Not much to shout about really in the moth traps I’ve run recently. Still feels a bit on the cool side. Quite often I’ve put a trap on at dusk in seemingly good conditions only for it to rain or the wind to start blowing shortly afterwards!
This was exactly what happened last night, again. Still a few moths came in – 9sp in all. Of minor interest were the 25 Yellow horned present, rest the usual mix of low numbers of Orthosias and Chestnut etc.
I’m guessing by the lack of reports on this blog others are struggling also. With more cool conditions being talked about for the future it’s not looking that promising a start to the year.
Neil
Very poor year so far but the 22nd was the best, I would say, the only, catch so far that was worth while. 14 species. 23rd has now seen better total numbers. Only routine common species so far though. We shall have to see what the weather holds but the fore-cast is poor.
Ran trap for the first time this year last night = 37 moths of 7 sp’. Common Quaker most abundant with a few each of Small and Twin-spot Quaker + Hbw Character. Also single D. fagella and, a very small tort which I think is Acleris schalleriana. Seems to match some images on the web + flight period ties in. Will try and get a photo as would be new to the site if confirmed.
I managed to get out to 4 of my sites (all different) this past week. Best evening was 22nd with 13 species and over 100 moths recorded between 7.30 & 10.00 pm with March Moth still the most abundant species (25). Two of the sites are river valley woodland and consequently cold at this time of year. So even the site I was on this evening I still had several Dotted Border in the catch. Yellow Horned is at its peak at the moment with over 50 recorded which is going to be my highest year total with possibly more to come. Generally then, on my sites everything is about 2 weeks behind what it was at this time last year. Haven’t yet seen any D.fagella, Frosted Green, Early Grey or postvittana, just one Engrailed and one Shoulder Stripe and no sign of any first generation Balsam Carpet which I recorded in late March last year. As others have said, no signs of improvement.
The garden is a dead loss at the moment with just one Common Quaker my total for the year so far!
Brian