A thorny National Moth Night

It is 'National Moth Night' 8th - 11th August, so what better excuse than to get our trap out again last night. We have spent the morning identifying, photographing and recording them - we actually only recorded 45 different species and although that is quite a low number for us, several of the species were new to our garden!
including this swallow prominent and pebble prominent.

Swallow Prominent

Pebble Prominent

and this oak hook-tip

Oak Hook-Tip

 But for me the stars were the thorns, and today we had Early, August, Dusky and Canary-shouldered.  Thorns are fast becoming my favourite moths as for me they are moths with a quirky character, I guess it has something to do with their long legs and their comical faces.

Early Thorn

Early Thorn

Early Thorn

August Thorn

August Thorn

Dusky Thorn

Dusky Thorn

Dusky Thorn

Canary-shouldered Thorn

Canary - shouldered Thorn

  We also had several (6) of these Ruby tigers too

ruby tiger

our complete moth list from last night is 

Lesser Broad bordered yellow Underwing 20               

Dingy footman  20                                                    

Flame Shoulder 8

Drinker 2

Antler 1

Canary-shouldered Thorn 1

Dark arches 3

Smokey Wainscot 2

Mother of pearl 8          
Dusky Thorn 4
August Thorn 2
Blood-vein 1
Ruby Tiger 6
Dun-bar 7
Lesser yellow underwing 6
Early Thorn 2
Common Footman 2
Snout 1
Swallow Prominent 1
Pebble Prominent 1
Silver Y 8
Broad bordered Yellow Underwing 4
Lunar Yellow Underwing 1
Common Rustic 11
Copper Underwing 1
Crescent 3
Magpie 1
Clouded Border 1
Mottled Rustic 2
Common Carpet 4
Chinese Character 1
Small rivulet 2
Riband Wave 1
Small Fan-footed wave 1
Flame carpet 2
Shaded Broad-bar 1
Oak hook-tip 1
Rosy Rustic  2
Flounced Rustic 1
Suspected 3
Ingrailled Clay 1
Cloaked Minor 1
Bird cherry ermine 3
Agapeta zoegana 1
Euzophera pinguis 1