Some Moths during November

 Regarding suitable weather for moth trapping, November turned out to be a month of two halves. The first two weeks were mild and often sunny, with night-time temperatures holding up well. The second half of the month was much more changeable with wet and blustery conditions prevailing. 

Overall, a good selection of moths were attracted to the garden light.

Feathered Thorn (Colotois pennaria) (male)

Mottled Umber (Erannis defoliaria) (male)

The Epirrita species.

Separating the November Moth from the Pale November Moth can be tricky. However, I have been moth-trapping in my garden for nearly twenty-eight years and I have become familiar with the types of November Moths that I see. 

November Moth (Epirrita dilutata) (or Epirrita sp.) 

The majority of November Moths that I get are predominantly plain grey or grey-brown with very little barring on the wings.

Pale November Moth (Epirrita christyi) (or Epirrita sp.)

The lozenge shaped spot detached from the central cross bar on the forewing in this specimen, together with more defined wing barring, suggests to me that it may be christyi.

Turnip Moth (Agrotis segetum) (male)

Sprawler (Asteroscopus sphinx)

Grey Shoulder-knot (Lithophane ornitopus lactipennis)

Oak Rustic (Dryobota labecula)

This once rare migrant is now probably breeding in Sussex.

This is a first record for my garden.

Brick (Agrochola circellaris)

Udea ferrugalis (Rusty-dot Pearl)

A very common migrant.

Early November on Pevensey Levels

 During the last week of October it seemed that the butterfly season was coming to an end. I hadn't seen a Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus) since August and there had been no signs of an Autumn brood appearing on Pevensey Levels. 

However, the first two weeks of November were very mild, with some lovely sunny days and a few Clouded Yellows started to appear.

Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus) (female, form helice)

On 6th November, this was the only butterfly (of any species) that I saw, on a warm, sunny, still day.

On 8th November, on the same walk, I saw another five Clouded Yellows. These looked very fresh and consisted of  3 males and 2 females (including another helice). 

The weather is now about to turn much cooler and wet. I saw what will probably be my last Clouded Yellow of the year, a male, on 13th November.

The only butterfly that stopped for a photograph was a Red Admiral, basking about 15 feet up in an Oak tree.

Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) (female) (8th November)

There were still plenty of Common Darters about, including 3 mating pairs seen ovipositing and at rest.

Common Darter (Sympetrum striolatum) (mating) (8th November) 

Here are some images of fungi seen in the last couple of weeks.

Petticoat Mottlegill (Panaeolus papilionaceus)

Brown Mottlegill (Panaeolina foenisecii)

Peziza vesiculosa  (a species of cup fungus)

Some Moths during October

 Night-time weather conditions remained favourable for moth-trapping during October and although some expected species failed to appear, there was nonetheless a good variety of autumn species attracted to the garden.

Red-green Carpet (Chloroclysta siterata)

Common Marbled Carpet (Chloroclysta truncata)

Pine Carpet (Thera firmata)

Spruce Carpet (Thera britannica)

Cypress Carpet (Thera cupressata)

Autumnal Rustic (Eugnorisma glareosa)

White-point (Mythimna albipuncta)

Blair's Shoulder-knot (Lithophane leautieri hesperica)

Green-brindled Crescent (Allophyes oxyacanthae)

Merveille du Jour (Dichonia aprilina)

Chestnut (Conistra vaccinii)

Red-line Quaker (Agrochola lota)

Yellow-line Quaker (Agrochola macilenta)

Brown-spot Pinion (Agrochola litura)

Barred Sallow (Xanthia aurago)

Rush Veneer (Nomophila noctuella)

This micro-moth is a very common migrant.

Late Autumn on Pevensey Levels

 By the last week of October, the hoped-for autumn brood of Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus) had failed to appear and the butterfly season on Pevensey Levels seems to have come to an abrupt end.

There are still a few dragonflies about, with several Common Darters (Sympetrum striolatum) and Migrant Hawkers (Aeshna mixta) on the wing, including mating pairs of each species.

My attention is now turning to watching for winter bird arrivals. Also, species of fungi are popping up everywhere to provide moments of head-scratching.

Common Darter (Sympetrum striolatum) (male)

Common Crossbill (Loxia curvirostra) (male)

I occasionally hear small flocks of Crossbills passing overhead in the Weald and on Ashdown Forest but I came across this male drinking at a puddle on Pevensey Levels.

Honeysuckle (Lonicera periclymenum)

I was pleasantly surprised to find this honeysuckle in flower so late in the season.

When I happened upon this grey fungus which was staining the grass black with its spores, I briefly thought that it was a Magpie Inkcap but on checking my books at home, it didn't really match-up. A few days later I took the second image and the cracking-like markings on the cap in both images may indicate they might be an older and younger example of the same species?

(addendum)

 I am now certain that the species of fungus in the following images are; 

Petticoat Mottlegill (Panaeolus papilioaceus)