Here is this morning's total from VC20 4 Muslin Moths!!!! But I had to take more photos of the Puss Moth from yesterday, which somehow I managed to miss. Puss Moth in my experience have a habitat of stopping some distance away from the trap? I've never noticed the orange veins before? #teammoth

I thought it was 2:1 this morning in VC 20 but somehow I missed this one, NFY and only an occasional visitor - a fabulous Puss Moth. Record shot! #teammoth

My VC20 garden excelled itself last night with being bad, but I knew the conditions had been poor, so 2:2 macro didn't surprise me!!! However, spirits were lifted when I saw a roosting male Orange-tip on a garlic mustard flower. #teammoth @savebutterflies.bsky.social @bc-hertsmiddx.bsky.social

Not a lot happening in my VC20 garden last night with clear skies & dropping temperatures (17:13 macro). Surprised to find a Nutmeg only my second April record, in the trap also Lesser Swallow Prominent, plus a Swallow Prom. Getting them in the same shot (in focus) is hard #teammoth

A reasonable night in VC20 with 43:23 (30:18 macro). Most the micros were T.acroxanthas! However, I had this one which I think is a Parsnip Moth, D. radiella. It would be NFG so would like confirmation. It disappeared after the Obsidentify image! Also NFY Sallow Kitten & Swallow Prominent #Teammoth

I was expecting better last night in my VC20 garden but could have been a lot worse 34:15 in total (27:13 macro) with potentially 4 NFY! I want to put this down as a female Lead-coloured Drab (its Common Quaker size)-hopefully you will all agree?? Also NFY Waved Umber, Brimstone & Seraphim #teammoth

A slight improvement in my VC20 garden (28:16 total) last night with 3 NFY incl a smart Yellow-barred Brindle & Angle Shades plus a camera shy Acleris literana, my 2nd of the year (record shot only!). The YBB hadn't flown away by this afternoon & co-operated in having it's photo taken! #teammoth

Not a lot to report last night in my VC20 garden just 11:8 macro in total. New for year though was a Clancy's Rustic, one I wasn't quite expecting just yet. No photo but I know it won't be the only one this year! Instead Ypsolopha mucronella from yesterday morning #teammoth

A night of records in VC20! Highest April species count of this decade - 23 incl micro, highest ever Lunar Marbled Brown with 15(7 in 2010), Frosted Green with 5(2) incl some stunners! Also 6 NFY = Oak-tree Pug, SSD(f), PMW, Silver Y, Chinese Character & Least Black Arches(missed in 2025) #teammoth

27 years ago I was introduced to the Orange Underwing & subsequently Light Orange! Yesterday & today at Balls Wood near Hertford, where both Birch & Aspen are present alongside each other I managed to net one of each! Photography is hard so I potted them, cooled them down & did my best.... #teammoth

Mirroring everyone else's early morning posts, it was poor in my VC20 garden, just 9:5 macro! However, my morning improved immediately when the 1st moth was a Dotted Chestnut. My 1st record was in 2006, but it still isn't a common moth in my garden, this only my 24th record, none last year #teammoth

At 3.30 I thought the sun might appear, so I put my 6 yr old Emperor lure out in my VC20 garden. Only 13c & it stayed thick grey cloud. At 4.30 a fly-by Emperor to my surprise! By 5 (12c) several flights around the lure, even when lure was back inside. No photos as I didn't try to net it. #teammoth

My VC20 garden at 6pm was nearly 18c, yesterday at the same time 10.5c! Despite the near full moon and currently clearing skies, please send me some moths!!! 🤞#teammoth

Made a change to get into double figures last night in VC20, the 1st time since the 23rd! Grand total of 11:5 but a NFY in the form of a Streamer! Unfortunately it's relative the Shoulder Stripe stopped visiting my garden many years ago! Hebrew Characters are a hardy moth, 7 this morning! #teammoth

Not a lot to report from my VC20 garden this morning apart from this mystery Orthosia? 18mm single wing, I think its a female but I haven't fully checked. Obsidentify couldn't work it out either although Lead-coloured Drab is suggested but any other ideas welcomed. Its in my fridge #teammoth

With temperatures dropping to freezing in VC20, I suspect many didn't turn their lights on last night? 27:5 macros made their way into my garden including this Blossom Underwing, 3rd garden record in 24 years-the other 2 were in 2020! #teammoth It was in the greenhouse, & assumed initially Small Q!

