• Monthly analysis of migrant moths
• Yearly occurrences of migrant moths
• Migrant moths at Eakring - September 2006

2007 Records A poor year with a much later than expected arrival of singles at MV light on May 31st and June 2nd, being the first of the year. Counts increased towards the end of the first week on June, with between five and nine at light from June 6th-10th. A peak of 17 at light on June 11th was the best of the year. Adults from this first brood were noted until June 26th. The resulting second brood was noted from July 18th and September 12th.

Moths were commonly disturbed through the following weeks, but the expected huge numbers failed to materialise. Other sightings included the following:- Three disturbed from field edges Eakring Flash 08/05/06; Eight disturbed from vegetation 11/05/06; Two at MV light, Lound Wood 11/05/06; An adult at Red Hill 10/06/06 and four at MV light, Red Hill 27/07/06. An adult by day Red Hill 09/09/06; Four at MV light, Red Hill 12/09/06; 12 at MV light Lound Wood 16/09/06; Seven at MV light Lound Wood 17/09/06; Adult at MV light, Lound Wood 23/09/06; 13 at MV light, Red Hill 24/09/06; Two at MV light, Lound Wood 25/09/06; Adult at MV light, Red Hill 26/09/06; Three at MV light, Lound Wood 28/09/06; Two at MV light, Lound Wood 30/09/06; Five at MV light, Lound Wood 10/10/06; An adult at MV light, Lound Wood 13/10/06 and three at MV light, Lound Wood 16/10/06.

2005 Records An earliest arrival date was set with an adult at MV light in Lound Wood on 11/04/05. Other records were as follows. Adult at MV light, Lound Wood 18/05/05; Adult at MV light, Lound Wood 24/05/05; Adult at MV light, Red Hill 26/05/05; Adult at MV light, Red Hill 16/07/05

2004 Records Arrival took place from June 12-July 4th, with another period of passage and/or emergence from August 7-14th. Adult at light, Lound Wood 12/06/04; Adult at light, Lound Wood 21/06/04; Adult at light, Red Hill 01/07/04; Adult by day, Lound Wood 04/07/04; Adult at light, Lound Wood 07/08/04; Adult at light, Red Hill 10/08/04; Adult by day, Eakring Flash 14/08/04; Adult at light, Lound Wood 14/08/04; Adult at light, Lound Wood 26/08/04

2003 Records An adult was netted on the early date of April 15th, along the Kneesall Road. Such an early date was no doubt enforced by the fine weather and southerly winds during the days beforehand. Early June saw a large influx into the area (and presumably the rest of Nottinghamshire) with adults found to be present at all sites visited and easily disturbed from grassy habitats. At the time, I described the status of Diamond-back Moth in the area as being "very common".

2002 Records A single adult Diamond-back Moth was initially disturbed from long grass in the hay meadow at Red Hill on May 19th, flying only a short distance, before settling again, where it was subsequently netted and identified, before being released. A second record quickly followed on June 3rd, when one was netted at Eakring Meadows. On August 11th, a count of 23+ was made along one single stretch of footpath, on Red Hill near Eakring village. Most adults were disturbed from self-sown Oil-seed Rape plants growing along the footpath.

The Eakring record is a genuine migrant, being rather worn and with a small section of left-hand fore-wing missing. It occurred during a period of much migrant activity and warm southerly winds, which saw species such as Bedstraw Hawk-moth and Vestal producing records here.

2006 Records One was attracted to MV light at Red Hill on September 12th and is probably the first ever record for Nottinghamshire.

2006 Records There were three records late in the year. An adult at MV light, Lound Wood October 10th, an adult at MV light, Lound Wood October 13th and an adult by day, Hare Hill Wood November 6th.

2000 Records One record. An adult was netted on the evening of September 2nd, 2000, from the Pastures/Eakring Flash area and was immediately suspected as being a Rusty Dot Pearl. On return home, the initial identification was quickly confirmed and that it was indeed a male.

2006 Records Two taken at MV light from Red Hill on September 12th; Five at MV light, Lound Wood September 23rd; One disturbed by day from Eakring Flash and three at MV light, Red Hill September 24th; An adult by day, Red Hill 25/09/06. There was then a gap in records until an adult at light, Lound Wood 10/10/06, an adult at MV light, Red Hill 11/10/06 and an adult at MV light, Lound Wood 16/10/06.

2006 Records Two fresh individuals (both males) were taken within minutes of each other at MV light from Red Hill on September 12th, a night which produced five species of migrants. Other UK sites (both inland and around the coast) also saw records of Vestal, suggesting that these were just part of a fresh wave of migrants into the UK from the Continent.

