Winding Down Again

On Thursday night the actinic at Westcott attracted Emmelina monodactyla (1), Winter Moth (4) and Mottled Umber (1), but in similar balmy weather conditions last night all that arrived was Angle Shades (1).  The Mottled Umber was a first for the year here and completes all that I can reasonably expect in the garden for 2016.  An Angle Shades at this time of year, one day later than an example caught in 2015 (which was my first adult December record), could well be a migrant.  I had one to MV light in Bernwood Forest last night too.   

Mottled Umber, Westcott 8th December

Angle Shades, Westcott 9th December

With dissections now complete (thankyou Peter) the garden moth list stands at 629 species for the year, 316 of them macros.  Even though for at least the first six months it didn't look as if it could possibly turn out to be 'a good year', that overall total is actually only four short of the number achieved in 2015.  Abundance is another matter, however, with some of the regular big-hitters producing far lower totals than usual. 

Only another three weeks and the year list starts off all over again - can't wait!

Dave Wilton
Westcott, Bucks