Whitefield, Wiveliscombe - Min Temp 3 degrees

Nine moths of five species including, at last, a FFY to be excited about , a Puss Moth!

The 3 needing ID were: Early tooth-striped, Oak nycteoline and Zelleria hepariella.  I hadn't had any of them before.  But after the fun of 17 species yesterday it was back to normal this morning

Now I know where all the moths are - Combe St. Nicholas !! Still, a season's best here last night - 16 moths in total, 8 species. There were quite a few bats around, so I suspect there's a fair degree of predation going on.

FFY were a Herald and 2 Twenty-plume Moths. The latter have only been recorded here four times before in 8 years, so to get two on the same night is quite an event.  This is the earliest of my few records, by 3 months, although Sterling says they are single-brooded and found all year round.

At last...54 moths 16 species with 3 not yet ID'd...what joy!

Quite again, 2Hebrew Character,1 Early Grey, 1 Streamer and 1Dotted Chestnut.

Decided to persevere with the trap last night, despite clear conditions (which turned to mist later). I was delighted to get 40 moths, including Brindled Beauty, Hebrew Character (8), Shoulderstripe, Water Carpet (4), Clouded Drab, Early Grey (4), Twin-spotted Quaker (1) and several Common Quakers and a Satellite. I used a 15w actinic blacklight.

Whitefield, Wiveliscombe - Min Temp 5 degrees

What a dull April this has been moth-wise! Last night we had a FFY Double-striped Pug which is only the second FFY we have had in three weeks (the last was a Brindled Pug!). A Peacock butterfly has been flying in the garden on the last few days but we are still awaiting the arrival of our House Martins.

Almost didn't both putting trap out- it was so bright, but glad I did. FFG a Streamer, Oak Nycteoline-1, Brindled Beauty-1, Heb.Ch.-2, Early Grey-2, Com. Quaker-1, Cl.Drab-1.

A magnificent total of 8 moths of 6 species.  Where are they all ?  It was relatively mild with a faint drizzle when I put out the traps, so I was quite hopeful of getting a bigger haul than recently, but in vain.  The only FFY was a Shoulder Stripe. I have only had one record of these each year since 2009, having had quite a few in previous years (especially 2006) - another declining species ?

Yet another hapless White-shouldered House-moth founded drownded in the rainwater - when will they learn ? Good job they're common (at least at the moment), although the way they're going, they will soon be in need of protected species status !! Even putting the lid on doesn't seem to deter them - they sneak in somehow. Maybe a sheet of cling film will do the trick, but that would make life slightly less simple, I think.

3 Early Thorns, 2 on the wall, 1 in the trap, a Brindled Beauty, 2 Hebrew Characters and 3 Com. Quakers. Not a lot but at least some FFYs. Nothing in the water butt!

I have just acquired a new actinic tube, as the old one had died after about 10 years' service - quite good value for money I think.  It made little difference however - only 1 Early Grey in the trap !!  The MV trap did better, but not much - another Early Grey, 1 Hebrew Character and 1 Brindled Beauty. Still pretty dire for the time of year, although to be fair it was quite chilly last night. There were also 3 White-shouldered House-moths (Endrosia sarcitrella) in the rainwater butt - I do wish they wouldn't try swimming, they're clearly not very good at it.

I ran a photography workshop at Carymoor today. The staff put their Robinson trap out overnight for me; 12 moths in all. Diurnea fagella 1, Small Quaker 1, Powdered Quaker 3, Clouded Drab 4, Hebrew Character 3.

During the day we found 2 Angle Shades larvae, 1 Oak Eggar larva, one Light Brown Apple Moth and a pair of Agonopterix alstromeriana mating.


Agonopterix alstroemeriana paired - at first I mistook these for a bird dropping!

Trapped for GMS last night; t min 1˚C and just 5 moths.  Early Grey 1 (ffy), Clouded Drab 1, Hebrew Character 1.

I put some Sallow catkins in a jar yesterday and this evening there was an Early Grey nectaring on them.

Not so many moths last inight,Paul,just 9 and nothing new. Did have 28 Weds.night,and 58Tues.night including a Red Sword Grass again and ffy a pristine Shoulder Stripe. I saw my 1st Brimstone butterfly of the year too.

I had to pull up a small Ivy plant today and had just done so when a slight movement caught my eye and it was this moth. I saw my 1st one on the 8th when I had my moth trap out - it too was not easily moved; it settled on nearby vegetation and would not let go when I tried to persuade it into a pot!

NORTON SUB HAMDON

Very few moths here as well. The only moth of interest has been a Pale Pinion that I have not seen here for several years.
I did see my first white butterfly of the year a couple of days ago. It was hard to id as I was driving past at the time but it was probably a small white.

The moth drought continues - just 3 Common Quaker and 1 Small Quaker last night.

On Tuesday we had Brimstone and Peacock butterflies and three species of bumblebee in the garden - Early, White-tailed and Tree. Also a male solitary bee, Anthophora plumipes,nectaring on Lungwort.

At last some moths last night - 17 in all, including Early Grey, Clouded Drab, Common and Small Quakers and Early Thorn!

Yes Paul I believe spring has sprung.  Redwings here seen last Thursday, swallows appeared Sunday.  19 moths.  And a beetle, (photo ID'd by Andy Pym) Oncomera femorata

Whitefield, Wiveliscombe - Min temp 6 degrees

I nearly did not put the trap out on a very windy night but we had 23 moths of eleven species including FFY a Brindled Pug and a very late hibernated Grey Shoulder Knot.

