Devon Carpet - Clough Wood

Decided to try Clough Wood again last night with Brian Statham, despite rather wet conditions during the day and consequent cool temperatures, about 14 Centigrade when we set up at 8:45pm. Running two MV traps there was almost no activity in one but we immediately attracted a few micros to the second, mainly Apotomis turbidana but very few macro moths. 
In all we only caught 15 macro's of 8 species which included Angle-striped Sallow and a superb Devon Carpet, taken at around 9:30pm.
There is one previous record for Derbyshire near Ashbourne on 5th September 1984 and at least one for Sherwood Forest in Notts. A new colony was discovered near Hebden Bridge in S Yorks in 2010 and the first Suffolk record was 2009 so it appears to be expanding its range. Clough Wood has been trapped regularly over the years particularly by Brian so it is unlikely the species has been overlooked in the past.

Devon Carpet

Acleris sparsana

Also added Acleris sparsana last night.

Acleris sparsana

Frosted Orange

More rain and cool temperatures but Frosted Orange was new for the year, also another Barred Chestnut and a striking black and white example of Acleris variegana.

Frosted Orange

Barred Chestnut

Another example, not in great condition

Barred Chestnut

Acleris variegana

A nicely marked example.

Acleris variegana

Agriphila tristella

Resorted to checking the grass moths and added Agriphila tristella which is no surprise. Another Feathered Gothic, Sallow and Copper Underwing were the only other moths of note.

Agriphila tristella

Peregrine Falcons

Three Peregrines flew over the house late this afternoon, an adult with food closely followed by two juveniles which were clearly after a meal. There was much calling as they chased after the adult. I had little time to get the camera so the exposure was not great.

Red Underwing

First Red Underwing of the year, I usually get 2 or 3 at home each autumn from the Poplar wood about half a mile away. Ling Pug, another Canary-shouldered Thorn, 2 Copper Underwing were the best of the rest. It rained most of the night so the Red Underwing was a good result.

Red Underwing

Canary-shouldered Thorn

A cooler night again but Canary-shouldered Thorn is a nice addition to the year list also the first Feathered Gothic in the garden and another Tawny-speckled Pug.

Canary-shouldered Thorn

Neglected Rustic - Beeley Moor

Conditions looked good last night for Beeley Moor but fairly quickly after setting up a cool wind started to blow. It was a slow start with the catch largely of Antler Moths (50+) but we gradually picked up a few interesting species which included Neglected Rustic (4), Heath Rustic and Small Wainscot (2 but no photo) which made the trip worthwhile.

Neglected Rustic

Heath Rustic - Beeley Moor

Heath Rustic 

The Sallow

Slightly better at home last night; 195 moths of 25 species which included the first Sallow of the year also Turnip Moth which has been scarce, Least Yellow Underwing the first in the garden this year and another Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing.

The Sallow 

Centre-barred Sallow

Feels like autumn is arriving now with the first Centre-barred Sallow of the year. Also a single Angle Shades which has been decidedly scarce this year but otherwise just 48 moths of 14 species.

Centre-barred Sallow

Angle-striped Sallow

Caught a fresh Angle-striped Sallow last night also Acleris variegana and an Ear Moth. large Yellow Underwing reached 90, singles of Copper Underwing and Common Marbled Carpet.

Angle-striped Sallow

Ear Moth agg.

Definitely an Ear Moth even though somewhat battered but it could be any of four so is reported as aggregated.

Ear moth agg

Acleris variegana

Acleris variegana

Acleris comariana - possibly

Taken at home last night this could be Acleris comariana, it's certainly a good match for other photos on the internet and shows the dark bar over the thorax, but then it could be laterana.

Acleris comariana

Epinotia ramella - Clough Wood

This is the form costana of Epinotia ramella which has dark wings with a pale costa.

Epinotia ramella f. costana

Blue-bordered Carpet - Clough Wood

Trapped in the Poplars below Clough Wood last night with Brian Statham. Added Feathered Gothic, Dusky Thorn and Blue-bordered Carpet. The latter does not readily come to light and is getting towards the end of its flight period so was the best moth of the night which also included both Buff and Dingy Footman, Dark Marbled Carpet (3) and a presumed second brood Red Twin-spot Carpet.
Nothing new in the trap at home; single Knot-grass which has been scarce this year.

