Triple Mocha

Last night produced a very cool mothy hat-trick, which I'll get to in a bit, but first...

Sunday night, 23rd July

176 moths of 62 species was better than expected, probably because it was mostly overcast and mild. Four new species for the year, one new for the garden.

A common micro that I've trapped several times. Top: Sunday night. Bottom: Friday night. A modest example of the variation evident in several moths. Some species take it to another level entirely, but still they would have to go some to be anywhere near as confusing as the various plumages of most large gulls!

First Square-spot Rustic of the year. There will be lots more. Lots.

Pale Prominent. Among the whackiest of moths. There were two in the trap, but they were only the second and third of the year.

We don't see Magpie Moth very often. It really is spectacular.

A bit worn, but this is the first Red Twin-spot Carpet of 2023. Caught a handful last year.

New for 2023. We trapped a single last year too. Locally, Wax Moth seems to be one of those species you might expect once or twice a year

This is our third. With just one other Bridport area record on Living Record, and not that many county-wide, it seems we are doing pretty well for this moth.

Pammene fasciana appears to be a fairly common species, but this is a garden first.

 

Monday night, 24th July

110 moths of 61 species was a decent haul, but nine new for year and six new for garden was excellent. Some quality was evident straight away, with Mocha and Blair's Mocha...

Mocha is a pretty little moth, and we do very well for them locally. Recorded on 23 nights last year, and 13 so far in 2023.

Blair's Mocha is clearly breeding successfully in the Bridport area, which is far and away the hottest location in Dorset for this species. The garden trap hosted it on 20 occasions last year, and there have been 11 individuals (ten nights) so far in 2023.

There are two other species in this family of moths (Cyclophora) that I've been hoping one day to encounter: Clay Triple-Lines (20+ Bridport area records on Living Record) and, more optimistically, Jersey Mocha (one Bridport area record). Partially hidden on a lower egg box in last night's trap was a moth which looked suspiciously like it might be the former. Once potted, however, I began to have my doubts. And I dared hope...

Yessss! The garden's first Jersey Mocha.

Formerly a rare immigrant (Britain's second ever was trapped in Weymouth around 20 years ago) Jersey Mocha is evidently establishing itself in Dorset. Good. Hopefully we'll get another.

There was plenty more of interest too...

New for the year. We trapped three last year.

New for the garden, I am very chuffed with this one. Small Waved Umber appears to be a common enough moth, but not locally. Just a single Bridport area dot on the Living Record map, representing four records.

A new one for my list of tiny roll-ups. Quite common I believe, but characterful.

Caught two of these last night. Another new one for the garden. Again, pretty common I believe.

The garden's third this year.

First of the year. There will be plenty more.

Sadly this garden first flew away before I could get a better photo. It is one of those moths that basically stands on its head when at rest. No more than a handful of Bridport area records on Living Record.

Another garden first; another one with few local records.

Amazingly, the 2023 garden moth list is bearing down rapidly on 400. A few more nights may well do the trick. Though tonight might not contribute a great deal. Cool and clear right now.

But, you never know...