Well the moth trap survived the wind & rain in VC20 & 24:4 macro species turned up including this one!!!! Obsidentify are undecided with 60% Twin-spotted Quaker & 40% Clouded Drab. My 1st id was TSQ but then changed it to CD and now can't decide? Size of a TSQ or larger CD! Thoughts? #teammoth

Told my husband this morning, won't be long as I walked up the garden to check my VC20 trap.....some time later I returned with a count of 96:8 to my complete surprise; I can only assume at some point the wind dropped? 2 NFY Red Chestnut & Powdered Quaker (my earliest record by 10+ days) #teammoth

The moth gods were on my side in VC20 last night with 99:13 (97:11 macro), a Feb record with Small Quaker coming out the winner followed by Common &Hebrew Character! Star was a Pine Beauty; a garden rarity & not recorded last year. Lead me a dance trying to photo it & not the best image! #teammoth

Probably my highest March count in VC20 since 2020 with 77:10 macro & 84:14 incl. micros. Highlight Pale Pinion, first since 2023 & only my 17th record in 24 years. Nearly missed the Oak Nycteoline amongst the Small Quaker. Also 7 March Moth my highest garden count. #teammoth

Happy Sunday to those in the UK. @thattallbloke.bsky.social - I hope you like the engine and driver's view ✅ Kaikōura ✅Christchurch Addington

My January moth stats for my VC20 garden, were as follows 46 moths of 15 moth species. Breakdown 38:10 macro and 8:5 micro. Nights trapped 30, 18 of these were blank. For info using a 25w twin actinic Skinner #teammoth

Three more moths than I was expecting in VC20 last night with 3:3!!! Spring Usher, Chestnut & Early Moth. Rained pretty much all day and all night! The Spring Usher is currently hiding in a bedroom but the other two I managed to photo with the macro lens for a change (just)! #teammoth

Want to beat the winter blues & bring some sun into your room, then tune in tonight to watch the 1st of our series of free winter Zoom presentations. Tonight (21/01/26) Butterflies from Southern Mexico with Ian Small. www.hertsmiddx-butterflies.org.uk/winter-zoom.... @savebutterflies.bsky.social

I have a moth by my trap in VC20. Pale Brindled Beauty! Temperature down to 7c and drizzling a bit. I think it's going to be the only moth though, let's wait and see? #teammoth

Starting the weekend as we mean to go on: with more positive nature news! Butterflies are booming in Hertfordshire thanks to the efforts of @stalbanscouncil.bsky.social, @bc-hertsmiddx.bsky.social and several other organisations. 📷: Malcolm Hull

Just been up my soggy VC20 garden and a blank has been avoided with a......LBAM, the excitement was overwhelming! I thought it had stopped raining - wrong ☹️ #teammoth

5:5 or 5:4 in VC20 depending on other opinions. Deffo Early Moth, Pale Brindled Beauty, Winter Moth, Dark Chestnut but what about this one? Is it Dark or a standard Chestnut-thoughts please, some angles its Dark-then it turns into a Chestnut; it was a bit frisky & decided to go for a walk! #teammoth

Finally a moth!! Winter Moth by the trap. A moth in 2025 I had to wait until November to record one with a similar period of blank nights after the new year #teammoth

Well I've done it and despite what I said yesterday, the plug is back in the timer and the tubes are lighting up my VC20 garden! Well one can only hope...........plus one from the spring to brighten up the rest of the day! #teammoth

My 12 days of Xmas in moths…drum roll 12. Lilac Beauty. Not a first, not even a second or third, not even rare, but in my opinion the most beautiful moth to grace my moth world. Maybe not everyone’s choice but the colours & structure are exquisite. Just one this year on 23/06/25 #teammoth

My 12 days of Xmas in moths 11. White-barred Clearwing. I love recording Clearwings but this is a specialty although known from the Horning VC27 area. Since 2023 I’ve only recorded Currant, so in the morning 30/05/25 I put the lure out & went out, got back & too my amazement there were 3! #teammoth

My 12 days of Xmas in moths 10. Orange /Light Orange Underwing. Since 2021, a pilgrimage is made to Balls Wood VC20 (aspen/silver birch rich) hoping to get close up to one of each species. On 24/03/25 I photographed a co-operative Orange. On 03/04/25 with a friend we found Light Orange #teammoth

VC 20 Adult Moth stats for 2025 1/4 Garden moths recorded incl aggs = 18949 Micro (approx) 3800 Macro 15149 Garden species recorded = 482 Micro 173 Macro 309 New for garden 26 Micro 20 Macro 6 Years recording 2002 - 2025 #teammoth