I've just received a copy of the latest e-moth from Zoë Randle. If anyone would like a PDF copy I'm happy to supply this.

Two dates for your diaries:

NATIONAL MOTH NIGHTS - these will be 8th - 10th August and the theme is 'Tiger Moths' with a focus on Garden, Jersey and Ruby Tigers.

I will be away teaching in Shropshire so will be trapping there.

NATIONAL MOTH RECORDERS' MEETING 2014 will be on Saturday 25th January 2014 in Birmingham.

I have talked to Pete Grainger of Sedgemoor DC and have arranged a session at Apex Park on Thursday 16th May. It will be open to the public and I'll be giving a short talk and putting up displays about the Moth Group and about my photography.

If any Group member from the local area would like to bring a trap or traps along, preferably with generator, it will produce more records for the Group database and for Sedgemoor DC.

Details of the talk, how to find the site and start time to follow. The Park website is at:

www.burnham-on-sea.com/apex-leisure-park.shtml

I'm very jealous of your catches Pam - there are still only a very few moths around here so far.  My trap only produced 7 singletons last night, although they included FFY Brindled Beauty, Early Thorn and Agonopterix alstromeriana.  l live in hope of better things to come.

On the wider front however, it's all happening - the first Small Tortoiseshell, Swallows, & House Martins all flew through yesterday, and Toads were singing in the pond last night (about a month later than usual).  Chiffchaffs are around in small numbers, and also a lone Blackcap. We saw a mass eastbound flock of thousands of Starlings plus 3 late-departing Fieldfares a few days ago.  All presumably heading back to Scandinavia and eastern Europe.  Has Spring sprung ? It seems so.

I have at last managed to get up to date with macro moth records for 2012 (or at least those which have been sent to me) and submit them to BC.

Only one or two moths in the trap at the moment but yesterday I saw a Swallow and we had Brimstone and Peacock butterflies in the garden.

After 45moths the previous night,including an Engrailed ffy,last night i had 72moths, 12species.Ffy,3Pug ?Oak Tree ,and Frosted Green. Others i had seen previously, includes 20 Small Quaker,17 Common Quaker, 11 Hebrew Charactear, 9Twin Spot Quaker, and 7 Clouded Drab.

My first Orthosia of the year - a Hebrew Character seen by day today, resting in the bell of a daffodil flower.  As initially I could only see the dark brown wingtips it suffered the indignity of being mistaken for a bumblebee.

Disappointingly windy, so only 8 moths in total - the only FFY was a Depressaria daucella, the first recording since 2008.  An unusual moth, in that the larvae are more attractive than the adult, which is quite plain !!

The first moths recorded here for 5 weeks - mind you I've only tried trapping a couple of times (in vain), so that's not surprising.  3 Hebrew Characters, and singletons (all FFY as expected) Early Grey, Clouded Drab & Small Quaker. If it doesn't rain tonight, I may try again !!

Cool and clear for most of last night, T min 6˚C.

Common Quaker 2
Clouded Drab 1
Hebrew Character 3
Dotted Chestnut 1
Pale Pinion 1

A new species for here last night- first Red Sword-grass, also FFY Early Grey-1and Com.Quaker-2,Small Quaker-2,Clouded Drab-2,Heb.Ch-1,March-1. Still small numbers.

Whitefield, Wiveliscombe - Min temp 7 degrees

The best night of the year to date with 23 moths of eleven species including FFY - Water Carpet, Brindled Beauty and Diurnea fagella.

A Small Tortoiseshell in the garden this morning and 19 moths in the trap. Oak Beauty-2,Dotted Chestnut-1,March Moth-1, Hebrew Character-3, Clouded Drab-4,Common Quaker-5, Small Quaker-2 and a FFG, Agonopterix subpropinquella.

Whitefield, Wiveliscombe - Min Temp 3 degrees

Suddenly its Spring!  14 moths of 11 species including FFY Early Grey, Small Quaker, Twin-spotted Quaker, Shoulder-Stripe (3), Clouded Drab and unusually for us here a Dotted Chestnut.

Best night of the year here! 10species- 5 Oak Beauty 1Clouded Drab 2Hebrew Character 5Small Quaker 1 Pale Pinion 1 Pale Brindled Beauty 1-i don't recognise and last but not least a 1st for site- 1 Red Sword Grass.

First i have to admit it is actually results for two nights- i forgot to look yesterday. I am pleased to report how ever that all moths were alive and looked well! 9 Oak Beauty,2 Hebrew Character,2 Small Quaker and 1 Grey Shoulder Knot.

I will be leading a close-up photography workshop at the Carymoor Centre on Saturday 20th April and there are a few places still available.

Please note that this first workshop will be for DSLR cameras only and will run from 10.00 to 17.30hrs.  This course is limited to 12 persons and will be selected on a ‘first come-first served’ basis.

The practical course is designed to improve your camera techniques and field-craft skills.  The fee for the course will be £40 for BC members, £50 for those who are not BC members.

Anyone interested in joining this course should contact Alan Hold by 10thApril: alan.hold@btinternet.com

Two Common Quaker, two Hebrew Character and an Early Grey in the trap this morning.

Cold clear night, T min 1˚C, 1 Common Quaker

why did that date come up on the last entry instead of 5.3.2013?

-3c but had 7 Common quakers...biggest count this year.  Looking at forecast it could be the last really poor GMS night?

One lonely Small Quaker last night but did have 2Oak Beauty the previous night