Steve Keen

Not me, away at son's until Monday, so maybe after then

Certainly got me jealous!

🫣

Excellent entertainment as always Gavin, wish I could muster a smidge of enthusiasm for doing any of it (apart from the gulls!) at the moment.
But (sorry), your quaker pic shows a Yellow-line . . .

I caught 27 last year over ten nights with a maximum of six 🙄
This year I've only trapped twice since the date of last year's first.
But 23 of last year's were after this date, so loads of time yet.

Still Winter and December for me.
Be amazed if I get double figures of individuals

Very respectable.
May try tonight as it's meant to be drier and calmer.

Some surprise @migrantmothuk.bsky.social action this morning with a Turnip and 3 Rusty-dot Pearls in a customer's porch (New Milton, SW Hants).
I think it's safe to assume that they've been there for a few days though!!

#teammoth

Very grumpy already.

You kidding?
I've turned my brain off already to stave off medium.
Moth records are done more or less in real time.
What's to research, what comes to the trap comes to the trap?
And a moth wish list is a dangerous thing, as nothing that is on mine ever comes so I just get grumpy about it 😂

Threw it down here for about half an hour from 6.30 this morning, which was annoying but wasn't responsible for my inability to come close to the DW numbers.

I think I'd persevere more if I got reasonable numbers to count through, even if just the same stuff, but single figure counts just aren't appealing when everything is damp.

I shall try again occasionally to hopefully get December and Winter Moths to bring up the 550 (latter just as likely if I just leave the kitchen lights on), but that'll be it for the year.

It's that time of year! (and we've all done it).
My brain has totally shriveled, as is the norm once the clocks change.
Wake me up at the end of February!

That be a Common Marbled Carpet sire.
One that's had a poor autumn here.

Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet. The latest on Hantsmoths.org are three records from Week 39, with only ten from Week 38. We are currently in Week 46! Its condition suggests that if it is a 3rd generation individual it's an old one, so could it be an immigrant?

Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet, showing underside

I think disappointing covers last night well here in SW Hants.
Just 16 of 11, with 1 Palpita vitrealis & 3 Rusty-dot Pearl the only @migrantmothuk.bsky.social interest.
Best record was a ludicrously late Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet (context in ALT).

#teammoth

Early signs here aren't exactly overwhelming . . .

Tonight (and maybe tomorrow) probably my last chance for another year, but it can wait.

I guess the city to the south must be a hindrance, yes.
I'm fortunate to not have that.

Not too many tetrads round here with Sprawler, but as much as anything it may be the old thing of the MV seemingly being less effective with winter moths.

Amazed you've only had 6 Palpita, my maximum for a single night is (I think) 12.
But Sprawler would be NFG here.
Was put off by the wind (especially) and rain myself, but will definitely be trying tonight.

They had an excellent summer here in SW Hants: 125 in total with a max of 13, vs 40 with a max of 5 in 2024.

I'm still yet to get one.
Likewise (but much less likely anyway) Scarce Umber.

It wouldn't have to be much to be much better than I had 🙄😂

I've only had two nitidalis all year (1 at home), been very poor for them.
Heading off for a couple of nights in the Big Smoke in an hour or so, moth trap can sit in its box having a long hard look at itself for a few days.

15 of 7 in SW Hants last night, very firmly in the sulk zone (eg: 37 of 13 same date last year)

4 Red-green Carpet
3 LBAM
2 each Merveille du Jour, Double-striped Pug & November agg
1 each Beautiful Plume & Large Yellow Underwing.

#teammoth

Yep, it's this thing that's going to scupper me if it stays like this.

If it's not good tonight I'll sulk big time.
Been up to 16°, southerly and humid all day, every swoosh of the windscreen wipers has cleared dusty dirt off, and even without migrants there should be plenty on the wing in the calm conditions.

🤞🤞🤞

Finished with 5 of 5 in SW Hants last night: Emmelina monodactyla, November agg, White-point, Grey Pine Carpet & Red-green Carpet.
Plus a gazillion tiny flies.

Tonight should be a little calmer 🤞

#teammoth

Seen nothing since the Emmelina was catapulted off into the night!

I've given up on the sheets before they end up at the other end of the village with our washing line!
Makes it even less likely there'll be anything in the trap in the morning 🙄