Garden moths and the odd bird June 22/23

I was up before dawn (04.30) to check the moth trap. The total of 36 moths of 22 species was a tiny bit disappointing, although the clear sky overnight probably didn't help.

There were very few macro moths, the bulk of the catch being micros. These included Bramble-shoot Moth which is surprisingly a garden tick, given that they are frequently disturbed during the day at Morton Bagot.

Bramble-shoot Moth

In addition to this pretty little micro there were two macros and two micros which were new for the year. They were Riband Wave, Scarce Footman, Celypha striana, and Ancylis achatana.

Riband Wave

Scarce Footman

Celypha striana

Ancylis achatana

There were also a couple of honourable mentions, the second Mottled Pug for the garden, and a Water Veneer which was actually alive. Sadly this species is almost always found dead in the trap, the males seem to have a very brief adult phase, the females being wingless and aquatic.

Mottled Pug

Water Veneer

The full list was as follows:

Case-bearing Clothes Moth 1
Ruddy Streak 1
Aleimma loeflingiana 2
Light Brown Apple Moth 1
Ancylis achatana 1 (nfy)
Celypha striana 1 (nfy)
Gypsonoma dealbana (nfy)
Bramble-shoot Moth 1 (nfg)
Codling Moth 4
Phycita roborella 1
Water Veneer 3
Crambus pascuella 3
Garden Grass-veneer 3
poss Agriphila straminella 1
Elephant Hawk-moth 1
Riband Wave 1 (nfy)
Mottled Pug 1
Scarce Footman 1 (nfy)
Buff Ermine 1
Poplar Grey 1
Dark Arches 1
Heart and Dart 5

This list could lengthen if I have misidentified two of the above. One of the "Codling Moths" was very pale, so too one of the "Garden Grass-veneer". I concluded they were just worn moths, but have tweeted pictures in case either can be identified as something else.

Finally, while emptying the trap, I heard a Siskin flying over, and also a Grey Wagtail. Both species are more typical in the autumn, but midsummer records are not unprecedented.

PS UKmothID has looked at the two moths I tentatively identified as a worn Codling Moth and a worn Garden Grass-veneer and has corrected me. Actually I don't know why I went for Codling Moth for the first one, the correct identification is a worn Gypsonoma dealbana almost certainly. The poor guy said my grass moth looked like an Agriphila straminella but as that would be very early and the photo was rubbish (he was kinder than that) he couldn't consider it as certain.

Gypsonoma dealbana

Unidentified grass moth (poss A straminella)

To be honest I'm just massively impressed that this expert is willing to spend so much time correcting or verifying what must be a bucketload of identifications from novice moth-ers throughout the country.

I have corrected my records.