My 12 days of Xmas in moths 9. Fox Moth. I had seen a Fox Moth before, but only in flight & at 90mph! On 02/05/25 staying at friends in deepest darkest SN73, my 15w actinic proved it could attract moths & the night before! In the trap was this beautiful, furry Fox Moth, a wow moment. #teammoth

One goes away for 2 nights, pulls the plug out of the timer & covers the trap up. Gets home, notes temperature & predicted night time temperature plus the almost full moon. Even I'm not planning on turning it back on for the moment. Time for 2025 stats! Photo of Porthkerry Viaduct instead! #teammoth

My 12 days of Xmas in moths 8. Alder Kitten. My first record at Horning VC27 was on 31/05/03. Every year since, I have hoped for a 2nd & every year I failed until 28/05/25 when there was one sitting in the trap! I was thrilled, then on 03/08/25 a second one. I think 2025 was a good year! #teammoth

My 12 days of Xmas in moths 7. Broad-bordered Bee Hawk-moth. An annual target (to get a better photo) at Cranwich Camp (VC28) but no luck this year. But on 12/06/25, I was leaving my brother’s house in Horning VC27 & a split-second sighting!! Photo of Swallowtail seen earlier that morning! #teammoth

My 12 days of Xmas in moths 6. Pale-lemon Sallow. Another lifer in my VC20 garden on 05/10/25 & totally off my radar. I assumed at first it was Dusky-lemon Sallow (my last record 2019) but Obsidentify said different! A rare Herts species & first modern record for this side of the county #teammoth

My 12 days of Xmas in moths 5. 460 +/- Jersey Tigers in one night. I have a love hate relationship with this species & on the 14/08/2025 I wandered up my VC20 garden & was greeted with the sight of approx. 460 individuals plus several other moths! Previous highest had been 299 in 2023 #teammoth

New Year's resolution 'one' - improve photos! For Xmas I got a new toy; a thing to put on my mini tripod that holds my mobile phone steady. (probaby for those dreadful selfie sticks!). So this morning I thought I would try it out - luckily I found a moth by the trap in VC20! Mottled Umber #teammoth

My 12 days of Xmas in moths 4. Cosmopolitan in my VC20 garden on the 17/08/25. For some this is a regularly recorded migrant moth but in Herts (& Middx) far from it & this will be the only the 2nd record on the map (previous 2020). Not an impressive moth but still great to record #teammoth

My 12 days of Xmas in moths 3. Exapate congelatella Frost Tortrix. A complete surprise on 11/12/25 in my VC20 garden & 1st county record since 2007. Many people have given up trapping by Dec, but I stick it out to the end of the year. I looked at it & thought I have no idea what you are! #teammoth

My 12 days of Xmas in moths 2. Gynnidomorpha permixtana Coast Straw. Riverside at Horning VC27 on 30/05/25 & retained because I thought it was a one or other of something else but it turns out to be a very rare moth pRDB1 feeding on Water-plantain with only 2 other sites in VC27 #teammoth

My 12 days of Xmas in moths 1. Scarlet Tiger - I had been waiting patiently to record Scarlet Tiger as records got closer. My photo folders had countless photos sent to me by family & friends but none of my own but 2025 was the year it arrived in my VC20 garden with 2 individuals #teammoth

Nice to record some post Xmas moths in VC20 after 3 nights of those you no whats! 4:4 with Chestnut, Dark Chestnut, Winter Moth & Acleris sparsana. 3 New Year's resolutions: improve potting skills, try to get more photos in focus (only using mobile phone these days), learn left from right #teammoth

Will this be my last moth of 2025? Recorded last night in VC20, a single Chestnut hiding under an egg box! Happy Christmas to everyone & good luck in 2026 with everyone's moth journey. My trap will be on until the 30th so I haven't listed my standouts for 2025 yet! #teammoth

There is a Christmassy feel about my VC20 trap this pm with another Black-spotted Chestnut (photo tomorrow will confirm if a different individual to last week), what in the dark looks like a Dark Chestnut - just waiting for a Chestnut (one last night!) Temperature dropping, clear skies ☹️ #teammoth

That's a good start to the evening after 2 nights of nil moths. First a Chestnut & then on the water butt my first December Black-spotted Chestnut! This was at 5pm so it's not read the websites that suggest it might appear after midnight? #teammoth