31 Nomophila noctuella. |
| Oct.23rd |
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A Clouded Yellow were seen. |
| Oct.22nd |
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Only three moths caught overnight but they did include a Gem and a Scarce Bordered Straw. |
| Oct.21st |
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Migrant moths trapped overnight included a Small Mottled Willow and a Scarce Bordered Straw. A Hummingbird Hawk-moth was seen during the day. |
| Oct.18th |
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A Delicate was trapped overnight and a Clouded Yellow of the 'helice' form was seen during the day. |
| Oct.13th |
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A Clancy's Rustic, a Scarce Bordered Straw and a Gem were of note amongst the moths and two Clouded Yellows were seen. |
| Oct.12th |
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One Clancy's Rustic, six Pearly Underwings and a Scarce Bordered Straw were caught overnight. Large numbers of Red Admirals and smaller numbers of Painted Ladies and Peacocks continue to move west across the area. Nine Clouded Yellows were also seen. |
| Oct.11th |
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Three Clancy's Rustics were caught overnight and a Hummingbird Hawk-moth was also seen in the garden. |
| Oct.10th |
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Three Clancy's Rustics and a Delicate were caught overnight and four Clouded Yellows were also seen. |
| Oct.9th |
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A Beautiful Gothic was trapped overnight - a new species for Dungeness (and Kent?). A Hummingbird Hawk-moth was also seen.
Beautiful Gothic
|
| Oct.8th |
|
Two Hummingbird Hawk-moths and four Clouded Yellows were seen during the day. |
| Oct.7th |
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Huge numbers of butterflies were on the move, mostly heading into the wind. By far the commonest was Red Admiral with hundreds an hour passing through and with small numbers of Peacocks and Painted Ladies. At least 11 Clouded Yellows were also seen including one of the form helice. |
| Oct.5th |
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Another Clancy's Rustic was caught overnight and Red Admirals continue to move through in large numbers. |
| Oct.4th |
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Four Delicates were the highlight of the nights moth-trapping and a Hummingbird Hawk-moth was seen in the garden. Large numbers of Red Admirals continue to fly south. |
| Oct.3rd |
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A Plumed Fan-foot was another new species for the Observatory moth-trap. Three Pearly Underwings and three Delicates were also caught and a Hummingbird Hawk-moth and four Clouded Yellows were seen during the day. There were also very large numbers of Red Admirals flying south. There were also hundreds of Common Darter and Migrant Hawker dragonflies in the area.
Plumed Fan-foot
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| Oct.1st |
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Four Delicates and a Small Mottled Willow were trapped overnight. |
| Sep.30th |
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Another Clancy's Rustic and four Delicates were trapped overnight and two Clouded Yellows were seen during the day. |
| Sep.29th |
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A Delicate and a Scarce Bordered Straw were the only notable migrant moths trapped overnight and a Clouded Yellow butterfly was seen during the day. |
| Sep.28th |
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Our third-ever Clancy's Rustic was the highlight of the nights mothing with other migrants including a brief visit by a Convolvulus Hawk-moth, a Vestal, three Delicates and a Scarce Bordered Straw. |
| Sep.27th |
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A Delicate and a Small Mottled Willow were caught overnight whilst a Hummingbird Hawk-moth and three Clouded Yellows were seen during the day. |
| Sep.26th |
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The highlight of the nights mothtrapping was our second-ever Clancy's Rustic (following our first on 17th). Migrants included nine Pearly Underwings and four Delicates. Three Clouded Yellows and two Hummingbird Hawk-moths were seen during the day.
Clancy's Rustic
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| Sep.25th |
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A few migrants in the mothtraps including a Gem, a Convolvulus Hawk-moth, two Delicates and other uncommon moths in the form of a Dusky Thorn, a Brick and an L-album Wainscot. In addition, an example of Dioryctria simplicella was caught - a new pyralid species for the Observatory.