2006 Records Another big invasion into the UK by this migrant occurred during 2006. First of the year was a worn-looking adult found nectaring on Valerian at the Old School House in Eakring during the afternoon of July 11th, followed by another in a private garden on July 16th (per M Worthington)

First Autumn record was one on Buddleia at the Old School House late evening of August 18th. This was followed by four nectaring on Buddleia at Eakring on August 19th, with two adults (Old School House) and single adults in private gardens along Side Lane and Main Street.

2005 Records The only report was of an adult observed by day in an Eakring garden on September 10th (per M Worthington)

2003 Records The huge national influx of this species during 2003, once again produced a series of late Summer adults. Patches of Valerian were the attraction and the first adult of the year was found at precisely the same location as the 2000 record (from the old school house) but on the later date of August 23rd. It was present from 18:30-18:45pm and appeared to be quite worn. Another was then present in a private Eakring garden on September 8th, observed feeding on Delphiniums during both the morning and evening (per M Worthington)

Further adults recorded during September included three in Eakring village on the 15th, with a series of daily sightings occurring on 16th, 17th, 18th and 19th. These again came from a private garden (per M Worthington) where moths were again noted feeding on dark blue Delphinium flowers and ignoring the lighter-coloured variety. These records (in all probability) refer to different individuals. Many thousands have been reported throughout the UK and with butterflies like the Red Admiral passing through the area in good numbers daily during mid-September, it is likely that migrant moths are doing the same.

2000 Records The national influx during 2000 eventually reached the county, producing several sightings over the course of the Summer period. Since around the middle of June, Hummingbird Hawk-moths had produced a series of sightings, making them reasonably numerous nationally. Daily checks of the available patches of Valerian growing in the village, eventually proved fruitful when an adult was found on July 2nd, where it was photographed feeding for at least five minutes after it's initial discovery, before flying off. . Although a regular migrant to southern England, with perhaps around 20-30 records in a good summer, the number of sightings this year and indeed the northerly spread throughout the last two weeks of June, indicated a bumper year. There were about eight reports from the county, with the nearest sighting to Eakring, coming from Farnsfield around the 28th of June.

2006 Records An adult was netted nectaring on Valerian at the entrance to North Laithes Farm, Red Hill at dusk on September 9th.

Although one was also taken at light in Southampton, the most likely origin of this moth, is from migrants that arrived earlier in the year, one of which was found at Rainworth.

2006 Records Records involved single adults taken at MV light, Red Hill on August 28th, at MV light, Lound Wood on September 16th and at MV light, Lound Wood October 13th..

2004 Records The area's first ever Dark Sword-grass record concerned an adult trapped at light at Red Hill on August 10th. It was in very fresh condition and is presumed to have been bred as a result of earlier migrants.

2006 Records An adult came to MV light at Red Hill on September 24th and was the area's first record.

2006 Records An adult was present at Red Hill on September 9th, found at dusk nectaring on Valerian at the entrance to North Laithes farm, but eluded capture. This was followed by another at the same site on the following evening of September 10th, then one was taken at MV light from Red Hill on September 12th. Two were attracted to MV light at Lound Wood on September 23rd.

2006 Records One was taken at MV light from the entrance to Lound Wood on September 17th.

2007 Records Earliest ever arrival date, produced by an adult near Hare Hill Wood on April 28th. Records of singles occurred at Eakring Flash and Eakring Meadows May 1st, followed by 13 adults counted along a field edge near Hare Hill Wood on May 6th. These moths appeared quite grey in flight (characteristic of genuine migrants) and some were fairly worn on closer examination. Records of similar worn-looking moths occurred over the following few weeks, but there were also some dark moths in immaculate condition caught at the time, which were considered to be locally bred. Small numbers of this first wave of migrants continued to be attracted to light until the end of June (29th) Nine nectaring at Valerian, at the entrance to North Laithes Farm on June 22nd, was the highest count of the year.

2006 Records Arrival on May 18th with two by day at Eakring Flash. Further Spring records included an adult by day, Red Hill 25/05/06; An adult at Red Hill, 10/06/06; Three at Eakring Flash 15/06/06 and an adult by day at Red Hill 17/06/06. There was then a gap of about a month, before the first of a big emergence/passage were six at MV light, Red Hill on 18/07/06.

