A few new for the year

After a couple of weeks in the first half of September with hardly anything added to the moth year list (except for the one night with two lifers), things started to progress slightly.  17th September was as poor as most of the previous nights on balance, but one good moth that was new for the year was Hazel Slender Parornix devoniella - only my second confirmed record ever, in fact.

Hazel Slender Parornix devoniella (female, gen det), North Elmham, 17th September

Holly Tortrix Rhopobota naevana was my latest ever record by 26 days.  The rest were Marsh Grey Eudonia pallida, 2 Narrow-winged Greys Eudonia angustea, 2 Green Carpets, 2 Brimstone Moths, 2 Canary-shouldered Thorns, 2 Dusky Thorns, 3 Light Emeralds, 5 Large Yellow Underwings, 6 Lesser Yellow Underwings, Small Square-spot, 3 Setaceous Hebrew Characters, 5 Square-spot Rustics, 2 Centre-barred Sallows, 6 Lunar Underwings, Frosted Orange, Burnished Brass and 3 Snouts.

Frosted Orange, North Elmham, 17th September

This Cream-streaked Ladybird is a species I've not often seen before:

Update 2025 - just reviewing my photos and came across this clearly misidentified - it's a Harlequin not Cream-streaked!

Harlequin Ladybird, North Elmham, 17th September

Two more new for the year the following night: Mallow and Black Rustic.
 

Black Rustic, North Elmham, 18th September

Also on 18th were 2 Garden Rose Tortrices Acleris variegana, 4 Narrow-winged Greys Eudonia angustea, Common Marbled Carpet, 2 Green Carpets, 4 Brimstone Moths, 5 Large Yellow Underwings, 4 Lesser Yellow Underwings, Small Square-spot, Square-spot Rustic, 16 Lunar Underwings, Vine's Rustic, Straw Dot and 2 Snouts.

The next evening also produced another addition to the year list, despite few moths in total: 2 Sallows.

Sallows, North Elmham, 19th September

Also on 19th were Garden Rose Tortrix Acleris variegana, 2 Narrow-winged Greys Eudonia angustea, Brimstone Moth, Large Yellow Underwing, 3 Lesser Yellow Underwings, Small Square-spot, 4 Setaceous Hebrew Characters, Square-spot Rustic, 11 Lunar Underwings, Vine's Rustic and Burnished Brass.

Nothing new for the year on 20th, thought slightly more moths: White-shouldered House Moth Endrosis sarcitrella, 3 Garden Rose Tortrices Acleris variegana, 3 Narrow-winged Greys Eudonia angustea, Common Marbled Carpet, Grey Pine Carpet, 2 Green Carpets, 2 Brimstone Moths, Dusky Thorn, 2 Light Emeralds, Turnip Moth, 3 Large Yellow Underwings, 7 Lesser Yellow Underwings, Setaceous Hebrew Character, 2 Common Wainscots, 10 Lunar Underwings, Sallow, Frosted Orange, 2 Vine's Rustics and 4 Snouts.

21st saw fewer moths, but still some nice ones among them: White-shouldered House Moth Endrosis sarcitrella, 4 Narrow-winged Greys Eudonia angustea, Mallow, Large Yellow Underwing, 2 Lesser Yellow Underwings, Square-spot Rustic, 2 Black Rustics, 8 Lunar Underwings, Rosy Rustic, Frosted Orange and Snout.

Mallow, North Elmham, 21st September

 Rosy Rustic, North Elmham, 21st September

Another year-tick on 22nd was not one but 3 Pink-barred Sallows.

Pink-barred Sallow, North Elmham, 22nd September

Also on 22nd were Light Brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana, Garden Rose Tortrix Acleris variegana, 5 Narrow-winged Greys Eudonia angustea, 6 Large Yellow Underwings, Lesser Yellow Underwing, Black Rustic, Centre-barred Sallow, 10 Lunar Underwings, Sallow, 2 Flounced Rustics, Rosy Rustic, Frosted Orange and Snout.

