I’ve noted more earliest ever sightings for my site recently going on with what others have been finding. I had a Chocolate-tip on the night of the 2nd, with a Tawny barred angle last night, previous earliest for this species was the 24th April. Other things of interest seen the last 2 nights have included the following year firsts: Red chestnut, Red-green carpet (both nights), Brindled beauty and Pammene argyrana. Good count of 43 Brindled pugs caught on 2nd (in 2 traps). Orthosia numbers now seem to be on the wane here with Small quaker not even really getting going!
Neil
It’s certainly been far more interesting than last year’s “Spring” when I didn’t catch an Orthosia until 8 April. In the last week I’ve had Mullein (30 March), Scorched Carpet (1 April), Muslin (2 April) and Flame Shoulder (3 April). Scarcities have included Pale Pinion, Caloptilia hemidactylella, Caloptilia populetorum, Red-green Carpet (four on 3 April), Acrolepiopsis assectella and Depressaria chaerophylli (two on 3 April).
Very interested to note your Depressaria chaerophylli since I have also taken two, one on the 2nd one on the 3rd. Looking at their Suffolk distribution and recent easterly winds I wonder if the Suffolk records are immigrants. Pale Pinion seems to be a regular in this part of the world.