Gem and Dioryctria simplicella
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| Sep.24th |
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A Gem and a Scarce Bordered Straw were trapped overnight and a Clouded Yellow butterfly was seen during the day. |
| Sep.23rd |
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Two Delicates, an L-album Wainscot and a Scarce Bordered Straw were the most noteworthy of the nights mothtrapping. |
| Sep.22nd |
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Four Delicates and three Scarce Bordered Straws and a Harlequin Ladybird were trapped overnight. |
| Sep.20th |
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Another breezy night resulting in a reduced catch of moths but including yet another Scarce Bordered Straw. |
| Sep.19th |
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A breezy night with a reduced catch of moths but including a Vestal, five Pearly Underwings and another Scarce Bordered Straw. Two Hummingbird Hawk-moths and a Clouded Yellow were also seen during the day. |
| Sep.18th |
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A Scarce Bordered Straws and three Pearly Underwings were the only significant migrant moth strapped overnight and two Clouded Yellow butterflies were seen during the day. |
| Sep.17th |
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Migrant moths continue to arrive in good numbers and variety. The highlights of last nights trapping were a Clancy's Rustic (a long-awaited new species for the Observatory and considered likely to be a migrant individual), our fourth Blair's Mocha of the autumn, two Convolvulus Hawk-moths, 11 Scarce Bordered Straws, 10 Pearly Underwings and an L-album Wainscot.
Blair's Mocha and Clancy's Rustic
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A Clouded Yellow was also seen.
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| Sep.16th |
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Despite
very windy conditions the mothtraps still
continue to attract migrants with a Convolvulus Hawk-moth
and seven Scarce Bordered Straws of
particular note. Other species included a Cypress Pug
and a Hummingbird Hawk-moth was also
seen during the day.
A Clouded Yellow was also seen.
|
| Sep.17th |
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| Sep.15th |
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A record
total of ten Scarce Bordered Straws were caught overnight. Other
uncommon moths included Cypress Pug, L-album Wainscot, Gold
Spot and Dark Spectacle and the pyralid Galleria mellonella.
A Clouded Yellow was also seen.
A
flock of Scarce Bordered Straws
|
| Sep.14th |
|
Unusual moths trapped overnight included Cypress
Pug, Dusky Thorn, two Scarce Bordered Straws and a Dark
Spectacle. A Hummingbird Hawk-moth and a Clouded Yellow were
seen during the day. |
| Sep.13th |
|
Quieter on the rare moth front with a Langmaid's
Yellow Underwing, two Scarce Bordered Straws and a Silky
Wainscot.
Four Harlequin Ladybirds were also caught
at the moth-traps and a Clouded Yellow was seen during the day.
Harlequin
Ladybirds
|
| Sep.12th |
|
The
amazing run of rare moths at the traps continued with the overnight capture of
a Pale Shoulder, the first Observatory record but unfortunately flying
off before it could be photographed, a very worn Cosmopolitan (third
observatory record), another Convolvulus Hawk-moth and a new pyralid for
the Observatory, a Nephopteryx angustella.
Convolvulus
Hawk-moth
Cosmopolitan
|
| Sep.11th |
|
Another remarkable night for moths with only four
migrants caught but including a Convolvulus Hawk-moth and even more
staggering, a Passenger.
The
Passenger
|
| Sep.10th |
|
A Delicate was trapped overnight and two Hummingbird
Hawk-moths were seen during the day. |
| Sep.9th |
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A Clouded Yellow butterfly and three Hummingbird
Hawk-moths were seen during the day. |
| Sep.7th |
|
Migrant moth trapped overnight included two Delicates
and two Scarce Bordered Straws. A Clouded Yellow butterfly was
seen during the day. |
| Sep.6th |
|
A Scarce Bordered Straw, a Dark Spectacle
and a Pinion-streaked Moth were the only moths of interest on a clear
and cold night. Three Hummingbird Hawk-moths were seen during the day. |
| Sep.5th |
|
A
memorable nights' moth trapping with the capture of a superb male Clifden
Nonpareil.
