A couple more goodies from the chalk grassland & scrub of Powerstock Common NR last week: Satyr Pug & Aethes piercei #TeamMoth @dorsetmoths.bsky.social

A few more migrant moths from our Grove garden traps today incl a Purple Marbled; a Four Spotted was also only the third ever for this site. Weirdest catch was an orangey-coloured Xestia - struggling to see beyond it being an oddly-marked and v early Dotted Clay (v rare here) but comments welcome

The first Flame Wainscot of the year is always nice to find in the trap. @dorsetmoths.bsky.social

Moth trapping on the high chalk near Chettle yielded a couple of species I don't see in the clay vale. Pretty chalk carpet and Green arches. @dorsetmoths.bsky.social @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social

@dorsetmoths.bsky.social @migrantmothuk.bsky.social #TeamMoth

A few more highlights from the Sheat Quarry (Portland) MV last night - Aethes beatricella, Epischnia asteris, Thyme Pug, & Tinagma ocnerostomella #TeamMoth @dorsetmoths.bsky.social

Despite searching for dayfliers in the field at Portland on many occasions previously, I've somehow never managed to find a Four-spotted, so this individual (kindly potted for me by Martin @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) was much appreciated this morning #TeamMoth @dorsetmoths.bsky.social

A modest 55sp of 111 moths at Corfe Castle last night. At last a Small Mottled Willow as well as a nice Blood Vein, Light Emerald and Clouded Silver @dorsetmoths.bsky.social @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social #teammoth

Another good night for migrant #moths (W Dorset, UK). Highlight was Many Lined plus 3 Small Marbled, 1 Rush Veneer, an amazing 86 Small Mottled Willow, 2 Silver Y, 4 Rusty-dot Pearl and 15 Diamond-back Moths. @migrantmothuk.bsky.social @dorsetmoths.bsky.social @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social

Always a nice surprise in the moth trap ! @dorsetmoths.bsky.social #lytchettbay #moths

Still no EB Straw for me (sigh), but Yellow Belle & Lilac Beauty were nice to see among the 160/59 in the Upton garden traps this morning, plus another 7 SM Willow, 12 Diamondback, & 2 Silver Y on the migrant front. A male Stiletto-fly sp was of note as bycatch too #TeamMoth @dorsetmoths.bsky.social

Moth mania at Alners Gorse. Poplar Hawk and Coxcomb Prominent for starters

A speculative 4hrs after dark at St Aldhelm's Head prod'd zero migrants(!), altho' Caloptilia cuculipennella & Platytes cerussella were both NFM, & it was nice to see Mecyna asinalis & Mullein Wave amongst the throng of Cream-spot Tiger, Gallium Carpet, & PR Wave #TeamMoth @dorsetmoths.bsky.social

Vestal best of the meager catch last night Rodwell Weymouth Dorset @migrantmothuk.bsky.social @dorsetmoths.bsky.social

A few from yesterday's trap Blair's Mocha, Bordered Straw, Small Mottled Willow, European Corn Borer and Rusty Dot Pearl. @dorsetmoths.bsky.social @migrantmothuk.bsky.social

214/73 across the two Upton garden traps this morning incl'd the ever lovely Alabonia geoffrella, Figure of Eighty, Aspilapteryx tringipennella, & Marbled Brown. It was very much a night for Silver Y tho', incl'g 12 to the Ni Moth lure alone (but sadly no Ni...) #TeamMoth @dorsetmoths.bsky.social

Dorset Moths website update: the 2024 macro-moth records for the county have now been added to the site - www.dorsetmoths.co.uk @dorsetmoths.bsky.social @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social

Ni Moth (new for the site) was the migrant highlight at Puncknowle, W Dorset this morning. Also Silver-spotted Veneer (E ocellea) 2, Small Mottled Willow 15, Rusty-dot Pearl 6, Rush Veneer 2, Diamond-back Moth 20. @dorsetmoths.bsky.social @migrantmothuk.bsky.social

