Thursday 28th May 2009 Newington Thanet

Quite a few bits overnight included Timothy Tortrix, Scoparia ambigualis, White Spotted Pug, Blood Vein, Lesser Swallow Prominent, Maple Prominent, Small Square Spot etc. The Lesser Swallow Prominent is a good one for my garden. Migrant stuff included 20+ Diamond Back's, a tatty Pearly Underwing, 5 Silver Y and a Painted Lady Butterfly! Other stuff I've had lately have included Mullein Wave, Treble Bar, Lime Hawk Moth, Pebble Prominent, Small Clouded Brindle, Dog's Tooth and Treble Lines. Rakes of Painted Ladies around still - I'm even getting masses of them passing through the garden each day. About 3 nights ago I found one roosting in the corner of the kitchen window in the light of one of the moth traps, Last nights butterfly was actually in one of the traps. (Phil M)

Thursday 28th May 2009 Kingsgate Trap

Night of 27/5. Rather poor for numbers and variety at Kingsgate and Pegwell although there were another 2 Striped Hawks at Kingsgate (F Solly)

Wednesday 27th May 2009 Eastry

What a difference a day makes, yesterday after the storm and heavy weather the trap was stuffed with 89 big boys and hundreds of small fry. Noteworthy singles included Pebble Hook-tip, Dark Arches, Snout, Clouded Border and Herald, Doubles of Orange Footman, White Ermine and Buff Ermine. trebles of Silver Y, Light Emerald and Setaceous Hebrew Character. Lots of Marbled Minor, Treble Lines and Common Swift. Back down to basics this morning after a cold night up here in the gods, with a couple each of Lime-speck Pug and Shuttle-shaped Dart, but pick of the bunch of 18 moths was a Tawny Marbled Minor. (Bill Martin)

Tuesday 26th May 2009 Pegwell and Kingsgate Trap

Night of 25 May. Despite the heavy overnight rain lots of moffs at both Pegwell and Kingsgate - predominately Common Swifts and the junk Noctuids Shuttle-shaped Darts, Setaceous Hebrew Characters, Shears, Vine's Rustics and Treble Lines although there was good overall variety. A few migrants at Pegwell included 2 Dark Sword-grass, 1 Bordered Straw and 7 Silver Ys whilst the only migrant that ventured into the Kingsgate trap was a pristine Striped Hawk. For those wondering about all the tiresome comments from the tall, fat Newington slob it refers to the latest Kent Moth Reports in which my garden  was better than his - 382 against 381 in 2005 and 373 against 0 in 2006. 2006 was no anomaly - although he is keeping quiet about it, the situation arose because I refused to identify anything for him (F Solly)

Sunday 24th May 2009 Newington Thanet

The moths are starting to pick up a bit though nothing out of the ordinary as yet. Overnight I did get singles of Elachista argentella, Tinea trinotella, Cochylis hybridella, Small Magpie, Bee Moth, Pebble Prominent, Pale Tussock and Lychnis. As well as lots of Painted Ladies which seem to be everywhere at the moment I saw a Clouded Yellow in Ramsgate this afternoon. (Phil M)

Thursday 21st May 2009 Newington Thanet

Lots of common moths overnight - I even got a Tortrix tick...I think? I caught a Cochylis mollilculana which is probably a 'tick' though I have a nagging suspicion that I've seen it somewhere before?? It's potentially not a not all that common moth - but I could be wrong? All of the macro's were common stuff not even worth mentioning - a Large Yellow Underwing being the only new moth for the year. Tortixes made up the bulk of the interest with Aethes smeathmanniana, Cochylis atricapitana, Lozotaeniodes forsterana, Hedya nubiferana, Epilblema cynosbatella and Celypha lacunana all showing up - all common stuff but all barring the lacunana were new for the year. (Phil M)

Thursday 21st May 2009 Westgate Thanet

The best night of the year so far, with 76 moths of 29 species (albeit 33 of them being Light Brown Apple Moths), with Buttoned Snout and Setaceous Hebrew Character new for the year. Other bits included 2 Common Swifts, 1 Twenty-plume Moth, 1 Elachista argentella, 1 Spruce Carpet, 1 Silver Y, 1 Angle Shades, 1 Peppered Moth, 1 Waved Umber and 1 Rustic Shoulder Knot. (Tim H)

