More landmark numbers

An hour spent with head torch and net in local lanes last night was fruitful, with a selection of common moths netted. Pleuropyta ruralis and Agriphila straminella were in good numbers, but, more surprisingly, 3 magpies, one abberant, a dusky sallow, chinese character and angle shades were all good to record. In all, 43 moths in an hour.
The trap this morning was fairly busy with just Flame carpet being new for the year. This was the 350th moth species captured for 2015, so 400 species is definitely on the cards this year. Last year my total was 331 species.
Later on in the count, a rustic was my 4000th moth of the year, with the total now increased to 4010, a large increase on the 3331 moths for 2014. Again, with some luck, 5000 moths is possible.
Other more unusual visitors last night were: waved black, a 2nd generation Celypha lacunana, brown line bright eye, 2 more magpie and a setaceous hebrew character. The latter will continue to increase in numbers throughout the month, becoming the most regular visitor to the trap.

Flame carpet

flame carpet

waved black