Another mothing window last night, so 2 traps out again in the woods. Surprised to find the contents pretty similar to last time with the catch dominated by March moth (88) and not a lot else. Numbers of Small brindled beauty were higher with 8 seen. No Pale brindled beauty or Spring usher so they are probably over at this site now. Strange that no Orthosias appeared or any other new species for the year, should be more springtime species coming out now surely? Maybe we need a few sequential warm nights to get things going?
Neil
I ran one MV and my compact actinic at home and took 2 MVs out to Tangham. Orthosia gothica and cerasi at home also an Early Grey and Chestnut. No Orthosia at Tangham but 10 Satellites. Dotted Border, Pale Brindled Beauty and March moth at both sites. Acleris logiana at both, one Acleris ferrugana at home and 9 at Tangham where both ferrugana and notana occur. Seven Acleris hyemana and one Tortricodes alternella at Tangham. Three Agonopterix species; alstromeriana and heracliana at home and umbellana at Tangham. Quite a good selection of spring micros which also included Ypsolopha ustella and Emmelina monodactyla at home. Felt it was a satisfying catch.
I was also very surprised that the previous evening (4th) which felt cold with a frost at dawn and was clear with a full moon showed Dotted Borders and Agonopterix at my windows.
Here in Valley Road, Ipswich it’s rarely worth trapping at this time of the year until temperatures improve but I did leave my MV out last night. Only seven moths caught but a different composition to Neil – 2 each of Grey Shoulder-knot and Amblyptilia acanthadactyla and singles of Dotted Border, Common Quaker and Agonopterix arenella.
Stuart
I’m also in Ipswich Stuart and I agree that things are always slow to start here, but although numbers might be low you just never know what will turn up. As well as a few Hebrew Character, Common Quaker, March Moth and an Early Grey a nice Acleris cristana appeared on the 5th and an Agonopterix scopariella on the 4th. The latter was both new to the site (I know Neil gets it at IGC) and a new species for me.
Paul
I trapped Thursday & Saturday evening (local woods). Thursday was the best night with the cloud cover. Still lots of Pale Brindled Beauty up here on the Norfolk/Suffolk Border. March Moth & T. alternella very abundant at the moment and at last several Satellite and the first few Common Quaker. Usually had a few Yellow Horned by now with the abundance of birch in this area but not seen one yet. Only other micro of interest was Acleris logiana last night.
Brian
Added, Twin-spotted Quaker, Red Chestnut and Agonopterix propinquella to the year at home last night. Putting everyone’s catches together it feels like we have the full start to spring moths.
First Yellow horned here today at IGC.
Yes I had a couple of Yellow Horned Sunday evening in between when the rain stopped and an hour later when the skies cleared and the temp.plummeted to 3.5 deg. Just a brief window, enough to record 10 species which included Oak Beauty, Clouded Drab and Hebrew Character, all new for the year for me. Catch also included Spring Usher & Pale Brindled Beauty, possibly another indication that things are a little later here in the Waveney Valley to the sites around Ipswich.
Brian