Some showy new #moth arrivals for the year this morning (West Dorset, UK): Cream-spot Tiger and a trio of hawk-moths (Privet, Elephant and Lime). @dorsetmoths.bsky.social @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social #TeamMoth

A hearty 209/80 from the combined MV & actinic in the Upton garden last night, with Vestal, another SM Willow, 2 Silver Y, RDP, & 9 Diamondback on the migrant front, plus the season's 1st Alder Moth, Brussels Lace, Small Elephant Hawkmoth, & brace of Silky Wainscot #TeamMoth @dorsetmoths.bsky.social

This morning's moth trap held one unusual visitor...agrotera nemoralis one of few records for the island, but got away pre-photo! The rest... green silver-lines, beautiful hook-tip, scorched wing and diaperis boleti. Not a bad haul #WildBrownsea @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social @dorsetmoths.bsky.social

First Privet of the year Rodwell Weymouth Dorset with low numbers of migrants @dorsetmoths.bsky.social

Less migrant activity at the Swannery last night but signs of dispersal from inland with a few new additions to the list including this Little Thorn

Chief prize from overnight mothing was a Little Thorn - the first at the Obs and only the second for Portland after we were gripped by @birdbeard.bsky.social finding one last year on East Weare when he wasn't even seriously mothing! 471 Diamond-backs & 114 Small Mottled Willows amongst the Obs catch

Moth of the night for me, this rather smart Ptycholoma lecheana, not one I've seen before. Appears to be rather scarce in Dorset. Otherwise, Rhyacionia pinivorana and one of three Small Marbled. @migrantmothuk.bsky.social

A few more notables from the Upton garden trap this morning, incl'g 3 more Small Mottled Willow & 17 Diamondbacks on the migrant front, plus Anania fuscalis, Incurvaria oehlmanniella, & Calamotropha paludella #TeamMoth @dorsetmoths.bsky.social @migrantmothuk.bsky.social

Goat Moth!!! There was no doubting the star amongst the 176/62 in the Upton garden trap this morning - having stumbled across a handful of the Haribo-esque larvae over the years, my first ever adult was both beautiful & an absolute unit #TeamMoth #MicroSmicro @dorsetmoths.bsky.social

Clearwings are like buses apparently, with this lovely Red-tipped Clearwing also new for the year in the Upton garden this evening #TeamMoth @dorsetmoths.bsky.social

Now 3 species of tiger moth in a week: Wood Tiger at Maiden Castle 23 May. Scarlet Tiger caterpillar at Warmwell, also Keeled Skimmer at a too dry Warmwell Heath. @dorsetmoths.bsky.social

The Big and Small today in our garden at Harman's Cross near Swanage. Mint Moth wingspan 15-18mm, then Painted Lady wingspan 5.8-7.4cm. Both enjoying the sunshine and hot temperatures. @savebutterflies.bsky.social @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social @dorsetmoths.bsky.social @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social

Bursting traps they were not, however a Euchromius ocellea was a nice highlight from the Swannery traps last night, loads of yearticks, plus backup cast of migrants Inc 16 Small Mottled Willow, 10 Diamond-back and a Rusty-dot Pearl @migrantmothuk.bsky.social

A real treat this morning in my Weymouth moth trap - a stunning Cream-spot Tiger. What a moth! In total 33 moths / 21 sp, incl also Small Mottled Willow, Diamond-back, Portland Ribbon Wave, Pale Tussock, Light Brocade & Buff Ermine. #teammoth @dorsetmoths.bsky.social @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social

First moth trap of the year! New for me, Peach Blossom 🥰 and 21 species! Can anyone confirm White Spotted Pug? Not seen one of these before. @dorsetmoths.bsky.social

Five Portland Ribbon Wave, two Small Mottled Willow, an Oblique Carpet and a mocha sp.(presumed Blairs) from trap in Swanage (Herston) this morning. @dorsetmoths.bsky.social