Sallow, North Elmham, 22nd September

Lunar Underwing, North Elmham, 22nd September

Another new for the year on 23rd which, like most of the above, is expected at this time of year - 2 Beaded Chestnuts.

Beaded Chestnuts, North Elmham, 23rd September

Other moths that night were Common Marble Celypha lacunana, 3 Narrow-winged Greys Eudonia angustea, Common Marbled Carpet, 7 Large Yellow Underwings, 3 Lesser Yellow Underwings, Small Square-spot, Black Rustic, Centre-barred Sallow, 15 Lunar Underwings, Sallow, Flounced Rustic, Frosted Orange, 2 Vine's Rustics, 2 Burnished Brasses and Snout.

Agriphila latistria

On 8th September I went birding in east Norfolk.  While birds were my focus I always keep an eye out for moths and other interesting insectlife.  Only one moth today, kicked up from the Marram grass at Waxham, a White-streak Grass-veneer Agriphila latistria - only the second time I'd seen this very striking species.

White-streak Grass-veneer Agriphila latistria, Waxham, 8th September

A few dragonflies here including Migrant and Brown Hawkers.

Migrant Hawker, Waxham, 8th September

No great shakes among that evening's moth catch: 2 Dark-triangle Buttons Acleris laterana, 6 Garden Rose Tortrices Acleris variegana, 3 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, 2 Elbow-stripe Grass-veneers Agriphila geniculea, Narrow-winged Grey Eudonia angustea, Pale Straw Pearl Udea lutealis, Blood-vein, Riband Wave, Yellow-barred Brindle, Brimstone Moth, Light Emerald, 13 Large Yellow Underwings, 6 Lesser Yellow Underwings, Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing, 2 Setaceous Hebrew Characters, 6 Square-spot Rustics, Centre-barred Sallow, 8 Flounced Rustics, Vine's Rustic, 2 Straw Dots and 2 Snouts.

This Peacock was roosting in the wood store:

Peacock, North Elmham, 8th September

Non-lepidopteran interest was provided by an Alder Spittlebug Aphrophora alni.

There were fewer moths on 9th September, though they did include my first Lunar Underwing of the autumn.

Lunar Underwing, North Elmham, 9th September

The rest were Brown House Moth Hofmannophila pseudospretella, Light Brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana, 2 Garden Rose Tortrices Acleris variegana, Elbow-stripe Grass-veneer Agriphila geniculea, Narrow-winged Grey Eudonia angustea, Small Grey Eudonia mercurella, Common Marbled Carpet, 4 Large Yellow Underwings, 4 Lesser Yellow Underwings, 2 Setaceous Hebrew Characters, 3 Square-spot Rustics, Centre-barred Sallow, 4 Flounced Rustics, 2 Vine's Rustics, Burnished Brass, Straw Dot and Snout.

Common Marbled Carpet, North Elmham, 9th September

10th September was quite a similar story with 6 Garden Rose Tortrices Acleris variegana, Common Marble Celypha lacunana, Marbled Piercer Cydia splendana, Narrow-winged Grey Eudonia angustea, Garden Pebble Evergestis forficalis, Common Marbled Carpet, 2 Brimstone Moths, 2 Large Yellow Underwings, 7 Lesser Yellow Underwings, 2 Small Square-spots, 2 Setaceous Hebrew Characters, 4 Square-spot Rustics, 2 Common Wainscots, Lunar Underwing, Svensson's Copper Underwing, Mouse Moth, Vine's Rustic, 2 Silver Ys, 2 Straw Dots and Snout.

Not much more on 11th September: Brown House Moth Hofmannophila pseudospretella, 3 Light Brown Apple Moths Epiphyas postvittana, 7 Garden Rose Tortrices Acleris variegana, Common Marble Celypha lacunana, Marbled Piercer Cydia splendana, 2 Elbow-stripe Grass-veneers Agriphila geniculea, 3 Mother of Pearls Pleuroptya ruralis, 2 Common Plumes Emmelina monodactyla, 2 Common Marbled Carpets, Treble-bar, 4 Brimstone Moths, 2 Canary-shouldered Thorns, 5 Light Emeralds, 5 Large Yellow Underwings, 9 Lesser Yellow Underwings, Small Square-spot, 4 Square-spot Rustics, Lunar Underwing, Flounced Rustic, 2 Vine's Rustics, Burnished Brass and Snout.

