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
