Suffolk Moths Blog

Like others I too ran traps last night, up in the work-shed woods. A good count of 16sp noted, but no moth was what I would class as abundant in the traps, commonest was March moth with 14 caught. Orthosias still not really in the kind of numbers I would expect at this site yet. New for year records included Engrailed (1) and Amblyptilia acanthadactyla (1). Small brindled beauty still being trapped but in low numbers for here, 8 noted. 6 Yellow horned and 5 Oak beauty added a bit of colour to the trap contents.
Also saw my first Orange underwing for the year flying around Birch in the warm sunshine just after lunchtime.

Neil

Four moth additions graced the Bawdsey Hall traps this morning.  A single Lead-coloured Drab was trapped amongst the commoner orthosias – this being new for the Hall.   It has been some years since I obtained the moth at nearby Bawdsey Manor.   Numbers of orthosias are now building and included the first Small Quaker of the year.

Like Brian, I also noted the my first Engrailed and a Red Chestnut was the other addition.

An unusual moth to find flying about in our conservatory this morning was Esperia sulphurella. First time I’ve ever seen it in March.

Brian

My first go this year, with two mv placed. An Agonopterix alstromeriana was seen at a lit window early in the evening. 7 species to the traps; Most common of the few moths caught in quantitive order were Common Quaker, Clouded Drab, Small Quaker, Oak Beauty 3, March Moth 2, Singles of Hebrew Character, Early Grey.

Ran my traps again last night as the breeze was not as strong as forecasted and despite it being clear with a strong moon turned up the biggest catch of the year so far, mainly owing to Common Quaker. 16 species 90 moths.

Turned up the first Small Quakers (2) for this year plus a Double-striped pug, an Emmelina monodactyla, a Diurnea fagella and an Acleris kochiella which is the fourth specimen of this species taken in my garden, looks to be well established.

The only new moth in this evenings catch was Engrailed. It was the most abundant moth with 14 recorded with the 40w actinic in an hour, all very fresh probably most emerged in today’s warm temperatures. Yellow Horned also continuing to show well, whereas Small Quaker is still conspicuous by its absence on all my sites.

Brian

I had these Drabs in the trap this morning, but just wanted to check that they were all Clouded. Be grateful for confirmation please.

Full scores were Oak Beauty (1), Common Quaker (23), Clouded Drab (5) – unless I am told differently, Twin-spotted Quaker (2), Small Quaker (3), Early Grey, Early Moth.

It is fascinating to read how catches vary across the country on Twitter – I find it a very useful media for sharing and learning from like-minded folk and would recommend it. One Surrey trap had over 90 Small Quaker last night.

Finally, I have just discovered that the wooden coffee-stirrers you get with a takeaway cup make for excellent tools in wheedling moths out of tight spots in the trap. Superior to the standard HB pencil!

My parents arrived home at Rendham this evening after a visitation to my home in Hollesley.  A light was left on in their utility room whilst unloading the car and a Small Magpie flew in and landed on the ceiling!  My Dad obtained a photograph which was duly emailed to me.

On checking my Mapmate program, I have recorded Small Magpie on 428 occasions between the dates of 9 May and 13 September; although never before in March! 

I would be most interested to hear of any other unseasonal moths during this period of unusually warm spring weather.

Having had a break from moth-trapping at Stanny Farm, Iken, in 2013 I am back operating again, on a regular basis, with grateful assistance by my good friend Mr Clive Moore. 

Three 125W MV traps were operated on the night of 8 March with eleven species recorded: Agonopterix alstromeriana and heracliana; March Moth, Dotted Border, Oak Beauty, Early Grey, Clouded Drab, Hebrew Character, Common Quaker (most abundant moth species with 23 noted), Chestnut and Satellite.

This is the first early-season trapping undertaken at this fantastic location due to the very cold springs of 2012 and 2013; so many of these records will be new to the site.

Like others, numbers now starting to pick up in the traps here, although I’ve not operated the traps as much as I would have liked due to time constraints. First Orthosias now recorded with 22 Common quaker, a few Hebrew character and Clouded drab but only a single Small quaker, normally the commonest species here, all on the 6th. The 6 Yellow horned were also new for the year. No Spring usher or Pale brindled beauty so they could now be over. I’ve not had Early moth this year and maybe won’t get it now.
Had the first Diurnea fagella as well that night but not in the traps but on the kitchen window.

Neil

To add to the above, ran 2 traps in the garden again last night (8th), pretty similar numbers of the commoner species to the previous trapping attempt but a few new for the year sightings – Pine beauty, Oak nycteoline (f. ramosana, not a type I’ve seen very much of) and E.monodactyla. Best species count for the year so far with 12 seen. More moths in the twin actinic than the MV last night however for unknown reasons.