Light Brown Apple Moth (male), North Elmham, 11th September

Treble-bar (female), North Elmham, 11th September

On 12th September I found Spindle Ermine Yponomeuta cagnagella and Silver Y at Burnham Overy before heading of to Great Yarmouth for the NMS event (which I've already written about).  At home it was much the same sort of numbers and quality as the past week: Dark-triangle Button Acleris laterana, 4 Garden Rose Tortrices Acleris variegana, Common Marble Celypha lacunana, Red Piercer Lathronympha strigana, Marbled Piercer Cydia splendana, Marsh Grey Eudonia pallida, Common Plume Emmelina monodactyla, Common Carpet, Green Carpet, Treble-bar, Brimstone Moth, Canary-shouldered Thorn, 2 Dusky Thorns, 3 Light Emeralds, 9 Large Yellow Underwings, 3 Lesser Yellow Underwings, 2 Setaceous Hebrew Characters, 2 Square-spot Rustics, 3 Lunar Underwings, 2 Vine's Rustics, Burnished Brass and Snout.

13th September was really poor Brown House Moth Hofmannophila pseudospretella, 2 Garden Rose Tortrices Acleris variegana, Common Plume Emmelina monodactyla, Green Carpet, 4 Large Yellow Underwings, 4 Lesser Yellow Underwings, 4 Square-spot Rustics, 4 Lunar Underwings, 3 Flounced Rustics and Snout.

14th was marginally better, producing Light Brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana, Garden Rose Tortrix Acleris variegana, Beautiful Plume Amblyptilia acanthadactyla, Garden Carpet, 2 Common Marbled Carpets, Green Carpet, Light Emerald, 7 Large Yellow Underwings, 7 Lesser Yellow Underwings, Setaceous Hebrew Character, 3 Square-spot Rustics, White-point, 2 Common Wainscots, Centre-barred Sallow, 2 Lunar Underwings, 2 Flounced Rustics and 2 Snouts.

15th September picked up some more, though it wasn't exaclty heaving: Rhomboid Tortrix Acleris rhombana, 2 Garden Rose Tortrices Acleris variegana, Common Marble Celypha lacunana, 2 Narrow-winged Greys Eudonia angustea, Garden Carpet, 3 Green Carpets, Tawny Speckled Pug, 2 Brimstone Moths, Canary-shouldered Thorn, Willow Beauty, Light Emerald, 12 Large Yellow Underwings, 8 Lesser Yellow Underwings, Small Square-spot, Setaceous Hebrew Character, 3 Square-spot Rustics, White-point, 2 Common Wainscots, 2 Centre-barred Sallows, 4 Lunar Underwings, Rosy Rustic, Frosted Orange, Vine's Rustic, Straw Dot and Snout.

Rhomboid Tortrix Acleris rhombana, North Elmham, 15th September

Rosy Rustic, North Elmham, 15th September

unidentified spider with Willow Beauty, North Elmham, 15th September - what's the spider?

On 16th September I was back up at Burnham Overy where butterflies included Small Copper and 6 Common Blues.  At least 4 Carnation Tortrices Cacoecimorpha pronubana were on the wing and I kicked up a migrant Rush Veneer Nomophila noctuella from the dunes.  Also a Common Lizard seen.

Anyone know what sort of Puffball this is?

Puffball, Burnham Overy, 16th September

Fewer moths again at home that night: Light Brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana, 3 Garden Rose Tortrices Acleris variegana, 2 Beautiful Plumes Amblyptilia acanthadactyla, Garden Carpet, Spruce Carpet, 2 Brimstone Moths, 2 Dusky Thorns, Light Emerald, 4 Large Yellow Underwings, 2 Lesser Yellow Underwings, 5 Square-spot Rustics, White-point, Common Wainscot, 4 Lunar Underwings and Snout.