Thursday 21st May 2009 Eastry

Bumper crop this morning after recent days, Singles of Lychnis and Eyed Hawkmoth on 13th a Pale Tussock, Lesser Treble-bar, Light Brocade and an Iron Prominent on 17th and the first Common Swift on 19th. Best of a meagre 11 macros on 20th was a Small Square-spot.Total of 25 biggies today included singles of Privet and Poplar Hawkmoths, Poplar Grey and Setaceous Hebrew Character, Grey Dagger and the first Peppered Moth of the season. (Bill Martin)

Wednesday 20th May 2009 Westgate Thanet

Numbers and variety are beginning to pick up a bit now, although the only species of note last night was a Toadflax Brocade, which was new to the garden. (Tim H)

Tuesday 19th May 2009 Newington Thanet

A moderate catch of Moths overnight included 2 Waved Umber, 1 Common Pug etc plus a male Pale Tussock which is the second one I've taken this spring. Much the same the night prior though I did get the first Marbled Minor of 2009 - not much I know. (Phil M)

Sunday 17th May 2009 Newington Thanet

A few bits and pieces were in the traps overnight which included a good moth - an Oblique Striped. Given how many Diamond Back's I've been catching lately I assumed it could have been a migrant but on reading up it's far more likely that's it was blown north on the gales were currently enjoying from the colony at Sandwich. A nice thing anyway and a rarity for the garden's not to be sniffed at. Nothing too much else of any note - 30+ Diamond Back's and an Esperia sulpherella the only things worth mentioning, (Phil M)

Sunday 17th May 2009 Beltinge

At last some moths coming to the trap last night 135 Diamond-backed Moths, 2 Silver Y, 1 Dark Sword-grass, 1 Fox Moth, 1 Broad-barred White, 1 Gold Spot, 1 Buff-tip, 2 Rustic Shoulder-knot and a Latticed Heath were the best moths, The night before was wet and windy but did get Eyed and Poplar Hawks Moths. Lots of Diamond-backed Moths on Wednesday and Thursday apparently this is called migration an occurrence that I've read about in the moffing annals. (Barry Hunt)

Friday 15th May 2009 Newington Thanet

A few new moths showed up overnight in the brightest light garden this side of Blackpool. Pick of the bunch were singles of Blastobasis decolorella, Cyclamen Tortrix, Yellow Belle, Latticed Heath, Pale Tussock, Ruby Tiger etc amongst a mediocre catch of other bits and bobs. The night prior I took White Spotted Pug and a few Common Pugs plus there were lots of Diamond Back's around - not as many as the man with no legs had that night but there were at least 60 around the lights just before dawn. There were also loads showing down at Pegwell - virtualy everywhere I went yesterday I was spooking them, Still quite a few about down Pegwell today also many Green Carpets on the wing in Stone Lees, Lots of micro moths about in general at Pegwell both yesterday and today. Two or three afternoons ago I was out in the garden when a large floppy moth whizzed through the garden into the area north of my house - I can only presume it must have been a Fox Moth as that's the only large day flying moth on the wing at this time of year? Especially galling as if I could have identified it properly it would have put me another specie closer to putting old hair’s garden well and truly in the shade. He might as well give up now in my view? (Phil M)

Thursday 14th May 2009 Dumpton Thanet

The best night so far this year, 180 Diamond-backs inside the trap this morning, other bits included Yellow-barred Brindle, Blood Vein, Tawny-barred Angle, Chinese Character, Hart & Dart, Rustic Shoulder Knot, three types of Pugs and some little ones to ID still, (Gadget)

Thursday 14th May 2009 Cliffsend Thanet

The few moths in my trap included a very worn Pinion-spotted Pug, a  Yellow Belle & 10 Diamond-backs, (Claire Ward)

Wednesday 13th May 2009 Monkton Nature Reserve Thanet

12/5/2009. A 3/4 hour wander around a very windy Monkton Nature Reserve in the afternoon produced a few bits and pieces mostly in the micro moth line. Of note for Thanet and rather unexpected were a few occupied mines of Eriocrania sangii on Birch - I would imagine new to Thanet. Also on Birch and nearby Alders were cases of Coleophora serratella. Lots of Dichrorampha acuminatana flying around and in places Dichrorampha plumbagana was reasonably common. Other bits included; Aethes tesserana, Pammene rhediella, Aspilapteryx tringipennella, Pyrausta aurata, Pyrausta nigrata (the only Thanet site?) and the only macro - a Treble-bar. (F Solly)

