Was very surprised and pleased to find a pristine Blossom underwing in the 30w twin actinic trap I ran in the garden overnight. Having missed out on the big invasion back in 1999, thought I might never get the chance to get this moth on the site list. So Mark was right in his assumption in his previous message.
A good night’s catch for me as well as the underwing, 19sp seen in the 2 traps. Other highlights Water carpet, Mompha sturnipennella, Calybites phasianipennella. Numbers of orthosias lower than earlier in the month with Common quaker still the most abundant with 27 caught. Small quaker in very low numbers with only 6 caught.
3 traps running tonight up in the woods, be interesting to see if more moths are noted there compared to what I got in the garden.
Congrats on the Blossom Underwing. I wouldn’t say no to one here so have the trap out just in case. The best I could manage last night were single Pine Beauty and Early Thorn. Also surprised to see two Pale Mottled Willows and a Chinese Character. These beat my previous earliest records for both species by a good two weeks (14 April 2003 for PMW and 16 April 2007 for CC).
Well done Neil on the Blossom Underwing and glad you have started the year with a new macro for your site.
An excellent addition to your Site List Neil and what a start to your Spring Mothing! (Thank you for your remarks on my Nut-tree Tussock and as you say, one or two more of us could get lucky with a ‘Blossom’!