Also a bug which I identified as Blepharidopterus angulatus.

Blepharidopterus angulatus, North Elmham 16th September

Two lifers on an otherwise quiet night

30 species of moth on the night of 7th September was hardly an amazing showing, but with 95 moths it was one of the best nights of the month.  And two of those were species I'd never seen before, so no complaints from me.

The first, and the most readily recognised, was a species I'd been looking out for.  They're not rare and a lot of people seemed to be reporting them last year but I never found one then.  So really pleased to make good tonight - a Pale Eggar.

Pale Eggar, North Elmham, 7th September

The second wasn't so obvious.  I didn't recognise it at first, so took some photos and potted it up to look at later.  By the time I got to it I knew straight away what it was because in the meantime I'd caught another one and had spent some time figuring that one out.  It was a Dark Ash Bud Moth Prays ruficeps.

Dark Ash Bud Moth Prays ruficeps, North Elmham, 7th September

On the surface of it it seems that this is quite a scarce moth with just a dozen records from Norfolk and recorded at very few locations.  However it's a recent split (from Ash Bud Moth Prays fraxinella) so wouldn't have been recorded until recently, so almost certainly not that scarce at all.

Other moths recorded that night were Little Dwarf Elachista canapennella, 2 Garden Rose Tortrices Acleris variegana, 2 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, 3 Marbled Piercers Cydia splendana, Common Grass-veneer Agriphila tristella, 3 Elbow-stripe Grass-veneers Agriphila geniculea, 2 Mother of Pearls Pleuroptya ruralis, Small Blood-vein, Small Dusty Wave, 2 Garden Carpets, 2 Green Carpets, Tawny Speckled Pug, Double-striped Pug, 4 Brimstone Moths, 2 Light Emeralds, Black Arches, 24 Large Yellow Underwings, 10 Lesser Yellow Underwings, Small Square-spot, 11 Square-spot Rustics, 2 Common Wainscots, Centre-barred Sallow, Mouse Moth, 10 Flounced Rustics, Ear Moth, Vine's Rustic, Straw Dot and Snout.

Marbled Piercers Cydia splendana, North Elmham, 7th September

Another visit from the big frog, or a big frog, again tonight:

Common Frog, North Elmham, 7th September

Quiet start to September

September started quite poorly, which is pretty much how it was for most of the month so far as moths are concerned.  A Carnation Tortrix Cacoecimorpha pronubana was new for the garden year list on 1st but apart from that not a lot else: 2 Garden Rose Tortrices Acleris variegana, Common Marble Celypha lacunana, 2 Elbow-stripe Grass-veneers Agriphila geniculea, Narrow-winged Grey Eudonia angustea, Ringed China-mark Parapoynx stratiotata, Common Plume Emmelina monodactyla, Maiden's Blush, Single-dotted Wave, 2 Brimstone Moths, Light Emerald, 5 Large Yellow Underwings, 4 Lesser Yellow Underwings, Small Square-spot, 3 Setaceous Hebrew Characters, Square-spotted Clay, Six-striped Rustic, 2 Square-spot Rustics, 16 Flounced Rustics, 2 Vine's Rustics, 2 Straw Dots and Snout.

Carnation Tortrix Cacoecimorpha pronubana, North Elmham 1st September

The next night was even worse: 4 Elbow-stripe Grass-veneers Agriphila geniculea, Single-dotted Wave, Common Marbled Carpet, Green Carpet, Currant Pug, Treble-bar, Common Wave, Light Emerald, 5 Large Yellow Underwings, 5 Lesser Yellow Underwings, 2 Square-spot Rustics, Angle Shades, 2 Flounced Rustics, 2 Vine's Rustics, Burnished Brass, Spectacle and Straw Dot.

Angle Shades, North Elmham 2nd September

Common Wave, North Elmham 2nd September

Currant Pug, North Elmham 2nd September

Centre-barred Sallow was new for the year on 3rd.

