Craig-y-Llyn

Like elsewhere, a very cold night at Craig-y-Llyn last night, the temperature quickly dropping to 6oC. Consequently very little was flying other than lots of Map-winged Swifts, with good numbers of Silver-ground Carpets lurking in the grass. The only target species we recorded was Scarce Silver Y.
Chris Manley, Veronica Shenston & Barry Stewart

Senghenydd last night

A chilly night with temp dropping to 6.5C (roll on autumn!) produced just 16 species: This pristine Broom Moth being the most noteworthy.

Parc slip reserve, Tondu. SS8784.

Ypsolopha ustella
Stigmella sp.? beaten from Oak
Phyllonorycter strigulatella. There is a record of this from the same site in 2003.

Rhoose Point

45 species in total in the trap this morning, so comparable to Sunday night with it's higher temperatures, albeit with a much lower number of moths overall. Thankfully from my point of view the number of grass moths was a small fraction of sunday night's total! A couple of migrants, a Silver Y and a Ni Moth (pic below). I've added a couple of pics of others I haven't seen before or can't id as well.

Not sure what the next two pics are - any pointers welcomed!

Ebulea crocealis

Pretty sure this is Horisme tersata (Fern)

And finally the Ni Moth...

Nantyffyllon actinic last night.

Bryotropha terrella
Mompha propinquella
Depressaria daucella (i think?)
The temp dropped by 11:30PM and things dropped off so i packed up. 21 species in all.

Lavernock LNR

A walk around the reserve this am: Humming-bird Hawk-moth (1, nectaring on honey-suckle), A acanthadactyla (new for site), A spinosella (2nd rec.), Five-spot Burnet (1, ssp decreata), Yellow Shell, Small Fan-footed Wave, Common Carpet & Straw Dot. Butts: Ringlet (25), GV White (35), Large White (4), Small Heath (1), Small Skipper (2) & Speckled Wood (1).

Rhoose Point

Here's a Buff-tip from the weekend that I didn't post earlier...

And a few I'm not sure about. If anyone can help, I would be grateful as usual!

I've tentatively id'd this as a Small Fan-footed Wave?

This may be an Acleris, but I'm not sure which...

This may be a Crambus pasculella?

And finally, despite the colouration and v long antennae, I haven't been able to put a name to this chap....

Senghenydd

I also had a Bordered White last night - a first for me. It might have wandered from some Scots Pine about a mile away - the nearest conifers to my garden.

Senghenydd

Nantyffyllon actinic last night.

Small mottled willow.
Bordered white.
50 species in total including - Eyed hawkmoth, Large emerald, Turnip moth, Cochylis dubitana and Aleimma loefligana.

Gorseinon

I've posted a complete list of all species trapped in the garden the last two nights at http://goweros.blogspot.com/2011/06/garden-moths.html.
Photos below of a few of the more interesting ones:

Paraswammerdamia nebulella

Argolamprotes micella

Pammene regiana

Meal Moth

Parc Mawr, Senghenydd last night

A disappointing night considering the conditions. Just 29 species with Fox Moth, Coronet (2), Peach Blossom and Green Silver-lines the pick. This was the first time that I've trapped at this site - no plans on returning!

My first Pinion-streaked Snout was in the garden trap on 25th, plus a couple of new micros which included this Phycitodes binaevella.

Dave, still having problems staying signed in.

Rhoose Point 25 & 26 June

It has been a busy weekend for moths at Rhoose. Species count has picked up considerably, but the notable point is the overwhelming number of grass moths, with several hundred Chrysoteuchia culmella and Crambus perlella swamping the trap last night. I've added a couple of photos of a rather striking Poplar Hawk-moth and Buff Arches, and below that a couple of photos of the less common moths in the trap. The second to last is Lozotaeniodes formosanus (?), followed by Argolamprotes micella (would you mind confirming that one Dave as there are few recordings of the latter in VC41?). I still have a number to look through and may well be posting a few more later!

Nantyffyllon actinic last night.

Burnished brass f.aurea
Peppered moth, dark type.
Elephant and Poplar hawkmoths.
62 species, included - Double line 7, Latticed heath, Dingy shell, Grass emerald, Grey arches, Light arches, Buff arches, Heart and club, Dot moth, Dark/grey dagger and a Bramble shoot moth amongst a poor catch of micros.

Good times return

A good night in the trap last night for a change. Around 70 species including Orthopygia glaucinalis, Argyrethia cupressella, Agapeta zoegana all new for the garden.

Broad-bordered Bee Hawk

An excellent shot of a Broad-bordered Bee Hawk-moth on 12th June taken by Mike Pointon whilst on hols in France. We have two records for this species in VC41, 1893 [Swansea] & 1982 [Gower]. I didn't realise how prominent the reddish band was on this species or the black tufts and the white on the abdomen.

Advice on cameras....

I'm thinking of getting a new camera. The reasons why may be obvious if you've seen my posts passim...! Does anyone have any words of wisdom on what might be a good choice for taking reasonable quality macro pics of moths and other insects as well as a reasonable all-round performance in other areas? I don't want to spend megabucks (ideally in the £200 to £400 range), and am expecting to buy second hand.

Two suggestions so far include a Nikon Coolpix 8800, or Nikon D70.

Grateful for any advice!

Maresteg park today.

Mompha locupletella, (new for the Llynfi valley).
Also - Brimstone moth, Ypsolopha parenthesella, Clepsis consimilana and Epinotia tenerana.

Rhoose Point

Can anyone help with an id for these two please? Thanks, Adam

Moth Article

A nice article from Steve Whithouse about UK moths in May/June 2011 - follow the link, you may have to cut & paste.

http://www.birdguides.com/webzine/article.asp?a=2761

Senghenydd

Found this Beautiful Golden Y in the trap last night - a new species for me.

Chimney Sweeper at Parc Pennalt

Bill Jones found a colony of Chimney Sweeper at Parc Penallta, on the 10th of June, and sent me this rather nice photo. It's not a common moth in Glamorgan (or at least seldom seen), and this is the first record for ST19.

L-Album in Dinas Powys

I hope Roy doesn't mind my posting his photo, but I thought it was worth noting that L-album Wainscot is on the move. This one was taken by Roy & Hilary Perry in Dinas Powys, and my brother had one the same night on the other side of the Severn in Burnham-on-Sea.

Rhossili Down

A few of these on Saturday:

Crambus uliginosellus
a Notable B species

Nantyffyllon today.

Freshly emerged Five spot burnet
Crambus pratella
Coleophora deauratella.
Also Eucosma hohenwartiana, Agriphilla straminella, Crambus pascuella, Crambus perlella and Chrysoteuchia culmella.

Rhoose Point 19th June

Six-spot Burnets feeding on thistle flowers.

Any ideas what this one is?

And a Hummingbird Hawk-moth too this afternoon.