Moth Sightings 2012 - BC Upper Thames Branch

Species List 2012

Moth Stats

What's Flying Tonight

Difficult Moths

Sightings Archive

This page is for recent moth sightings in the BC Upper Thames Branch area, to show what's on the wing now. The first reported sighting of each moth species (any of its life stages: egg, caterpillar, pupa, adult) is in red text. Please also remember to send all your records to the appropriate County Moth Recorder: Martin Harvey (Berks), Martin Albertini (Bucks) or Martin Townsend (Oxon). The County Moth Recorders and Peter Hall, Bucks Moth Officer, are able to assist with identification of moths.
Email your sightings

MOTH SPECIES RECORDED TO DATE – AS AT 04/02/12
(No target is being set this year as we reached such a high count in 2011 - 1,041 to date.
909 were recorded in 2010, 811 in 2009 and 766 in 2008.)
20

Early Thorn Photo © Mick A'Court	Adela fibulella Photo © Andy King	Wood Tiger Photo © Michael Taylor

Latest News & Updates - 4th February

Sunday 12th February: There are Conservation Work Parties at
Holtspur Bottom and also Aston Upthorpe.
Please come and help if you can.

08/01/12 - The sightings page for 2011 has been archived to make way for the 2012 sightings. However, as Peter Hall is still working hard to identify micros trapped earlier in the year, and in order to get a complete picture of the total number of moth species reported to the UTB website in 2011, I will continue to update the archived page until the end of February. Wendy

Whitecross Green Wood: This autumn BBOWT are continuing essential tree work to remove conifers and open up the rides. The reserve will be closed on 13th October 2011 for three months. Look out for signs at the entrance and information on BBOWT's website.

~ Saturday 4th February 2012 ~

Chris Bottrell reported the following on 30th January: "At last a moth! Despite 7 previous sessions in the back garden here in Merton (Oxon) my first moth for 2012, a Satellite on the evening of 28/1. Been cold and damp down here on the moor."

~ Saturday 28th January 2012 ~

Dave Maunder reported these sightings: "I found this batch of Vapourer moth eggs under a gravestone in Hartwell cemetery, Bucks (with accompanying 7-spot ladybird!) this afternoon, 28th Jan. Other moths seen around Aylesbury since my first new year report have been:- Pale Brindled Beauties (4, on 20th); Winter moths (4 - last one on 14th); Mottled Umber (1, on 25th) and possible Acleris ferrugana on 25th (awaiting verification from Peter hall). Hasn't seemed like good enough weather to try my garden trap yet!"

Dave Wilton sent this update: "Here at Westcott, Bucks Acleris schalleriana appeared at a lit window on the evening of 22nd January while Ypsolopha ustella came to the actinic trap on 24th January (this year's first addition to the all-time garden list - very nice!). Both were probably disturbed from hibernation during tidying-up in the garden. Another visit with a single MV light to Finemere Wood, Bucks for a few hours on 25th January produced a decent quantity of moths even if there was little variety. The catch comprised Tortricodes alternella (25), Winter Moth (2), Small Brindled Beauty (5), Pale Brindled Beauty (31), Spring Usher (316), Early Moth (2) & Chestnut (5). This is the first time that I've caught Small Brindled Beauty in January so it looks as though the ever earlier emergence trend for some species might be continuing this year."

Derek Brown sent the following from Beenham, Berks: "I had a very early Double-striped Pug indoors on 25th January (which may have entered via the cat-flap)."

~ Saturday 21st January 2012 ~

Dave Wilton reported the following: "While searching for flightless female moths during a trapping session in the Oakley Wood car-park at Bernwood Forest, Bucks on 10th January I found this Angle Shades caterpillar active about three feet up an oak trunk. The following night the garden trap at Westcott, Bucks produced my earliest ever Early Moth, while species trapped in Finemere Wood, Bucks on 20th January included Tortricodes alternella as well as Winter Moth, Pale Brindled Beauty, Spring Usher, Mottled Umber, Early Moth & Satellite."

Andy King was trimming the flowerheads off an old Lavender bush on 11th January and disturbed a hibernating Common Plume moth (Emmelina monodactyla) in his garden in Chorleywood, Bucks. "It was a bit grumpy about this and it was a while before I could get the attached photo."

Mary Elford sent the following report: "I decided to put my garden trap out on 10th January after a period of hibernation and was surprised to find this very early Early Grey here in Bampton, West Oxfordshire. Lots more delights to come, I hope!"

~ Tuesday 10th January 2012 ~

Ched George's first night of trapping in his garden in Radnage, Bucks produced the following: Spring Usher and Pale Brindled Beauty on 9th January.

~ Monday 9th January 2012 ~

9/1 - A new report from Andy King has been added to the 2011 Moth Sightings - click here.

Andy King sent the following report on 9th January: "My first moth for 2012 was Alucita hexadactyla (Six/Many/Twenty-plume Moth) which flew out from the logs I'd brought in for the fire in Chorleywood, Bucks."

Alastair Driver set his Robinson trap in his garden in Sonning, Berks on 6th January: "I was expecting my first moth of the year to appear at it soon afterwards, but in fact the solitary Winter Moth that did appear was beaten to the first of the year title by a healthy-looking specimen of Epiphyas postvittana (Light Brown Apple Moth) which flew out of the spinach from my nearby allotment that I was washing for dinner that evening."

Dave Wilton reported the following: "A trapping session at Finemere Wood, Bucks on 6th January got me started for the year, although just 15 moths in three hours was rather a poor showing for woodland at this time of year. Perhaps at 7C it was still a bit chilly for them, or maybe numbers had been decimated in the gale force winds of the previous few days. Species caught were Spring Usher, Mottled Umber, Satellite and Chestnut."

~ Sunday 8th January 2012 ~

This report came from Mick A'Court: "Saw my first moth of 2012 this morning (3rd January) in the shape of a Mottled Umber on the wall by the door of the College Lake visitors centre in Bucks."

Nigel Partridge's first moths of the year were: "New species for this year at Loosley Row, Bucks: Winter Moth 01-01-12, Endrosis sarcitrella 02-12-12."

Dave Maunder sent his first sightings of the new year: "My first three moths in Aylesbury, Bucks of 2012 were:- Brick moth (a very worn specimen!); Pale Brindled Beauty (1) and a Winter moth near Hartwell house. Good to find a few moths on a very mild first day of the year!"

Peter Hall started off the 2012 season with the following report: "At one second past midnight in my garden in Ballinger Common, Bucks: Mottled Umber (2); Pale Brindled Beauty (1), all at the study window. Also a Winter moth came to the window later on that night."

[Reports for January to December 2011 have been archived.]