Centre-barred Sallow, North Elmham 3rd September

Other stuff was Woundwort Case-bearer Coleophora lineolea, Brown House Moth Hofmannophila pseudospretella, Garden Rose Tortrix Acleris variegana, 2 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, 4 Elbow-stripe Grass-veneers Agriphila geniculea, Narrow-winged Grey Eudonia angustea, 3 Orange Swifts, Currant Pug, 2 Brimstone Moths, Canary-shouldered Thorn, 2 Turnip Moths, 24 Large Yellow Underwings, 5 Lesser Yellow Underwings, Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing, 3 Small Square-spots, Square-spot Rustic, 2 Flounced Rustics, Silver Y and Spectacle.

The 4th only produced 3 Garden Rose Tortrices Acleris variegana, Elbow-stripe Grass-veneer Agriphila geniculea, Narrow-winged Grey Eudonia angustea, Garden Pebble Evergestis forficalis, Common Marbled Carpet, Green Carpet, 2 Treble-bars, 2 Brimstone Moths, 6 Large Yellow Underwings, 5 Lesser Yellow Underwings, Small Square-spot, 2 Setaceous Hebrew Characters, 2 Square-spot Rustics, Common Wainscot, Centre-barred Sallow and Copper Underwing.

Copper Underwing (male, gen det), North Elmham 4th September

5th September was a similar story: Dark-triangle Button Acleris laterana, 3 Garden Rose Tortrices Acleris variegana, 2 Elbow-stripe Grass-veneers Agriphila geniculea, Ringed China-mark Parapoynx stratiotata, Pale Straw Pearl Udea lutealis, 2 Green Carpets, 4 Brimstone Moths, Light Emerald, 14 Large Yellow Underwings, 8 Lesser Yellow Underwings, Small Square-spot, Setaceous Hebrew Character, 4 Square-spot Rustics, Centre-barred Sallow, 8 Flounced Rustics and Spectacle.

On 6th September Firethorn Leaf-miner Phyllonorycter leucographella was new for the year.

 Firethorn Leaf-miner Phyllonorycter leucographella, North Elmham 6th September

Other moths that night were Wainscot Smudge Ypsolopha scabrella, 2 Elbow-stripe Grass-veneers Agriphila geniculea, Narrow-winged Grey Eudonia angustea, Garden Carpet, 3 Green Carpets, 9 Large Yellow Underwings, Lesser Yellow Underwing, Small Square-spot, Setaceous Hebrew Character, 2 Square-spot Rustics, 9 Flounced Rustics and Vine's Rustic.

Hornets have a penchant for Orange Swifts

This Feathered Gothic would have been a new moth for me when I checked the trap at home after the night of 29th August, except that I'd been trapping at Cranwich Heath early that evening and caught 4 there (more on that excursion in this post I did nearer the time).

Feathered Gothic, North Elmham, 29th August

A strange thing happened this night.  I often get the odd Hornet in the moth trap and they often predate some of the moths while they're in there.  This evening I had 5 Hornets (and 2 wasps) and true to form they'd gobbled up some of the moths.  But what was a bit weird was that they appear to have very particular taste.  There were 5 dead moths in the trap, 4 showing clear signs of predation (i.e. wings removed and bodies gone).  Out of 165 moths in the trap they had killed all 5 Orange Swifts (or at least 4 of them) and ignored everything else.  What's so special about Orange Swifts?

A count of 37 Flounced Rustics was my highest ever while other macros in the trap were Green Carpet, Sharp-angled Carpet, Treble-bar, 9 Brimstone Moths, 2 Willow Beauties, Common Wave, Light Emerald, 32 Large Yellow Underwings, 7 Lesser Yellow Underwings, 3 Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwings, Small Square-spot, Setaceous Hebrew Character, Square-spotted Clay, Six-striped Rustic, 8 Square-spot Rustics, Common Wainscot, Svensson's Copper Underwing, 2 Burnished Brasses, Silver Y, Spectacle, 8 Straw Dots and Snout.

