Littlehampton moths 7 July 2025

FB has been removing my daily moth posts from Sussex Moth group since 6 July, presumably due to its algorithms. There seems to be no way to talk to FB about the problem so I am going to post here and copy to FB. Another member of my group is having the same problem. Perhaps it doesn't like scientific names!

7 July moths in Littlehampton - 26 moth species: Bright-line Brown-eye 2, Buff Ermine 2, Buff-tip, Chocolate-tip being attacked by Zebra Jumping Spider, Coleophora species, Common Footman 2, Common Rustic agg., Dewick's Plusia, Diamond-back Moth, Dusky Shallow, Early Thorn (new), Garden Grass-veneer, Least Carpet, Lime-speck Pug, Long-legged Tabby 4, Marsh Dowd, Dingy Dowd, Rush Veneer, Willow Ermine many, Dark arches, Rosy Tabby 4, Shuttle-shaped Dart, Silver Y, White-line Dart, Yellow Underwing, Noctua janthina or janthe 2. plus Harlequin Ladybirds 3, Mirid Bug (Phytocoris varipes).

Dewick's Plusia, Macdunnoughia confusa

Dusky Sallow, Eremobia ochroleuca 

Early Thorn, Selenia dentaria

Early Thorn, Selenia dentaria

Chocolate-tip, Clostera curtula with Zebra Jumping Spider, Salticus scenicus

Saxon Sceat

 

Sceat Series J, type 37

This is an article I submitted to Searcher Magazine for the May 2025 edition:-

Over the years I have sometimes come away from a Mid Week Searchers dig in Hampshire with nothing interesting but have always been delighted to see other people's wonderful finds. February 27th was my day! Having found 4 musket balls, a Rose farthing and a decorated button in the morning fields, I had some lunch and made my way to a new field. Once again it was easy detecting and digging but not many targets. Then something amazing happened and I can't even remember what the signal was like! All I know is that it was diggable and when isolated in the soil the target looked like a small hammered farthing. After a water squirt and gentle brush I realised I had something exceptional! Using the Google lens app I saw lots of sceats with "Two diademed busts, facing each other" but couldn't see a similar reverse. I realised I would have to open my "Sceatta List" by Tony Abramson when I got home.I took the obligatory photos and posted them on the club page, then saved the What3Words location for PAS. I deliberately did not look at the comments as I knew people would identify it for me, but I wanted the fun of doing it myself before seeing the verifications. It was a pleasure to show the sceat to everyone who wanted to see it. My buddy Jim took some "grinning me" photos - he has appeared in Searcher himself with some great finds on MWS digs - we go regularly on Thursdays and Saturdays. The Sceat is a Series J type 37 c.710-725AD (PAS no: SUR-55C001). There are other Sceats which have two opposing heads but no authority has identified the significance of these in the Dark Ages. There are also reverses with 4 stylised birds going in the opposite direction to mine. That Thursday is a day I will never forget! 

British Museum database: https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/1206685

Fitwilliam Museum database: https://emc.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/full-record/20250061

Clifden Nonpareil aka Blue Underwing returns

 

Clifden Nonpareil aka Blue Underwing

This morning I had the magical experience of finding a Clifden Nonpareil aka Blue Underwing in my moth trap. What a stunner! Strangely in 2 previous years I have had one at the same time of year: 30 Aug 2018 and 31 Aug 2019

Clifden Nonpareil on Nemesia after release