Better stamp of "scamps"

 In a recent email/comments box exchange, with my old mate Mark "Chiddy" Chidwick, I was told that the carp in Brook Lake were of a higher average weight than those in Jade where I had, previously, enjoyed so much success. Sure enough, I can confirm that Mark's information holds true and, indeed, there are larger fish in Brook Lake. I've just got back from my latest session having landed eight Carp in little over three hours. Great fun using the B. James & Son "Dick Walker" split cane Mk IV Avon in conjunction with my Allcock's Match Aerial centrepin, 5 lbs b.s. mono, size 12 Guru barbless hooks and Baker's "Small Dog" Meaty Meals for hook baits. Instead of the average fish being between 2 & 4 lbs, as in Jade Lake, the carp today were in the region of 6 lbs with a bonus visitor to the landing net which weighed in at 10 lbs 8 oz - so a "Barney Rubble" no less!

10 lbs 8 oz of incredibly hard fighting, Brook Lake, Common Carp

My ham-string is far less painful and, with luck, on Friday Benno will get the all clear from his medical team thus allowing us to embark upon a serious campaign in search of those enigmatic Kentish Stour Barbel. With this as the backdrop, all being well, I will get one more trip down to Minster before a resumption of the main project for Summer 2022?

Scarce Silver Lines - Bena bicolorana

So with all that out of the way, "what about the garden moths?" What I must say is that I'm totally indebted to Gavin Haig, over at NQS. His infectious enthusiasm for this aspect of natural history involvement has certainly rubbed off. I'm currently having a blast, looking at creatures I'd previously ignored. Micro moths are a wonderful distraction from the reality of present day life in the UK. Is nailing an id important? Not from where I view the situation although readily accepting that others will hold very different opinions. With temperatures not dropping below 66 F, last night, it came as no surprise that the MV trap contained twenty-three Elephant Hawk-moths, which is five more than the previous best haul. So much else to enjoy as the various egg trays were examined, yet, to counter this positive, there were plenty of individual insects which caused frustration in equal measure. Some photos!

Figure of Eighty - Tethea ocularis

Ear Moth - Amphipoea oculea

Maple Prominent - Ptilodon cucullina

Lunar - spotted Pinion - Cosmia pyralina

So far, all pretty mundane as, although not regular garden visitors, they are easily identified from the various reference sources that I use. These next few have been given an id but, not one that I'm 100% confident about.

Plum Fruit Moth - Grapholita funebrana

Mugwort Plume - Hellinsia lienigianus

Reed Veneer - Chilo phragmitella

This next bunch are causing me more issues than is healthy. Surely moths which are so well marked should be easy to find within all of the info available on the internet? To be perfectly honest, it's probably me being a complete dullard and the id's of all of these insects is very straightforward. Please, if you have any suggestions, feel free to point me in the right direction. I'm not proud, so I'll certainly acknowledge any assistance and say thank-you!

Striped Wainscot - Mythimna pudorina
My best guess!

Cloaked Minor - Mesoligia  furuncula

Oak Nycteoline - Nycteola revayana ramosana

Apple-leaf Skeletonizer - Choreutis pariana

The last three I don't have the first idea? Well I do now many thanks to Stewart Sexton for his generous contribution. How can moths with such prominent markings be that difficult to identify? I'm probably going to look a right twat once someone who knows what they're talking about sees this! Never mind, it's not like I'm unused to being called a "twat" having spent my entire working life in factory environments.