Svensson's Copper Underwing, North Elmham, 29th August

Among the micros  2 Narrow-winged Greys Eudonia angustea were the first of the autumn generation.  The others were Brown Birch Slender Parornix betulae, Little Ermel Swammerdamia pyrella, Long-horned Flat-body Carcina quercana, House Groundling Bryotropha domestica, 2 Dark-triangle Buttons Acleris laterana, 3 Garden Rose Tortrices Acleris variegana, 3 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, Rush Marble Bactra lancealana, Sharp-winged Drill Dichrorampha acuminatana, Pearl Veneer Agriphila straminella, 2 Common Grass-veneers Agriphila tristella, 15 Elbow-stripe Grass-veneers Agriphila geniculea, Chequered Grass-veneer Catoptria falsella, Garden Pebble Evergestis forficalis, Small Purple and Gold (Mint Moth) Pyrausta aurata, 2 Pale Straw Pearls Udea lutealis and 3 Mother of Pearls Pleuroptya ruralis.

One of the geniculea was interesting, showing more dark than usual between the two cross-lines.  I did check the insides just to make sure it wasn't anything else...

Elbow-striped Grass-veneer Agriphila geniculea (male, gen det), North Elmham, 29th August

This caterpillar has evaded certain identification so far.  I found a pic of a Beaded Chestnut that was similar but there seems to be so much variation with this and other related species I'm not confident one of the other Xyleninae tribe isn't the correct ID.  Let me know if you can help!

unidentified caterpillar (probably something in the Xyleninae tribe?), North Elmham, 29th August

On the sheet next to the trap was this frog.  You don't get the impression of size in the photos but I can tell you it was huge!  Biggest frog I've ever seen!

Common Frog, North Elmham, 29th August

30th August was rather uneventful with 4 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, 2 Common Grass-veneers Agriphila tristella, 2 Elbow-stripe Grass-veneers Agriphila geniculea, Chequered Grass-veneer Catoptria falsella, Narrow-winged Grey Eudonia angustea, Ringed China-mark Parapoynx stratiotata, 3 Mother of Pearls Pleuroptya ruralis, Maiden's Blush, 2 Green Carpets, 3 Brimstone Moths, Light Emerald, 21 Large Yellow Underwings, 4 Lesser Yellow Underwings, Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing, Setaceous Hebrew Character, Six-striped Rustic, 5 Square-spot Rustics, Common Wainscot, 19 Flounced Rustics and 4 Straw Dots.

The clear highlight on 31st August was my second ever confirmed Yellow-triangle Slender Caloptilia alchimiella. Only ever had robustella confirmed at home before.

 Yellow-triangle Slender Caloptilia alchimiella (male, gen det), North Elmham, 31st August

Not a great deal else that day: Light Brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana, Dark-triangle Button Acleris laterana, Garden Rose Tortrix Acleris variegana, Barred Marble Celypha striana, 3 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, Pearl Veneer Agriphila straminella, Common Grass-veneer Agriphila tristella, 9 Elbow-stripe Grass-veneers Agriphila geniculea, Narrow-winged Grey Eudonia angustea, Mother of Pearl Pleuroptya ruralis, 2 Common Plumes Emmelina monodactyla, Maiden's Blush, Riband Wave, 3 Brimstone Moths, Light Emerald, 2 Flame Shoulders, 16 Large Yellow Underwings, 4 Lesser Yellow Underwings, Small Square-spot, 5 Square-spot Rustics, Common Wainscot, 6 Flounced Rustics and 4 Straw Dots.

Clouded Yellow (f. helice), Archer's Dart and some dragons

A day birding at Burnham Overy Dunes on 29th August produced a few interesting insects - in fact probably better insects than birds.  Best among them was a Clouded Yellow butterfly, a whitish one so a female of the form helice.

Clouded Yellow (f. helice), Burnham Overy, 29th August

A good selection of other butterflies including 3 Small Coppers, 5 Brown Arguses, Grayling and 2 Wall Browns.

A few moths on the wing too including a day-feeding Archer's Dart.  I couldn't get any good pics of it feeding so here it is on a sheet of paper - much easier to photograph if slightly less natural-looking!

