Maenol 18/09/2021

 No trapping here last night but this Plume turned up in my polytunnel this morning:

I suspect that it might be a Brindled Plume, it's very grey.  Can that be confirmed, please?

More vestals...

 I had more vestals than silver ys in the trap last night (Fri 18/9), but when there was only a single silver y, that`s not too hard to achieve. A small mixture of early autumn residents were also present.

Above: one of last night`s two (rather pale) vestals, keeping company with two large ranunculus.

A seaside visitor

 `Old blue wings` (you know what I mean!) did n`t turn up again last night and there was nothing of note migrant-wise (though the silver y numbers had increased slightly). I was, however, a little surprised to see a moth that is markedly associated with sandy shores make an appearance, as my current garden is, to my mind, inland, suburban and abuts woodland. `As the moth flies`, it is 3/4 ml inland, whereas my previous Pwll garden was much less than 1/4 ml inland, so a couple of records of the same moth at that latter garden was not unexpected and, anyway, I`d also caught it along immediately adjacent parts of the Pwll-Burry Port coast. The moth in question was a shore wainscot - photos below, including a shot of a fore-wing gently teased open to show the white hind-wing.

Quick post: Last night`s moths

I put a single actinic trap out last night (Weds, 15/9) and was pleased to see some evidence of migratory species. That big, beautiful moth with blue hind-wings still evades me but 5 silver y`s, a rusty-dot pearl and a vestal provided a tiny amount of compensation. Some autumnal resident moths are also starting to make an appearance.

                          Above:  a`record shot` of last night`s vestal in situ in my actinic trap.

                                                               Above: frosted orange.

I had to collect some items from a friend this morning but, as I was early, I went for a short walk along the lane by his Bynea home. Feasting at blackberries along the estuary-edge path was this comma butterfly and, as a bonus, feeding in the shallow pools of the Afon Llwchwr close-by were exactly 55 little egrets.

Above: comma at Pencoed-isaf, Bynea, Llanelli. The `dead-leaf` camouflage always impresses with the dark lines on the underwing also giving an impression of peeling bark - click on pic to enlarge..

Maenol 15/09/2021

The return from my two actinic traps last night was a modest one, but not without interest.  Notable records were August Thorn, Brindled Green, and Brown-spot Pinion:

August Thorn

Brindled Green

Brown-spot Pinion

Black Rustic was another FFY, I'm sure that there will be more of them to come.  There was a Dark Sword-grass on the wall near one trap last night, and one in the trap this morning, it may have been the same moth.  I will assume so.  Seven Silver Ys were recorded, hardly surprising since there were several in the garden yesterday on the Red Valerian and Buddleia, along with countless Small Tortoiseshell butterflies.  I've never seen so many!

Goldenrod pug caterpillar?

Spotted on hogweed. Just outside the county though I'm afraid. Near Abercych. Isabel

Arfon`s `on a roll`...

Stop Press: Arfon Williams reports the capture of another Clifden nonpareil last night (10/9), at his garden moth trap in north Carmarthenshire - the 3rd county record of this magnificent moth. A `hat-trick` of three rare moths for Arfon within three days - a real achievement.

Postscript: Arfon has now provided a great photo of this beautiful and charismatic moth, which is shown below.

My trap last night was again very mediocre - low numbers and low variety - though I did have a migrant........one silver y!