Spring Moths...

What a winter this has been, we are well shot of it! After the 2015 Garden Moth Survey ended in November, I volunteered to continue through the winter for that survey too.

Well, no sooner did I do that than the weather turned. We had 10 storms, all with nice English human names such as Frank and Gertrude that covered the vast majority of the 12 week period. Even between the gales and torrential El Nino driven rain, we had cold clear nights that were useless for moths, so I decided to throw the towel in after week two and save some electricity.

March has been a great improvement with a few nice evenings to tempt out the typical early spring species. Long may it continue...

Oak Beauty, the first here since 2012.

Satellite

Dotted Border

Early Grey

In like a Lamb...

Early Grey

Last night was the first Friday for the Garden Moth Scheme Survey, that is held every Friday until November. As it was clear and frosty, I expected to draw a blank, but a single Early Grey was a pleasant surprise. I saw one or two geometers in the light too maybe Dotted Border but they'll wait for another day.

Our village Tawny Owls were very vocal last night. It sounded like two pairs squabbling in a row of pines in a neighbours garden. one of the calls was like the bubbling of a Black Grouse. I cant say I've heard it before...

Today is nice and sunny, warm in shelter, with a cool breeze. Not at all like the storms that are supposed to introduce March.

Bank Vole

Out near the bird table, a Bank Vole has taken up residence in the wall. A scattering of seed gets him out for a snack...and of course the local Robins are never far away. A pair are investigating the ivy behind the wall, so I'll be keeping a look out for nesting.

Robin

Oh and while in the garden this morning my first bumblebee of the year rocketed past and away over the back field...

Despite the cool evening ( down to 4 degrees) I tried the trap on after two nights off. Although the catch was less than the two previous sessions it was still ok with -

Agonopterix arenella 1 (new)
March Moth 1
Red Chestnut 1
Common Quaker 12
Clouded Drab 7
Hebrew Character 20
Early Grey 1

Total 43 of 7 species.

This is only my second garden Early Grey ( top right, I didnt take any pics but this is one of the first garden Early Grey from a couple of weeks back).

Bottom Left - Agonopterix arenella


Last night a pair of Brown Hares were grazing the back field in close proximity to each other from our kitchen window. Still no new migrants in though. I suppose there wont be any change until the wind swings away from NNE...