One of three Small Mottled Willow flushed from underfoot on Hartland Moor this afternoon, alongside several Silver Y and a Rush Veneer #TeamMoth @dorsetmoths.bsky.social @migrantmothuk.bsky.social

73 moths/34 sp. In my Corfe Castle garden. Surprisingly no migrants. Quite a few Orange Footman (Eilema sororcula) and a nice Great Prominent (Peridea anceps) #teammoth @dorsetmoths.bsky.social @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social

A brace of Small Mottled Willow (2FG) headlined the migrant interest amongst the 94/33 in the Upton garden trap this morning, alongside Diamondback Moth & RDP. My 1st Portland Ribbon Wave & Small Seraphim of the yr were also noteworthy #TeamMoth @migrantmothuk.bsky.social @dorsetmoths.bsky.social

The Lackey Moth caterpillars are on the move! A fair few crossing the path on my walk today in Weymouth. One of my favourite caterpillars - just sooooo jazzy!! 🐛 @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social @dorsetmoths.bsky.social #teammoth

Not a big trap this morning but 13 NFY and 1 NFGarden. Always nice to see Privet Hawkmoth in the trap, first time had them in the blue led. and a the NFG was a Tischeria ekebladella. @dorsetmoths.bsky.social

The clearwing season got off to a flying start this afternoon, with a Red-belted Clearwing unexpectedly into the cul lure deployed in the Upton garden. A ridiculously under-recorded/rare species in Dorset & the 8th clearwing species for the backyard @dorsetmoths.bsky.social #TeamMoth

I was surprised to come across this Bordered Straw on heathland in Purbeck, Dorset this afternoon. First I've seen this year. Also a couple of Silver Y and a Painted Lady. #teammoth @dorsetmoths.bsky.social @migrantmothuk.bsky.social

Very disappointing to find only 5 moths in the trap this morning, though Garden Pebble was NFG. However... ...this double-dose of awesomeness was on the wall by the porch light: NFG Peach Blossom and 2FG Alder Moth. Little stunners both. 😎 Axminster VC3 #TeamMoth

After a week or so of non-trapping, it was nice to find my first Metalampra italica of the year loitering on the kitchen wall this morning #TeamMoth @dorsetmoths.bsky.social

Small Eggar (Eriogaster lanestris) seems to be having a good year down here in Dorset. Lots of larval nests on blackthorn and hawthorn @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social @dorsetmoths.bsky.social

Beautiful Common Carpet, flitting back and forth across the track I was walking ,but eventually settled in the open for me. @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social @rspb.bsky.social @dorsetmoths.bsky.social

23/45 in Corfe Castle #mothtrap last night. NFY were 3 Poplar Hawks, Waved Umber, Pale Prominent and Pale Tussock @dorsetmoths.bsky.social @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social

A trickle of new arrivals for the year, all common species here, included Iron Prominent, Pale Tussock, Bright-line Brown-eye and Marbled Minor agg. Only 22/18 on a blustery morning. @dorsetmoths.bsky.social @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social #TeamMoth

Inaugural boat trip out into Weymouth Bay this morning, sadly they had to abandon rather soon as it was so windy! Boat rockin' and rollin'! Will be rescheduled. Back to moths as usual: 7 nfy including male Bee Moth, Privet Hawk and Sallow Kitten.

A somewhat battered Blair's Mocha the pick from 53/19 in the Upton garden trap this morning, plus Sycamore, my first (10) Buff-tip of the yr, & a funky Treble Lines. I'm still not sure if the mocha is established locally: the presence of 2 Diamondback may suggest immigration @dorsetmoths.bsky.social

A few attractive micros from the Upton garden trap this morning: Tinea trinotella,Teleiopsis diffinis, Bee Moth, & Diamondback Moth #TeamMoth @dorsetmoths.bsky.social