Archer's Dart, Burnham Overy, 29th August

Other moths included 2 Spindle Ermines Yponomeuta cagnagella, 3 Carnation Tortrices Cacoecimorpha pronubana, Elbow-stripe Grass-veneer Agriphila geniculea, 5 Straw-barred Pearls Pyrausta despicata, Common Carpet and Yellow Shell.

Several dragonflies on the wing too including these:

Ruddy Darter, Burnham Overy, 29th August

Common Darter, Burnham Overy, 29th August

Migrant Hawker, Burnham Overy, 29th August

Finally a Common Lizard rounded up the non-avian wildlife interest.

Quieter nights (but another Haplotinea)

23rd August saw a big reduction in moth numbers and far less excitement.  Nothing to shout about amongst this lot: Woundwort Case-bearer Coleophora lineolea, White-shouldered House Moth Endrosis sarcitrella, Dark Fruit-tree Tortrix Pandemis heparana, Garden Rose Tortrix Acleris variegana, 2 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, Garden Grass-veneer Chrysoteuchia culmella, 3 Pearl Veneers Agriphila straminella, 29 Common Grass-veneers Agriphila tristella, 13 Elbow-stripe Grass-veneers Agriphila geniculea, Garden Pebble Evergestis forficalis, 3 Mother of Pearls Pleuroptya ruralis, Grey Knot-horn Acrobasis advenella, 4 Orange Swifts, Maiden's Blush, 3 Single-dotted Waves, Riband Wave, Garden Carpet, 2 Lime-speck Pugs, Magpie Moth, Dusky Thorn, Willow Beauty, Yellow-tail, Dingy Footman, 2 Turnip Moths, 3 Shuttle-shaped Darts, 3 Flame Shoulders, 13 Large Yellow Underwings, Lesser Yellow Underwing, Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing, 5 Setaceous Hebrew Characters, 3 Six-striped Rustics, 6 Square-spot Rustics, Lychnis, Dun-bar, 19 Flounced Rustics and Vine's Rustic.

24th August was even worse, though Frosted Orange was new for the year.

Frosted Orange, North Elmham, 24th August

The rest of the mediocrity that night were Garden Rose Tortrix Acleris variegana, Common Marble Celypha lacunana, Pearl Veneer Agriphila straminella, 12 Common Grass-veneers Agriphila tristella, 11 Elbow-stripe Grass-veneers Agriphila geniculea, 5 Mother of Pearls Pleuroptya ruralis, Red Twin-spot Carpet, Green Carpet, Double-striped Pug, Brimstone Moth, Dusky Thorn, Early Thorn, Willow Beauty, Dingy Footman, Turnip Moth, 3 Large Yellow Underwings, Lesser Yellow Underwing, 4 Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwings, 4 Setaceous Hebrew Characters, 2 Square-spotted Clays, Six-striped Rustic, 17 Flounced Rustics and 4 Straw Dots.

Turnip Moth, North Elmham, 24th August

25th August was hardly better but did see to new species for the year: Wainscot Smudge Ypsolopha scabrella and Svensson's Copper Underwing. Both were tatty worn individuals, the latter having to be dissected to confirm, so I'll spare you the pictures.

The rest were Bird-cherry Ermine Yponomeuta evonymella, Common Flat-body Agonopterix heracliana, 2 Dark-triangle Buttons Acleris laterana, 4 Pearl Veneers Agriphila straminella, 6 Common Grass-veneers Agriphila tristella, 15 Elbow-stripe Grass-veneers Agriphila geniculea, Pearl Grass-veneer Catoptria pinella, Chequered Grass-veneer Catoptria falsella, Small Grey Eudonia mercurella, Ringed China-mark Parapoynx stratiotata, 2 Garden Pebbles Evergestis forficalis, 2 Mother of Pearls Pleuroptya ruralis, 2 Common Plumes Emmelina monodactyla, 3 Orange Swifts, Single-dotted Wave, Riband Wave, Red Twin-spot Carpet, Common Carpet, Yellow Shell, Green Carpet, Tawny Speckled Pug, Treble-bar, 3 Brimstone Moths, 2 Canary-shouldered Thorns, Light Emerald, Lesser Swallow Prominent, Yellow-tail, 7 Large Yellow Underwings, 3 Lesser Yellow Underwings, 4 Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwings, 2 Setaceous Hebrew Characters, 3 Square-spotted Clays, 2 Six-striped Rustics, 2 Square-spot Rustics, Common Wainscot, Knot Grass, 2 Mouse Moths, 9 Flounced Rustics, Vine's Rustic and 19 Straw Dots.