Blue-bordered Carpet

Feathered Gothic - Clough Wood

Feathered Gothic

Dusky Thorn - Clough Wood

Dusky Thorn

Agapeta hamana - Clough Wood

A fresher example.

Agapeta hamana

Dark Marbled Carpet - Clough Wood

A better example taken last night.

Dark Marbled Carpet

Acleris laterana

Still recording a very low catch, 14 macro species totalling 51 moths is difficult to understand but added Brown China-mark and Acleris laterana (or possibly comariana).

Acleris laterana

Brown China-mark

Brown China Mark

Barred Chestnut

The conditions didn't seem that bad last night but I ended up with only 21 moths of 13 species - I had better catches in February!
All was not lost though as one of the thirteen was Barred Chestnut,  given how dark it is I presume a female. Given the availability of suitable moorland habitat near-by it is surprising this species is not encountered more frequently but I suspect it was commoner in the past than it is now. 

Barred Chestnut - female

Grey Chi - Whitesprings Plantation

Trapped in Whitesprings Plantation last night with Brian Statham, highlights were Dark Marbled Carpet, Grey Chi, Dingy Footman (4) and Dioryctryia abietella all new for the year. Also a nice melanic Larch Pug, another Suspected and around 15 Buff Footman plus a few micros still to id.

Grey Chi

Dioryctria abietella - Whitesprings Plantation

Dioryctria abietella

Dingy Footman - Whitesprings Plantation

Dingy Footman

Dark Marbled Carpet - Whitesprings Plantation

When fresh this would have been a striking moth.

Dark Marbled Carpet

Suspected - Whitesprings Plantation

Caught another Suspected at Whitesprings last night.

Suspected

Larch Pug - melanic Whitesprings Plantation

Caught this melanic Larch Pug last night in Whitesprings Plantation.

Larch Pug

Long-eared Owl juvs Beeley Moor

Two of the three long-eared Owls photographed as chicks on 16th July, now fully grown and free flying.

Plain Pug

Another poor catch last night at home but it did include Plain Pug which is new for the area for me. Reported more regularly in the south of the County and in Nottinghamshire I think it is rare in the Peak District.
I also trapped on Beeley Moor with Brian Statham but recorded nothing of any interest other than several Ling Pugs and Least Yellow Underwing.

Plain Pug

Flounced Rustic

Down to 15 species last night but included Flounced Rustic which was new for the year.

Flounced Rustic

Copper Underwing

It rained on and off for most of last night but it was a couple of degrees warmer and produced an increase in moth numbers plus a couple of Copper Underwing. 
Very similar to Svennson's Copper Underwing although generally brighter looking, a combination of the chequered black on the abdomen side, restricted orange on the underside of the hind-wing and projection of the peaks on the antemedian line on the upperwing should be enough to separate the two although no one feature appears to be foolproof. 
It has also been reported that the colour of the palps when looking head on can separate the two with Copper Underwing having having them uniformly pale and Svennson's all dark with a pale tip but as the photo below shows these look dark with a slightly pale tip which tends more towards Svensson's but it is clearly a Copper.
Large Yellow Underwing numbered 84 which is significant increase also Small Angleshades and Swallow and Pale Prominents plus the Square-spot Rustic shown below.

Copper Underwing

Square-spot Rustic

I have caught a couple of Square-spot Rustic in the last few weeks but have missed it off the list, this is a nice fresh example from last night.

Square=spot Rustic

Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing

Another steady night at home but still added Lesser and Broad-bordered Yellow Underwings  and Pandemis corylana but the weather is not helping at the moment.

Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing - female

Lesser Yellow Underwing

Usually quite common from late July this is a late arrival at home.

Lesser Yellow Underwing

Pandemis corylana - The Chequered Fruit-tree Tortrix

Taken at home.

Pandemis corylana

Tawny-speckled Pug 8th August

Added Tawny-speckled Pug from the trap at home on Monday night which is nice but of no great excitement although this is my 22nd Pug species of the year which is good. Also a couple of Buff Footman. Pale-mottled Willow and Six-striped Rustic - 20 species, 57 moths. 
Late July early August can produce over 1000 moths of 100 species at home so this is pretty poor!

Tawny-speckled Pug

Euzophora pinguis and not much else

It certainly isn't taking long to empty the trap at the moment; 33 moths of 18 species. The only moth new for the year was Euzophora pinguis otherwise another Scarce Footman was the only species of note.

Euzophora pinguis