As is typical with the first moth event of the new season, there is always lots of enthusiasm to dust off the traps and get out in the field with the hope of a good start. With 7 people attending and 7 lights running, we eagerly waited for the moths to come in and discussed whether our target for the night Caloptilia hemidactylella would make an appearance. With a cool breeze blowing down some of the rides moth numbers were not great in those traps exposed to it but at least the other traps just off the rides did better, well, better for Brindled pugs and Eriocrania subpurpurellas anyway! With moths trickling in we were kept just about occupied and decided to pack up when numbers dropped off with 22sp on my list. Moths seen included all the usual commoner Orthosias but also Early thorn, Purple thorn (a few of each), Frosted green (again a few), Water carpet, Lunar marbled brown, Scorched carpet, Engrailed, Brindled beauty (an early flying one, these don’t normally come in till late at night), Streamer, Oak-tree pug, Pebble prominent and a Plutella xylostella. None of our target moth were seen, but, given the cool conditions with not that many micros coming in not a surprise I suppose. Best sighting of the night was whilst clearing up, when a female Great crested newt was found crawling across the track at the top end of the wood. Overall the moth night felt like an event running in April more than early May! Still, nice to get out and see some moths and hopefully things will improve as the weeks progress.
Neil