Garden Moth Update

I have nothing but Moths to update you all on I'm afraid...

Part of the reason for this is that we spent four days in North Wales last week, which was absolutely amazing.  However it is also because I haven't seen any birds locally worth mentioning!  Saying that though, we all might have missed a Curlew Sandpiper reported twice on Black Hole Marsh via BirdGuides on 31st May - although several people tried for it on the day and didn't see it which is a bit of a mystery.  In more recent news, Clive has just turned up what we can probably quite safely call our first autumn migrant of 2025, with a Cuckoo near Black Hole Marsh this morning.

The weather has clearly broken from those weeks and weeks of sunshine, however before this happened to the extent it has now I enjoyed two absolutely stonking moth nights in the garden.  Not only am I absolutely thrilled my new garden (which we are always trying to improve wildlife-wise) is producing such good numbers, but also that there are these numbers about - last spring/early summer was a disaster for insect numbers and it still haunts me.

On the morning of 23rd May I had 151 macro moths of 47 species in the trap, and on the morning of 31st May 142 macro moths of 46 species. I won't list them all, just pull out the highlights starting with the two migrants...

The Gem - captured on 23/5

Cream-bordered Green Pea - not exactly a stunner - caught on 31/5.

Let's get this one out the way! Least Black Arches - captured on 23/5

How about this, a stunning Puss Moth from 23/5.  Never numerous but always spectacular.

Another moth that is never numerous, Peach Blossom.  Such an amazing creature!

Love how contrasty Alder Moths are, and three on one night was a great capture on 23/5

Scorched Carpet - captured on 23/5

The best of the resident Hawkmoths the Privet Hawkmoth - pleased to be catching a good supply of these, three on one night the best so far

A trio of Eyed Hawkmoth.  Eyed Hawkmoth were fairly irregular when I trapped at Mum and Dad's, so nice to be seeing these in most catches with this three the highest number in a single catch.

Probably the commonest Hawkmoth locally - the Elephant Hawkmoth - but my first two didn't arrive until 31/5 when they became the fourth species of Hawkmoth trapped in the garden so far.

Am looking forward to the next calm night so I can try again!  I am yet to trap in June so it will be interesting to see what new species for the garden, and maybe me, the month brings...