Dark-triangle Buttons Acleris laterana (female above, male below, gen det), North Elmham, 25th August

On 26th August I caught another Drab Clothes Moth Haplotinea insectellla... the third post 19th century record for Norfolk, all three of them found by me!

Drab Clothes Moth Haplotinea insectella (male, gen det), North Elmham, 26th August

Birch Marble Apotomis betuletana was my first at home this year, while Black-headed Conch Cochylis atricapitana is a species I normally see less often.

Birch Marble Apotomis betuletana, North Elmham, 26th August

Black-headed Conch Cochylis atricapitana, North Elmham, 26th August

Other micros were Carrion Moth Monopis weaverella, Horse Chestnut Leaf-miner Cameraria ohridella, Golden-brown Tubic Crassa unitella, 2 Dingy Dowds Blastobasis adustella, Maple Button Acleris forsskaleana, Dark-triangle Button Acleris laterana, Rhomboid Tortrix Acleris rhombana, Garden Rose Tortrix Acleris variegana, 3 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, Red Piercer Lathronympha strigana, Marbled Piercer Cydia splendana, Pearl Veneer Agriphila straminella, 3 Common Grass-veneers Agriphila tristella, 10 Elbow-stripe Grass-veneers Agriphila geniculea and Mother of Pearl Pleuroptya ruralis.

The macros were 2 Orange Swifts, Blood-vein, Small Blood-vein, Tawny Speckled Pug, 2 Brimstone Moths, Dusky Thorn, Lesser Swallow Prominent, Yellow-tail, Turnip Moth, Shuttle-shaped Dart, 12 Large Yellow Underwings, 7 Lesser Yellow Underwings, 4 Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwings, Small Square-spot, 2 Setaceous Hebrew Characters, Square-spotted Clay, 3 Six-striped Rustics, Square-spot Rustic, Dark Arches, 20 Flounced Rustics, 2 Vine's Rustics, Burnished Brass and 4 Straw Dots.

27th August was probably the poorest since the spring with just Dark Groundling Bryotropha affinis, Rhomboid Tortrix Acleris rhombana, 3 Garden Rose Tortrices Acleris variegana, Common Marble Celypha lacunana, Common Grass-veneer Agriphila tristella, 9 Elbow-stripe Grass-veneers Agriphila geniculea, Garden Pebble Evergestis forficalis, 2 Orange Swifts, Lesser Swallow Prominent, 3 Large Yellow Underwings, 3 Lesser Yellow Underwings, 2 Six-striped Rustics, 2 Square-spot Rustics, White-point, 12 Flounced Rustics, 2 Vine's Rustics and Spectacle.

28th August was pretty poor too: Long-horned Flat-body Carcina quercana, Dark Groundling Bryotropha affinis, Maple Button Acleris forsskaleana, Common Marble Celypha lacunana, Common Grass-veneer Agriphila tristella, 4 Elbow-stripe Grass-veneers Agriphila geniculea, Garden Pebble Evergestis forficalis, Common Plume Emmelina monodactyla, Orange Swift, 2 Single-dotted Waves, Brimstone Moth, Lesser Swallow Prominent, Dingy Footman, Shuttle-shaped Dart, 10 Large Yellow Underwings, 3 Lesser Yellow Underwings, 3 Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwings, Setaceous Hebrew Character, Six-striped Rustic, Straw Underwing, 18 Flounced Rustics, Vine's Rustic and 4 Straw Dots.