After the Heat Wave

It's been a return to normal temperatures over the last couple of days/nights. The moth trap has quietened down and it all feels a bit more autumnal. With that in mind and preparing to switch back to focusing on birds from moths soon (a perilous choice considering this high summer has produced the year's best birds nationally/regionally i.e. Sulphur-bellied Warbler, Egyptian Vulture, Least Tern, Red-necked Stint, Red-winged Blackbird , Black-browed Albatross, Pacific Swift etc), I visited Otmoor yesterday in the hope of a bit of wader passage. 4 Garganey, 2 LRP, 4 Redshank, 1 Curlew, 9 Snipe, 100+ Lapwing, Bittern and Hobby were the highlights on what was a pretty quiet session HERE  . 

The quieter conditions has provided a chance to take a closer look at some of the UFOs from the heat wave. Hope the county recorder catches up with irecord soon to verify some of these- it's getting out of hand. 

Garganeys (and Gadwall) at Otmoor 

Tree-lichen Beauty- new for year 

This looks more like a Langmaid's Yellow Underwing  (above and below) with the restricted yellow in the hind-wing and sharp edge to black on fore-wing from underside? Awaiting the verdict.  040123-  it didn't show the full suite of features. 

Red Birch Midget, Phyllonorycter ulmifoliella ?

White-triangle Slender, Caloptilia stigmatella

Daisy Bent-wing, Bucculatrix nigricomella 

Smoky-barred Marble, Lobesia abscisana

Burdock Neb, Metzneria lapella ? 040123- not accepted by CMR team. 

Poplar Cosmet, Batrachedra praeangusta

 Golden Argent, Argyresthia goedartella ?

Feathered Slender, Caloptilia cucculipennella?

Orange Spotted Shoot, Rhyacionia pinicolana?

Rush Marble, Bactra lancealana ? No this is Mottled Marble, Bactra Furfurana 

Plain Wave?

Orchard Ermine? Nope Willow Ermine (thanks Dave for id) According to Leonard Cooper from Moths UK flying tonight HERE :

 Cant record as adult: Orchard ermine, Apple ermine, Spindle ermine, Willow ermine

Can record as adult: Hawthorn moth, Bird cherry ermine, Yponomeuta irrorella, Yponomeuta plumbella, Yponomeuta sedella, *willow ermine can be also identified but you would need to consult you're county recorder first

Maybe Y.sedella? This ermine was very distinctive in it's overall greyish wash. 

Lesser Cream Wave (thanks Dave Wilton for id) 

Pale-streaked Grass Veneer, Agriphila selasella. Nope this is tristella according to the CMR.