Clifden
Nonpareil
Other migrants were surprisingly scarce in the
traps with singles of Hummingbird Hawk-moth, Delicate and Scarce
Bordered Straw of note.
|
| Sep.4th |
|
Three Hummingbird
Hawk-moths and three Clouded Yellow butterflies were seen during the
day |
| Sep.3rd |
|
Two Hummingbird
Hawk-moths were seen during the day. |
| Sep.2nd |
|
A Small Emerald, a Hummingbird Hawk-moth,
a Delicate, two Scarce Bordered Straws and a second brood type Green
Silver-lines, were of note from the overnight moth-trapping. Two further Hummingbird
Hawk-moths were seen during the day.
Green
Silver Lines (2nd brood form)
|
| Sep.1st |
|
Two Small Emeralds and a Dark Spectacle
were the only unusual moths trapped overnight. Two Hummingbird Hawk-moths
were seen during the day. |
| Aug.31st |
|
A Scarce
Bordered Straw was trapped overnight and a Hummingbird Hawk-moth and
a Clouded Yellow butterfly were seen during the day. |
| Aug.30th |
|
Four Hummingbird
Hawk-moths were seen during the day. |
| Aug.29th |
|
Two Scarce
Bordered Straws, two Bordered Straws, four Pearly Underwings and
six Dark Sword-grass were trapped overnight and four Hummingbird
Hawk-moths were seen during the day. |
| Aug.28th |
|
Two Clouded Yellow butterflies and five Hummingbird
Hawk-moths were seen during the day. |
| Aug.27th |
|
A much quieter night for migrant moths with a Delicate
being the highlight. Five Hummingbird Hawk-moths were seen during the
day.
In addition, four Harlequin Ladybirds
were also trapped.
|
| Aug.26th |
|
Another Blair's Mocha
was trapped overnight. Other moths of interest included the third Cypress
Pug of the year, a Scarce Bordered Straw and the pyralid Ebulea
crocealis. At least 12 Hummingbird Hawk-moths were seen during the
day.
Our third
Blair's Mocha
|
| Aug.25th |
|
A much quieter night for moths but still producing
three Scarce Bordered Straws, six White-points and two Hummingbird
Hawk-moths (and with another five seen during the day). |
| Aug.24th |
|
Another excellent variety of migrant moths at the
traps with the remarkable highlight being a second Blair's Mocha. Other
significant migrants included two Small Mottled Willows, two Scarce
Bordered Straws and a Bordered Straw. In addition, a Cypress Pug
was also caught.
A second
Blair's Mocha
|
| Aug.23rd |
|
A Delicate was the highlight of the nights
trapping. Two Pearly Underwings, four White-points and a Bordered
Straw were also caught and three Hummingbird Hawk-moths were also
seen during the day.
The
Delicate
|
| Aug.22nd |
|
An excellent night for migrant moths with the
highlight being a Blair's Mocha, the first record for the Observatory of
this nationally rare immigrant. Other notable migrants included a Vestal,
a Small Mottled Willow, two Scarce Bordered Straws and two Bordered
Straws. Also of note during the day were at least six Hummingbird
Hawk-moths and a Clouded Yellow butterfly.
Blair's
Mocha and Vestal
One male Small Red-eyed Damselfly was
seen on the southern Long Pit.
A
Harlequin Ladybird was also caught in the
moth trap.
Harlequin
Ladybird
|
| Aug.20th |
|
Two White-points were trapped overnight and
two Hummingbird Hawk-moths were seen during the day. |
| Aug.19th |
|
Migrant moths trapped overnight included a Pearly
Underwing, two White-points and a Scarce Bordered Straw. |
| Aug.18th |
|
Moth-trapping produced two Scarce Bordered
Straws and one Bordered Straw and also a Harlequin Ladybird.
