March- so far.........

Well, what a contrast to last year's weather. The start of March really did seem to herald the start of the moffing season. At present I am 7 species in front of this time last year with a few notable absences still to get. I also managed to drop a battery powered trap off in Home Wood on the 14th, unfortunately I picked a less favourable night which is reflected in the list further down the post. Also a list for 16th- the best night of the year so far..........

Oak Beauty

NFY- 6th March, 3 recorded so far

Small Quaker

NFY 6th March

Grey Shoulder-knot

NFY- 3 caught 8th March and another 17th March.

Yellow Horned

NFY- 9th March, 2 caught so far.

Engrailed

NFY- 12th March, not recorded in 2013.

974 Argyrotaenia ljungiana

NFY- 12th March, 2 recorded so far. This is one of the most striking tortrix species and in VC30 at least, one of the commonest.

Home Wood

A little disappointing really. The 14th wasn't great by any means. A strong, cold westerly breeze blowing straight along the woodland rides seemed to have affected the catch.

Shoulder Stripe

Only one caught. Also surprisingly no Dotted Border, a moth that in previous years has been extremely common.

Home Wood- 14-03- Battery powered Actinic/BLB Skinner- 19 of 8 species-

0663  Diurnea fagella  1- NFY

1663  March Moth (Alsophila aescularia)  2

1746  Shoulder Stripe (Anticlea badiata)  1- NFY

1947  Engrailed (Ectropis bistortata)  1

2182  Small Quaker (Orthosia cruda)  6

2188  Clouded Drab (Orthosia incerta)  2

2190  Hebrew Character (Orthosia gothica)  2

2258  Chestnut (Conistra vaccinii)  4

Back in the garden

Twin-spotted Quaker

NFY- 15th March, 2 caught so far

 Early Thorn

NFY- 16th March, 2 records so far.

 Oak Nycteolene

NFY- 16th March. An incredible 3 recorded in one night. Only the 5th, 6th and 7th garden records.

 Pine Beauty

 NFY- 16th March, 2 recorded so far.

Upper Caldecote garden- 16-03-2014- 3 traps- 69 of 13 species

0688  Agonopterix heracliana  1

0998  Light Brown Apple Moth (Epiphyas postvittana)  1- NFY

1524  Emmelina monodactyla  3

1663  March Moth (Alsophila aescularia)  3

1862  Double-striped Pug (Gymnoscelis rufifasciata)  1- NFY

1917  Early Thorn (Selenia dentaria)  1- NFY

2179  Pine Beauty (Panolis flammea)  1- NFY

2187  Common Quaker (Orthosia cerasi)  30

2188  Clouded Drab (Orthosia incerta)  10

2190  Hebrew Character (Orthosia gothica)  11

2243  Early Grey (Xylocampa areola)  3

2258  Chestnut (Conistra vaccinii)  1

2423  Oak Nycteoline (Nycteola revayana)  3- NFY

Early Spring Highlights in the garden

Early Grey

NFY, 14th April

Satellite

NFY, 15th April

Early Thorn

NFY, 15th April

Pale Pinion

Only my 3rd record and the 1st in Spring. Not seen in 2012, NFY 17th April

Oak Beauty

NFY, 19th April

 Mystery Micro?

This was found on the outside of a window during the afternoon. It is probably 483 Epermenia chaerophyllella. But I've retained it as it's quite worn.

OB- 11/03

Always nice to see. Yellow Horned, Shoulder-stripe and Twin-spotted Quaker next (hopefully).

Oak Beauty

Upper Caldecote Garden- 11-03-2012- 25 of 9 species-

1524	Emmelina monodactyla		1
1663	Alsophila aescularia	March Moth	1
1930	Biston strataria	Oak Beauty	1	NFY
2182	Orthosia cruda	Small Quaker	6
2187	Orthosia cerasi	Common Quaker	8
2188	Orthosia incerta	Clouded Drab	2
2190	Orthosia gothica	Hebrew Character	2
2243	Xylocampa areola	Early Grey	3
2256	Eupsilia transversa	Satellite	1

10th & 11th

The warm but breezy conditions continue. It was 9°C as night was falling on both nights so the count on a still evening could have been huge. I have decided now to use the 25w BLB bulb along with the skinner every time I trap as I am already 11 species up on this time last year.

Oak Beauty

2nd Record on 10th March for this fantastic moth.



Emmelina monodactyla (1524)

A year tick- 10th March.

Common Quaker

Still top of the shop with another 19 over the 2 days- 65 in total.

Red Chestnut

Annoyingly after a reccy on 11th March, I found a Red Chestnut under the BLB bulb on the shed. I went back to get a pot and it had gone! Here is the only one I have ever caught, 16th April 2010.

10/03-

• Common Quaker- 7
• Oak Beauty- 1
• Hebrew Character- 1
• Emmelina monodactyla- 1- Year Tick

11/03-

• Common Quaker- 12
• Hebrew Character- 5
• Clouded Drab- 2
• Agonopterix heracliana- 4
• Red Chestnut- 1- Year Tick

I have now caught 147 moths of 22 species. (18 macro, 4 micro)

Garden catch up...........

Well, hasn't it been tropical lately compared to the bleak Winter of discontent we've all just endured? After a week as busy as this, it reminds me I need to win the lottery so that I can concentrate on important things such as birding and mothing full time! Anyway, I've got round to putting in a few highlights taken from the last 4 nights.

Dotted Border

1st caught 21st Feb- 3 caught so far

Hebrew Character

1st caught 22nd Feb- 10 caught so far.

 Early Grey

1st caught on 24th Feb- 1 caught so far. 

 March Moth

1st caught 24th Feb- 1 caught so far.

 Small Quaker

1st caught 24th Feb- 4 caught so far.

 Oak Beauty

1st caught 25th Feb- 1 caught so far.

 Engrailed spp.

My only Winter/Spring record- caught 25th Feb.

 Grey Shoulder-knot

My only Winter/Spring record- caught 25th Feb.

Other significant counts so far-

• Common Quaker- 38
• A. heracliana- 11
• Dark Chestnut- 4
• Clouded Drab- 2

Best so far.....28/03

Oak Beauty

I never get tired of seeing these, This one was on the outside of the trap this morning. It was a good count for me with 31 of 8 species. The rest of the count is as follows-

1. Common Quaker- 12
2. Clouded Drab- 7
3. Hebrew Character- 6
4. Dotted Border- 2
5. Early Grey- 1
6. Small Quaker- 1
7. Oak Beauty- 1 Second Record
8. Agonopteric heracliana- 1

What a Beauty!.........16/03

Well, the last couple of nights have certainly been worth putting the trap out. A light Southerly wind of 7mph and a temperature of 5+°C most of the night. So I was over the moon to find this Oak Beauty in the bottom of the trap this morning. The list is as follows-

1. Oak Beauty- 1
2. Common Quaker- 2
3. Clouded Drab- 1
4. Dotted Border- 1
5. Hebrew Character- 1
6. Emmelina Monodactyla- 1

The 30w twin trap seems to be performing well in a sheltered area near the house in the back garden.