My first night out alone, armed with four traps I went to a sheltered location on the edge of Scale Marsh at St. Olaves. Access in the past has been an issue but is now very good. With two lights set out in mature oak woodland one out on the marsh and one on the border. 21 species in total were taken, if counting the purple mottled Eriocraniidae sp. Infact did well with micros with 10 species including Acleris hastiana , A. ferrugana/notana, Caloptilia betulicola, Ypsolpha ustella, Agonpterix heracliana, A. alstromeriana, E. immundana a handful of T. alternella. Diurnea fagella, in many forms, came second in number to Common Quaker with other macros being Yellow Horned, Small Quaker,Hebrew Character,Clouded Drab, Chestnut,Satellite, Oak and Pine Beauty,10 Brindled Pug, Engrailed.
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Well done Keith. I am having similar good numbers down here in Cornwall, but micros are very scarce apart from D. Flagella. Early Thorn seems to be the most common species in this particular area with Water Carpet and Oak Beauty not far behind. Others I have trapped apart from the usual Orthosias are Early Tooth-striped, Red-green Carpet, Yellow-barred Brindle reflecting the slightly earlier season here. The only other micro so far was T. alternella, in the same trap as Yellow-barred Brindle. A February moth and a May moth in same trap, shows how upside-down the season is. I have not seen a single Clouded Drab, seems to be an uncommon moth in this area.
Brian
Brian