Harlequin
Ladybird
|
| Aug.17th |
|
Two Latticed Heaths, three Dark
Sword-grass, four White-points and a Small Mottled Willow and
the pyralids, Nomophila noctuella (3), Udea ferrugalis
(2) and Ancylosis oblitella were trapped overnight. Three Hummingbird
Hawk-moths were also seen during the day. |
| Aug.16th |
|
A Small Mottled Willow and a Bordered
Straw were trapped overnight and three Hummingbird
Hawk-moths were also seen during the day. |
| Aug.15th |
|
A good night of moth-trapping with migrants
including a Cypress Pug, eight Dark Sword-grass, seven White-points, three Bordered
Straws and best of all, three Scarce Bordered Straws. Six Hummingbird
Hawk-moths were also seen during the day along with a Clouded
Yellow.
A male Small Red-eyed Damselfly was seen at
the Long Pits.
|
| Aug.14th |
|
A White-point was trapped overnight and two Hummingbird Hawk-moths were seen during
the day. |
| Aug.11th |
|
A Bordered Straw and a White Point
were trapped overnight and two Hummingbird Hawk-moths were seen during
the day.
Fifteen male Small Red-eyed Damselfly
were seen on the southern Long Pit.
|
| Aug.10th |
|
Very few moths at the traps but they did include
singles of Scarce Bordered Straw, Bordered Straw, Gold Spot
and Red Underwing.
A Clouded Yellow was seen on the beach.
|
| Aug.9th |
|
A Small Mottled Willow and a Bordered
Straw were the best of the migrants in the moth trap and three Hummingbird
Hawk-moths were seen during the day. |
| Aug.8th |
|
Four Small Red-eyed Damselflies were seen on
the southern Long Pit. |
| Aug.7th |
|
A Langmaid's Yellow Underwing was the only
notable moth trapped overnight. |
| Aug.6th |
|
The highlight of the overnight moth trapping was a
remarkable three Scarce Silver Y's - the first Observatory record of
this species. Other notable moths included a Small Mottled Willow and Bordered
Straw. The pyralid Platytes alpinella was also trapped. There
were also at least nine Hummingbird Hawk-moths and 40 Painted Ladies
in the area.
Three Scarce Silver Y
A Clouded Yellow was also seen during the day.
|
| Aug.5th |
|
Six Hummingbird Hawk-moths and at least 30 Painted
Ladies were seen
during the day.
Painted Lady
Dragonflies at the Long Pits included 12 Small Red-eyed Dragonflies with two pairs in tandem and one of these pairs seen ovipositing.
Small Red-eyed Damselfly
|
| Aug.4th |
|
Four Hummingbird Hawk-moths were seen
during the day. |
| Aug.3rd |
|
Very few moths trapped again but more quality in
the form of a Ni Moth (only the second Observatory record), yet another Langmaid's
Yellow Underwing, a Pearly Underwing and a Bordered Straw and
also a Hummingbird Hawk-moth seen during the day.
Ni Moth
|
| Aug.2nd |
|
Three Hummingbird Hawk-moths were seen during the day including two feeding at the buddleja in the Observatory garden.
|
| Aug.1st |
|
A Langmaid's Yellow Underwing and a Small
Mottled Willow were the notable moths trapped overnight.