Wednesday 13th May 2009 Newington Thanet

The wind dropped off a bit overnight and there were a few more moths in the garden traps than I've been getting lately. The night before last I didn't get a single macro as my garden was completely blown out in the gale north easterly the most noteworthy thing in an extremely average catch last night was a Shears - a moth I don't get annually in the garden. Otherwise singles of Muslin, Heart and Dart, Setaceous Hebrew Character, Rustic Shoulder-knot plus a few Common Swifts etc. I've not caught anything of any consequence since I last reported in. (Phil M)

Friday May 8th 2009 Eastry

Thursday morning trap held 24 moths, of 13 species. New kids on the block included singles of Twin-spotted Quaker, Red Twin-spot Carpet and a Figure of Eighty. Shuttle-shaped Dart totalled five. This morning's 17 overnight parkers, of 13 species contained a Lime-speck, Common Pug, Brindled Pug, Common White Wave, and a very nice Pale Prominent.    (Bill Martin)

Friday 8th May 2009 Westgate Thanet

The micros are beginning to pick up a little bit, with the tiny Argyresthia trifasciata plus Elachista argentella and 2 Eudonia angustea last night and an Aspilapteryx tringipennella the night before, New for the year for me were Spruce Carpet and Waved Umber, whilst 5 Brimstones were the most numerous moth, (Tim H)

Friday 8th May 2009 Beltinge

Night of 7/5 - back to only fifteen moths but a couple of nice ones, an Oak-tree Pug, which is not that common here and a Lesser Swallow Prominent. Other moths were 1 Brindled Pug, 1 Red Twin-spot Carpet, 2 Chinese Character, 1 Pale Mottled Willow, 1 Angle Shades, 1 Hebrew Character and 2 each of Shuttle-shaped Dart, Early Grey and Flame Shoulder.    (Barry Hunt)

Friday 8th May 2009 Dumpton Thanet

The first Lime-hawk Moth for this year and a Broad-barred White this was the best of the rest, (Gadget)

Thursday 7th May 2009 Beltinge

Night of 6/5 - a touch better last night with 3 Red Twin-spotted Carpet, 1 Common Swift, 2 Chinese Character, 1 Rustic Shoulder-knot, 1 White-spotted Pug, 1 Least Black Arches, 1 Pale Prominent, 1 Early Grey, 1 Powdered Quaker, 1 Hebrew Character, 6 Flame Shoulder, 10 Shuttle-shaped Dart and 1 Depressaria pastinacella. (Barry Hunt)

Thursday 7th May 2009 Dumpton Thanet

Better last night with eleven species in total, with one new moth for this year which was a Campion and one new moth for me, which I have never seen before a Rivulet the rest was just what you would expect for this time of year, (Gadget)

Thursday 7th May 2009 Newington Thanet

A much better night for out in the garden for my mothy friends overnight included 1 Esperia sulpherella, 1 Garden Pebble, 1 Lime Hawk Moth, 1 White Ermine, 1 Pine Beauty and 1 Powdered Quaker. The Pine Beauty and the Quaker are rare moths for my garden it's my fifth ever Pine Beauty (three this spring) and only my third Powdered Quaker. I took quite a few other common species the numbers being made up mainly by 5 Early Grey and 10 Shuttle Shaped Darts. (Phil M)

Thursday 7th May 2009 Westgate Thanet

The warmer nights over the last couple of days have improved numbers, although nothing unexpected has turned up. Last night involved 33 moths of 21 species, including Lime Hawk-moth, Rustic Shoulder Knot, 3 Muslin Moths, Spectacle, Dark Spectacle, Grey Dagger and Pale Mottled Willow. Micros are still slow, but included a Phyllonorycter messaniella a couple of nights ago. (Tim H)

Wednesday 6th May 2009 Eastry

Night of the 5^th, disappointing numbers continue with a total of 13 in the trap. A small explosion of five Shuttle-shaped Dart, and singles of quality, a Red Twin-spot Carpet, Muslin, Least Black Arches, Chocolate-tip, and a Scarce Chocolate-tip. Things are looking up, (Bill Martin)

Wednesday 6th May 2009 Beltinge

Night of 5/5 - the tedium continues, of the massive total of eleven moths a Puss Moth was a surprise and the first for a few years here. Flame Shoulder, Shuttle-shaped Dart and Brimstone Moth in varying numbers were the ten others. (Barry Hunt)

