Is this a ‘Normal’ Spring at last?

The last few nights have been pretty good for the garden MV. Best night for numbers was 30th March, but most interesting was last night (31st) which produced a blossom underwing and a diamond-back. Looking back at my 2016 records there were a few migrants around at this time (dark sword-grass et al) but nothing so exalted as the blossom underwing, and other moth numbers were well down then. It’s good to see ‘normal’ numbers of quakers this year (4 powdered quakers last night etc) plus 6 early thorn, a couple of red chestnut, streamer, shoulder-stripe etc . The only anticipated species that haven’t put in an appearance here this year are grey shoulder-knot and lead-coloured drab (I have a lot of aspen, but I’ve only seen the moth a few times). I think it’s an early season for some species too – I had a pale prominent on 30th which is three weeks earlier than my earliest previous record.

Tony H.

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