Small Mottled Willow
|
| July
31st |
|
The moth traps produced a Hummingbird Hawk-moth,
a Langmaid's Yellow Underwing, a Scarce Bordered Straw, a Small
Mottled Willow and a Dingy Footman of note. |
| July
30th |
|
Disappointing in the moth-traps with just a Small
Rivulet, a Dingy Footman and a Bordered Straw of interest and
also a Hummingbird Hawk-moth seen during the day. |
| July
29th |
|
Two Bordered Straws, a Dog's Tooth
and two Dingy Footman were the highlight of the moth-trapping. |
| July
28th |
|
Two Langmaid's Yellow Underwings, a Small Waved Umber, two Dingy Footman and
a Reed Dagger were of note in the moth trap and nine male Small
Red-eyed Damselflies were seen at the Long Pits. |
| July
27th |
|
Highlight of the moth-trapping was another Langmaid's
Yellow Underwing along with a Least Carpet and two Dingy Footman. |
| July
26th |
|
Moth trapping produced two Small Waved Umbers,
two Pebble Hook-tips, three Dingy Footman and a Brown-veined
Wainscot of interest whilst butterflies included a Clouded Yellow
and six Brown Argus. |
| July
25th |
|
A Hummingbird Hawk-moth was seen during the
day. |
| July
24th |
|
An excellent day for insects with the highlight
being a Swallowtail butterfly watched in the trapping area for about 20
minutes during the morning whilst other butterflies included a Clouded
Yellow, three Brown Argus and about 80 Painted Ladies. Moth
trapping produced the scarce pyralid Dioryctria sylvestrella, a Langmaid's
Yellow Underwing and a Dark Spectacle. Five Small Red-eyed
Damselflies were seen on the southern Long Pit.
Dioryctria sylvestrella and Langmaid's Yellow Underwing
|
| July
23rd |
|
Moth-trapping produced a Least Carpet and
large numbers of Silver Y's. |
| July
22nd |
|
The highlights of the moth-trapping were a Scarce
Bordered Straw and a Fan-foot.
The Fan-foot
|
| July
21st |
|
A Lesser Emperor dragonfly was seen at the
Long Pits and 40 Painted Ladies and 200 Peacock butterflies were
seen. Overnight moth trapping produced 11 Sussex Emeralds, a Starwort
and two Langmaid's Yellow Underwings. |
| July
20th |
|
Overnight moth-trapping was excellent with large
numbers of moths and a number of interesting species including 22 Sussex
Emeralds, a Haworth's Pug, a V-Pug, The Engrailed, a Dingy
Footman, two Starwort, six Fen Wainscot and a Small
Mottled Willow whilst pyralids included Eudonia lineola, Pyralis
farinalis and Gymnancyla canella. In addition, an Eyed
Ladybird and another uncommon beetle, Arhopalus rusticus,
were also trapped and a male Banded Demoiselle was seen at the northern
Long Pit.
Eyed Ladybird and a Longhorn Beetle Arhopalus rusticus
|
| July
17th |
|
Uncommon moths trapped overnight included Small
Waved Umber, Scorched Carpet, Sycamore and Oak Nycteoline
and the pyralids, Ephestia parasitella and Sciota adelphela
(only the fourth Observatory record).
Sciota adelphela
|
| July
13th |
|
A Large Emerald and a Haworth's Pug
were trapped overnight and two male Small Red-eyed Damselflies were seen
on the northern Long Pit. |
| July
8th |
|
Moth trapping produced a Miller and a Doubled-lobed
along with the pyralids Gymnancyla canella and Ephestia
parasitella. |
| July
7th |
|
Six Sussex Emeralds, Least Carpet, Haworth's
Pug and Bordered Straw were the best of the overnight moth trapping. |
| July
5th |
|
A good night of moth trapping produced the nationally rare pyralid Evergestis limbata - the first for the Observatory, and a Twin-spot Carpet, the second Observatory record.
Evergestis limbata
|
| July
4th |
|
A Clouded Buff was trapped overnight - only
the second Observatory record. Four Hummingbird Hawk-moths and a Clouded
Yellow were seen during the day along with a 1000+ Small Skippers.
Clouded Buff
|
| July
3rd |
|
A Small Red-eyed Damselfly was seen at the
northern end of the South Long Pit. |
| June
23rd |
|
A Rosy Wave trapped overnight was only the
third Observatory record. A Water Ermine was also of note. |
| June
20th |
|
Amazingly, another Eastern Bordered Straw
was trapped overnight.
