Moth night

1 September 2024

Earlier our male kestrel  (Falco tinnunculus)  rejoiced as he flew into the big birch with a kill.

A damp night for mothing. Wind in the trees but sheltered on our green lane.

153 moths of 32 species.

The most-notable was the curiously-named old lady (Mormo maura). A big brown moth whose size isn’t obvious from her photo and when in repose.

But in flight she is the moth-equivalent of a Vulcan bomber. Impressive.

Brindled green (Dryobotodes eremita) is an infrequent visitor.

Angle shades (Phlogophora meticulosa) have returned.

The lower counts of large yellow underwings (Noctua pronuba) (27) continues. On 26 August 2019 we caught 115.

There’s something in the air - occasional huge sneezes!