Silver Y's were described as being numerous all over the recording area on 22/07/06 and three figure counts were reached with 300+ at Oil Bore Holes on 23/07/06 and 100's throughout the area on 26/07/06. Other Autumn counts were 15 at MV light, Red Hill 27/07/06; 43 by day Eakring Flash 28/07/06; 134 at Oil Bore Holes 29/07/06; 22 throughout the area by day 03/08/06; Seven by day, Eakring Flash 08/08/06; 12 nectaring at Valerian, Eakring village 20/09/06; Four at MV light, Lound Wood 23/09/06; Two at MV light Red Hill 24/09/06; Adult at MV light, Lound Wood 25/09/06; Adult at MV light, Lound Wood 28/09/06; An adult at MV light 11/10/06; Two at MV light, Lound Wood 13/10/06; One at MV light, Lound Wood 15/10/06.

A patch of Valerian in the Red Hill area was used as a guide to determine further waves or emergences of migrants during the latter part of the Summer and early Autumn periods. Counts included the following moths noted nectaring on Valerian :- Five at dusk 19/08/06; 16 at dusk 23/08/06; 15 at dusk 27/08/06; 21 at dusk 01/09/06; 60 nectaring at dusk 09/09/06; 40 at dusk 10/09/06; 20 at dusk 12/09/06; 26 at dusk 16/09/06; 17 at dusk 20/09/06; Six at dusk 04/10/06; Three at dusk 07/10/06 and four at dusk 12/10/06. An adult at MV light, Lound Wood 16/10/06.

2005 Records Two by day, 26/05/05; Two near Lound Wood 27/05/05; Adult at Oil Bore Holes 02/06/05; Four by day, Red Hill 03/06/05; Adult by day, Eakring Meadows 05/06/05; Adult by day, near Eakring Flash 30/06/05

2004 Records Arrival into the area was from June 12th, with another two records coming before August. Adults were trapped regularly during August, with numbers increasing both at night and during the day as the month progressed. Individual records are:- Two by day, Eakring Meadows 12/06/04; Adult by day, Eakring Flash 25/06/04; Adult at light, Lound Wood 05/07/04; Adult at light, Red Hill 03/08/04; Two at light, Lound Wood 07/08/04; Two at light, Red Hill 08/08/04; Five at light, Red Hill 10/08/04; Four at light, Lound Wood 14/08/04; Three at light, Red Hill 15/08/04; Two at light, Lound Wood 26/08/04; Adult by day, Red Hill 04/09/04; Adult by day, Red Hill 05/09/04. Periods of passage and/or emergence were August 8-15th

2003 Records Earliest arrival date into the area on May 26th. Moths were recorded most days during the flight season, but during late July and continuing well into August, large numbers were noted at available flowers.The first three weeks of August saw many hundreds move through the area, but most had gone by 24th, leaving only low numbers.

2002 Records The area's latest ever record is of an individual netted near Eakring Flash on November 12th 2002.

Several other moths with resident UK populatations, can frequently occur as migrants. These can be most easily detected by their appearances well out of season or (in some instances) habitat. The trouble with accurate determination can be hindered by occasional second broods later in the year, which certainly happened during August and September 2006. In many instances though, occurrences of these species coincide with periods of migration producing genuine migrant species.

2006 Records An adult was attracted to light at Red Hill on 24/09/06, the date coinciding with further records from other inland sites.

2004 Records Adult at light, Lound Wood 21/08/04

2007 Records Believed to be now breeding in the area as this was such a poor year for migrants. Records included adults attracted to MV light at Lound Wood on 09/08/07, 10/08/07 and 24/08/07.

2006 Records An adult was attracted to light at Lound Wood on 23/09/06 and at Red Hill on 24/09/06. A good range of other migrant species were also noted during both trapping sessions. Further single adults came to light at Lound Wood on 28/09/06, then again on 14/10/06.

2004 Records An adult was attracted to MV light, Red Hill 08/08/04.

2007 Records Single adults were taken at MV light, from Red Hill on 30/05/07 and Lound Wood on 15/09/07. These occurrences fitting in well with local brood/flight timings.

2006 Records Two at MV light, Lound Wood on 23/09/06 occurred within a period of much migrant activity; Two at MV light, Red Hill on 11/10/06, arrived within the space of a minute around midnight; Three at MV light, Lound Wood 14/10/06 and single adults at MV light, Lound Wood 15/10/06 and Lound Wood 16/10/06.

2007 Records The only record for the year was of an adult at MV light, Lound Wood 12/07/07.

2006 Records Adult at MV light, Lound Wood 05/09/06; Two at MV light, Lound Wood 14/09/06; Adult at MV light Lound Wood 16/09/06; Adult at MV light, Hare Hill Wood 18/10/06.

2002 Records An adult at 6W Actinic light, Lound Wood 19/06/02.