Large Yellow Underwing Noctua pronuba - At least 215 recorded between 15th June and 20th October 2019 (not counted on 9 nights so probably a few more) and 110 between 11th June and 29th September 2020. The 2020 total was my worst so far and the average annual tally is around 285. Elsewhere recorded next door twice, 45 at the meadows (over 17 nights) and single-figure counts at Bintree Wood (twice), Whitwell Street, Swanton Great Wood, Weybourne and Row Heath (West Runton), plus 30 in Cornwall.
Large Yellow Underwing, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 23rd June 2019
Large Yellow Underwing, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 8th September 2020
Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing Noctua fimbriata - Singles in the garden on 16th and 22nd July and 23rd September 2019 and 2nd and 31st July 2020. I've had between 2 and 5 each year I've lived here. A few elsewhere including 6 at the meadows (including one on the earlier date of 23rd June 2020), one at Swanton Great Wood, one at Whitwell Street, one at Weybourne and one at Row Heath (West Runton). I sometimes gen det paler examples of this species, especially during periods of migration, to check for the feasible but not yet British (?) Noctua tirrenica, but no luck yet.
Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 23rd June 2020
Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 18th July 2020
female Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing, North Elmham, 31st July 2020
Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 7th August 2020
Lunar Yellow Underwing Noctua orbona - None. In Norfolk this species is mostly found in the Brecks and I've not found it locally, but there are records all over the county including some less than a mile away so I should catch one here one day. One very promising candidate at the meadows in 2019 turned out to be a very small Large Yellow Underwing when I managed to examine its hindwings.
Lesser Yellow Underwing Noctua comes - Totals of 134 in the garden between 23rd June (my earliest ever) and 25th October 2019 and 148 between 2nd July and 18th October 2020 - 150 a year is average. Elsewhere one next door, 6 at the meadows (over 5 nights), one at Swanton Great Wood, one at Row Heath (West Runton) and 3 in Cornwall.
Lesser Yellow Underwing, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 4th August 2019
Least Yellow Underwing Noctua interjecta - 2019 was my best ever year for this not-quite-annual species here with 10 between 22nd July and 6th August, but in 2020 I caught just one, on 7th August. Also one next door on 7th August 2019.
Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing Noctua janthe - At least 42 caught in the garden between 23rd July and 4th September, but with 7 nights not counted the actual total may have been a little higher. If not my worst year ever then nearly so. A little better in 2020 with 83 between 26th July and 6th September, but still well under the average annual tally of 125. Elsewhere recorded on all 4 nights next door, 11 at the meadows, 2 at Whitwell Street, 6 at Swanton Great Wood and 3 at Row Heath (West Runton). Chris Lewis suggests a useful pick feature when looking for candidates for Langmaid's Yellow Underwing, namely that on Langmaid's the underside of the forewing costa (easily viewed with the moth in a pot) is darker proximal to the postmedian line and not usually on Lesser Broad-bordered. After reading this I checked as many as I could for this feature in 2020 and found quite a few specimens with this character to a lesser or greater extent. Unfortunately they all proved to be Lesser Broad-bordered, but it could nevertheless be a useful way of narrowing down the field of individuals that need a good look at the fully open wings.
Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 26th July 2019
Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing, North Elmham, 13th August 2020
Great Brocade Eurois occulta - None. I've never seen this species but although it's rare in Norfolk records are pretty widespread so there's got to be a chance of finding one here one day.
Double Dart Graphiphora augur - None. I've only caught this species here in the garden on one occasion, in 2017.
Green Arches Anaplectoides prasina - One caught in Carsaig (Mull) on 12th June 2019; none in 2020. I've only ever caught one of these superb moths in my garden, in 2016.
Green Arches, Carsaig (Mull), 12th June 2019
Next page: more Noctuidae
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