3rd: No more butterfly sightings, getting too cold for them I think, well at least here on Co Down coast, only moths around now. Last sighting was in Greyabbey, Co Down, Northern Ireland of a single Red Admiral (Vanessa Atlanta) that my dad saw flying down the road today. If there are any butterflies, they will probably be hibernating around now.

7th: Put 6 Watt Heath trap in forest near my house in Mounstewart Co Down, Northern Ireland (J559699).It was about 4c and frosty during night and only got a Chestnut (Conistra vaccinii) and a Yellow-Line Quaker (Agrochola macilenta). Surprised to find anything really.

9th: Put trap out last night in Mounstewart Co Down, Northern Ireland (J559699).It was about 3C and didn't catch anything. Was not really surprised. There was a half moon (think it was half) shining down too, but I don't think it did anything, not where I put trap, under a tree.

12th: Weather around 8C and starting to rain when I put my trap out night before. I put my trap under a tree, in amongst some trees near my house in Mounstewart Co Down, Northern Ireland (J559699). This was before the rain started and already then it was feeling windy, but not frosty as last few nights was. I am also hoping for December Moth, but so far all I saw coming to trap was loads of some sort of mosquito like insects. Have not seen any new moths in ages, nor seen that many lately. Just thought tonight would be the last chance before the rain sets in. Despite rain I got:

1 Chestnut (Conistra vaccinii)
2 Epirrita Sp
1 Tortrix I need Identified.

14th: Put my 6 watt heath trap deep in the beech forest tonight in Mounstewart Co Down, Northern Ireland, had to walk about 15 minutes into forest to find the right location for it. Put it out about 8pm to see if December moths are around there and as soon as I turned it on, a male feathered thorn flew into it. So far so good. Hope more comes.

15th: Checked my 6 Watt heath trap and found not a lot but I did find:

2 Caddisflies
1 Female Feathered Thorn (Colotois pennaria)
2 Chestnut (Conistra vacciniiI)

19th: Put my 6 Watt Heath trap out again tonight in Mounstewart Co Down, Northern Ireland (J557730). Its raining slightly, but weather is about 14C. Supposed to be dry tomorrow, so hoping something appears in trap. Although I placed it on one side of a large oak tree. I put it on top of a tallish tree stump right beside the oak tree and just hope it stays up there. I put a rock in bottom of trap to keep it from falling of, and put the battery in the fallen part of the tree to stop it getting wet much. The trap is quite visible from one side of the tree, from other side, you can't see it, but where you can, you can see it up to a few hundred yards away, even over a wall because of the height its at.

20th: Checked the heath trap and a few dozen flies came out, but I did find a new species to me, and a migrant too, a Dark-Sword Grass (Agrotis ipsilon) and also found a Silver-Y (Autographa gamma) Male.

22nd: Last night I put my trap out on a big roadside verge that leads into a forest in Mounstewart Co Down, Northern Ireland (J559699). Pine trees, wild strawberry, bramble, oak, sweet chestnut, various grasses and ivy all over the place, sycamore on other side of road, and holly (I think). Be interesting to see if this area turns up anything different.

Found a Winter Moth (Operophtera brumata) male on way back home from putting trap out the previous night, it fell on ground, got wet and I just about was able to free it and let it fly away. Winds very strong here though, but temperature is about 10C or so then. But I didn't get anything. Actually it was cold and windy when I went to get trap.

24th: Well put my trap out about 2am in the forest close to my house. Weather was about 7C and mild, no wind or frost. Didn't see any moths in trap, looked again and one December Moth male, first I have ever seen one, a nice find.

Still looking for Mottled Umber and more winter moths. Was looking for red-line quakers, but none so far. Also want Pale-Brindled Beauty, may be a bit early, but I saw one on 12th December in 2006, and someone found one recently, so I am hopeful, but leaning more towards end of the year for that one.

27th: Put 6 Watt Heath trap in forest near my house in Mounstewart Co Down, Northern Ireland (J559699). Its getting colder. The weather tonight is supposed to be mostly cloudy and from 7C down to -1C (44.6F to 30.2F) so who knows, I may turn up something, I may not. Being in trees, the trap is more sheltered from direct cold and wind.

I should have my 60 Watt custom Heath trap fully constructed soon, so I should have a bit better luck at finding anything flying, as it uses two 30 Watt actinic lights which would be quite a bit brighter than my 6 Watt Heath traps and I bought a very large clear plastic storage box for base. Maybe I'll attract the Winter Moths (Operophtera brumata) I am looking for as in some locations, people are recording larger amounts of them around. Someone on www.back-garden-moths.co.uk said he went into forest and looked with flash light and saw 117 Winter Moths with 8 mating pairs. I tried this in my local forest, nothing doing, possibly too cold when I looked.

28th: Checked my trap and nothing was in it, probably two cold. I do have a few upcoming things I have to do, plus weather is not great, so probably no trapping for a few days, if weather gets milder or at least dry, I will maybe trap again.

Page last edited: 29/11/2009 17:36