Eastern Bordered Straw
|
| June
19th |
|
An excellent nights moth trapping with the highlights being an Eastern Bordered
Straw (first Observatory record) and a Pale Shining Brown (second
Observatory record). Other interesting moths included four Bordered Straws, three
White-points and the pyralid Ephestia parasitella.
Eastern Bordered Straw
Pale Shining Brown - grey continental form
|
| June
18th |
|
A Bordered Straw was the only notable
migrant in the moth trap although two Hummingbird Hawk-moths were also
seen during the day.
A Brimstone butterfly was also seen.
|
| June
17th |
|
Moth-trapping produced a Small Waved Umber,
a Freyer's Pug, a Pearly Underwing and two Bordered Straws
of note. Two Hummingbird Hawk-moths
were also seen. |
| June
16th |
|
A Treble Brown-spot and a White Colon
were the only unusual moths trapped overnight. One Hummingbird Hawk-moth
was also seen. |
| June
14th |
|
A Figure-of Eighty moth was trapped
overnight - only the third Observatory record. |
| June
13th |
|
Migrants were strangely scarce in the moth traps
other than 41 Plutella xylostella. Other less common moths
included a Lobster Moth and two Hummingbird Hawk-moths seen
during the day. A Clouded Yellow was also seen. |
| June
12th |
|
Another good catch of moths in the very warm
weather with migrants including Scarce Bordered Straw, Bordered Straw,
Pearly Underwing, two Hummingbird Hawk-moths and 34 Plutella
xylostella whilst other uncommon moths included singles of Slender
and Yarrow Pugs. Red Admirals and Painted Ladies also
around in good numbers. Two micro-moths, Adela croesella and Dichrorampha
alpinana were added to the Observatory list.
 
Adela croesella and Dichrorampha alpinana
|
| June
11th |
|
A good variety of moths trapped overnight included
six White-points, a Shoulder-striped Wainscot, a Brown Rustic
and a Treble Lines, all quite uncommon at the Observatory. In addition,
there was a large arrival of Silver Y's and two Hummingbird
Hawk-moths were also seen during the day. |
| June
8th |
|
An Orange Footman was trapped overnight,
only the second Observatory record, and two Mother Shipton moths,
perhaps only the second and third Observatory records, were seen during the
day.
Orange Footman Eilema sororcula
|
| June
4th |
|
A Swallowtail butterfly was seen in
Dengemarsh Gully during the morning. |
| June
2nd |
|
Another Speckled Yellow moth was seen and a
Brimstone butterfly was another unusual record for the Observatory area.
Brimstone Gonepteryx rhamni 2nd June 2006
|
| May
25th |
|
A day-flying Speckled Yellow moth was a new
species for the Observatory. |
| May
18th |
|
At least 15 Painted Ladies were seen. |
| May
16th |
|
Another small arrival of migrant butterflies
included a Swallowtail and two Painted Ladies. A Hummingbird
Hawk-moth was also seen. |
| May
4th |
|
There was a very obvious arrival of migrant butterflies today with large numbers of Large Whites and Red Admirals in the area and best of all, a superb Large Tortoiseshell, caught in a garden at Lydd-on-Sea. A few Silver Y moths were also seen.
Large Tortoiseshell Nymphalis polychloros Lydd-on-Sea 4th May 2006
|
|
|
|
| Apr.25th |
|
A Streamer and a Chamomile Shark were trapped overnight. |
| Apr.24th |
|
The first Small Copper of the year was seen. |
| Apr.22nd |
|
The first Speckled Wood of the year was seen. |
| Apr.21st |
|
A Lead-coloured Drab and a Chamomile Shark were trapped overnight. |
| Apr.9th |
|
Two Light Orange Underwings seen in the trapping area were the first of the year. |
| Apr.7th |
|
The first Small White the year was seen. |
| Apr.3rd |
|
The first two Commas of the year were seen. |
| Mar.24th |
|
The first Peacock of the year was seen. |
| Mar.6th |
|
The first Small Tortoiseshell of the year was seen. |
|
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