Tuesday 5th May 2009 Beltinge

It's been rubbish here, not anything of any note until last night when a Lunar Marbled Brown decided to get it's self onto the site list. Not worth mentioning the rest. (Barry Hunt) 

Tuesday 5th May 2009 Dumpton Thanet

Only two new moth in the trap for this year a Setaceous Hebrew Character and 1 Common Swift the number are rubbish still. (gadget)

Monday 4th May 2009 Clowes Wood

4/5/2009. A wander around Clowes Wood on a rather cool afternoon failed to produce any macro moths and very few micros. Micropterix calthella; common either on Buttercup or Sedge flowers, small number of the attractive pyralid - Anania funebris and Metriotes lutarea were the most interesting. Other than that a few mixed Phyllonorycters, Incurvaria masculella, Cydia ulicetana and Eriocrania mines. (F Solly)

Monday 4th May 2009 East Blean

Night of 2/5, A gruelling session at East Blean. Clear with a half moon. Cloud was mean't to arrive by about 11.30 - it didn't. The temperature continued to fall and by 1.30 I had enough, Very small numbers of moths throughout the evening and no flurries of activity to make it slightly more interesting. The following at times broke the tedium or perhaps not; 1 Fox Moth, 1 Pebble Hook-tip, 1 Birch Mocha, 2 Red-green Carpet, 1 Small Phoenix, 1 Broken-barred Carpet, 1 Brown Silver-line, 1 Rivulet, 12 Brindled Pug, 1 Seraphim, 1 Purple Thorn, 1 Square-spot, 1 Grey Birch, 1 Lobster Moth, 2 Lunar Marbled Brown, 2 Pale Tussock, 1 Orange Footman, 1 Least Black Arches, 1 Clouded Drab and 7 Nut-tree Tussock. Little in the way of micros with 1 Adela rufimitrella, 1 Nemapogon swammerdamella, 3 Phyllonorycter quercifoliella, 1 Phyllonorycter messaniella, 1 Phyllonorycter esperella, 1 Syndemis musculana and the nicest moth of the evening - 1 Acleris literana in fine condition. (F Solly)

Monday 4th May 2009 Dumpton Thanet

Sill very quiet in my Garden, Flame Shoulder and Rustic-shoulder Knot being the beast of the bunch in the last few days, (Gadget)

Saturday May 2nd. 2009 Eastry

Steadily increasing numbers in the trap during the week, twenty one this morning, Best of the singles were Bright-line Brown-eye, Mullein, Nut-tree Tussock, Knot Grass, and, I am reliably informed, a superb Phtheochroa rugosana on Thursday morning. Friday was enlivened with Powdered Quaker, Swallow Prominent and the first White Ermine of the year. After a milder night, this morning we were rewarded with singles of The Spectacle, Pale Tussock, Red-green Carpet and Mullein, doubles of Swallow Prominent, Shuttle-shaped Dart, and Brimstone, along with a trio of Yellow-barred Brindle. (Bill Martin)

Saturday 2nd May 2009 Newington Thanet

A funny catch overnight (hee hee!) with very few moths once again but a couple of good ones for my garden, Amongst a catch of only 1 Common Quaker, 1 Hebrew Character,1 Early Grey,1 Bright-line Brown Eye and 1 Shuttle Shaped Dart there were singles of Monopis laevigella, Mullein, Chinese Character and 2 Toadflax Brocades. The last Mullein I caught was ten years ago whilst the Toadflax Brocades are normally a sought after moth in Thanet but these two were the third and fourth I've had already this season. Even Chinese Characters are not a gimmee in my rather naff garden. (Phil M)

Saturday 2nd May 2009 Westgate Thanet

Moth numbers in my trap are depressingly low. I did catch a Lime Hawk-moth a couple of days ago and a Knot Grass last night was only the second I have caught in my garden. (Tim H)

Friday 1st May 2009 Newington Thanet

It's still dull out there in moth less Ville, overnight I did get singles of Esperia sulpherella and Grey Dagger but these were the highlights of yet another small catch. Lately the only noteworthy 'bits' I've had were another Toadflax Brocade on the 25th, a second ever Streamer on the 28th and a Herald on the 29th. Otherwise I'm lucky if I get ten macro moths most nights. It will pick up soon.   (Phil M)