Its been up to 29-30 C here over the last couple of days with night temperatures in the high teens with a cold front and showers moving in last night producing a refreshing morning.
I was working in London yesterday so I only put one trap out both nights and had to quickly go through it before work yesterday and didn't get it on until 1030pm last night when I got back. Typical that the best night of the year had to fall on a work day. However still managed to get about 450 moths of 139 species last night including a few new for gardens and the year list. Now on 555 for the all time moth list and 412 for the year.
The stand out highlight was a Bright Wave which is Red Data book species. There is a recently discovered population at Medmerry HERE and according to Sterling et al the only other populations are three small areas in Kent. Presumably the one here was one wandering from Medmerry nearby. A few other highlights pictured below.
The suite of species is slowly evolving as we progress through the peak high summer season. The first dominant summer species was Treble Lines, that gave way to Heart and Dart , then Dark Arches and its been Uncertain/Rustic for a while now overlapping too. The first signs of autumn have also happened recently with a very early Rosy Rustic and the first September and Canary-shouldered Thorns today. Getting one to two Privet Hawkmoths a night, 10-20 Elephant Hawkmoths a night and the odd Poplar and Eyed Hawkmoth. Only had one or two Small Elephants and Lime. There's been good numbers of Lackeys and Festoons. The footmans have recently appeared in force.
Not so many migrants recently, 2 Olive-tree Pearl, a single Rusty-dot, 2-3 Diamond-backs and a Silver-Y yesterday and the odd White-point and Dark Spectacle. The main show in town at the moment is the heat wave dispersing moths rather than true migrants.
