Moths

 After a self enforced sojourn from mothing since early September last year, the weather was mild enough last night to expect more than a lone Pale brindled Beauty to enjoy in the morning.

Sure enough, I was pleased to find 40 guests in the trap comprising of 10 species. 

Taxa

Agonopterix heracliana/ciliella (Agonopterix heracliana agg.) 8

18.006 a moth (Rhigognostis incarnatella) 2

45.010 Beautiful Plume (Amblyptilia acanthadactyla) 1

70.103 Water Carpet (Lampropteryx suffumata) 2

70.245 March Moth (Alsophila aescularia) 3

70.247 Pale Brindled Beauty (Phigalia pilosaria) 1

70.251 Oak Beauty (Biston strataria) 6

70.255 Dotted Border (Agriopis marginaria) 1

73.242 Clouded Drab (Orthosia incerta) 1

73.244 Common Quaker (Orthosia cerasi) 2

73.249 Hebrew Character (Orthosia gothica) 16

Particularly pleasing were two Rhigognostis incarnatella, a rare species here. I've only had one record in 15 years of a single in October 2021, a first for VC68 at that time, so to find two side by side in the box this morning was incredible.

To prove two individuals, here they are in matching twin pots...

Oak Beauty

Early Grey

Clockwise from top left - Pale brindled Beauty, Water Carpet, Beautiful Plume and Common Quaker

Equinox.

 Out and about recently, its been cold but dry and, dont say it, breezy. Later this week we are due a warmer spell so I'm looking forward to that. Its Equinox today too, so there's more day than dark now. 

Yesterday we ventured to our inland area again hoping for a Gos, but drew another blank. I wonder if the damage caused by storm Arwen has anything to do with it? Massive areas of the upland pinewoods are now lying flat. We managed a few Crossbill families, Stonechat and a lot of Skylarks and Meadow Pipits back on territories but not much else. A short stop on route home brightened things up with our first Adder of the year. Just the one though.

 

A small stream corner was quite pleasant with lots of Chiffchaffs, a few tumbling male Lapwings, one showing the hen a scrape, singing Curlews, a mass of Frogs and Toads in the same pond and a scatter of Buff tailed Bumblebees on catkins.

The top wire of that old fence was electric and on. I got hold of it twice!

Lots of Frogs in that far damp margin with a few Toads out in more open water.

The full moon and frosts have kept the moth trap quiet but two Oak Beauties were suitably attired in furry clothing to brighten one morning. Lovely moths, scarce in my garden so always a pleasure to see.

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