Overnight conditions had looked very promising indeed for immigrant moth activity, with thunderstorms tracking quickly across the Channel soon after dusk. However, there was only a modest increase in numbers and a Scarce Light Plume Crombruggia laetus at the Grove was the sole notable rarity; the Obs tally of immigrants/dispersers consisted of just 14 Diamond-back Moth, 3 Cream-bordered Green Pea, 2 each of Cock's-head Bell Zeiraphera isertana and Small Mottled Willow and singles of European Corn-borer, Rusty-dot Pearl, Rush Veneer, Warted Knot-horn Arcobasis repandana and Buff Footman.
Scarce Light Plume - The Grove, 4th July 2015 © Martin Cade
With autumn passage beginning to get going we're looking forward to Nick Hopper being in residence as often as possible to carry on with his nocturnal sound recording project. Nick did give it a try early this last week and although 'proper' migrants were conspicuously absent he did log yet another Moorhen - we hesitate to deem this as unseasonable since Nick's work seems to be showing that any season's Moorhen season!
...and, from the same night, one for the Hazards and hindrances of the sound-recordist category - in this instance it was Bessie the Obs cat wandering up to say hello to the recording gear during the early hours: