Another reasonable night with the highlights being my second Small Eggar of the year and my first Frosted Green since 2009. Other firsts for the year were Nut Tree Tussock, Brimstone and Powdered Quaker.
I also saw an early Orange Tip in the garden yesterday. I have about 20 Orange Tip pupae in my shed but none of them look close to emerging so it was a bit of a surprise to see one in the spring sunshine.

Irritatingly I brought the trap in at midnight because of the rain that was forecast but everywhere looked fairly dry in the morning. 19 moths of 9 species were recorded including only my second ever Acleris literana - they seem to be doing well locally according to James McGill. Other moths of note were my earliest Nut-tree Tussock, Depressaria radiella* and a Double-striped Pug all FFY. *Many thanks to James for confirming.

A better night with 16 spp and micros at last. FFYs Lunar Marbled Brown, Nut-tree Tussock, Grey Shoulder-knot, Agonopterix yeatiana, 20-plume, Caloptilia stigmatella, and a Diamond-back.

A slow improvement in numbers, but still not very exciting.  22 moths of 12 species, including FFY Pale Brindled Beauty, Powdered Quaker, Shoulder-stripe, Streamer, and Agonopterix alstromeriana(2).

FFG Scalloped Hazel

Thankyou to everyone who has sent in records. I have entered everything received into MapMate and am about to start verification checks before sending data to les Hill at BC, so that records can be incliuded in the new BC macro moth atlas to be published in 2018.

Apologies but it is now too late to include any more data in this submission.

If youstill have any unsubmitted data please send it after the end of April - it will appear on the SMG website maps!

It's not often that I get a new species nowadays with all the development and light pollution around my garden but on the morning of 29th a specimen of 1917.001 Ypsolopha mucronella was on the shed by the trap. Larval foodplant is Spindle.

1917.001 Ypsolopha mucronella.
Also this week two larvae crawling over the house wall; 1973.085 Marbled Green Nyctobrya muralis and 1972.036 Muslin Footman Nudaria mundana.

1973.085 Marbled Green Nyctobrya muralis larva

1972.036 Muslin Footman Nudaria mundana larva.
Both are lichen feeders, hiding in crevices during the daytime.

Whitefield, Wiveliscombe -

On a window at an actinic light FFY- a remarkably early V-Pug.

Whitefield, Wiveliscombe - 5 degrees

32 moths of 11 species including FFY - a Brindled Beauty.

A good night,with 155 moths of 25 species. FFY were E.monodactyla (1) ; Acleris literana(1) ; Red-green Carpet(1) ; Water Carpet(1) ; Double-striped Pug(2) ; Brindled Pug (6) ; a Probable Common Pug ; Dotted Chestnut(1) ; Powdered Quaker(1) ; Red Chestnut(4) ; Oak Nycteoline(1). Others included Ypsolopha mucronella(1) ; March Moth(6) ; Oak Beauty(8) ; Dotted Border(4) ; Early Grey(19) ; Grey Shoulder-knot(1) ; Clouded Drab(9) ; Common Quaker(36) ; Small Quaker(29) ; Hebrew Character(17) ; Twin-spotted Quaker(3).

I put the trap out last night, not expecting much, but was pleasantly surprised to record 25 moths of 8 species, a good total for me for late March. FFY were Grey Shoulder-knot (2nd record) and Early Tooth-striped (earliest record). Others were March Moth, Small Quaker (2), Common Quaker (2), Clouded Drab (2), Hebrew Character (6) and Early Grey (10, my second highest count).

Another good night with 204 moths of 12 species . One Dotted Chestnut was my only ffy . 147 Small Quaker . Yesterday 2 ffy , an Early Thorn and an Early Tooth - striped .

The good Spring numbers continued last night with 72 moths of 9 species despite cold, clear and blustery conditions. A Red Chestnut was my only first for the year. Already this is the third best March since I moved here in 2003. The 2 better years were 2011 and 2012 which both ended up as disappointing seasons. Let's hope this year is different and the promising numbers continue until the Autumn.

Not having trapped for a fortnight, I tried last night, hoping the nasty east wind would relent a bit, (but not TOO hopeful).  In the event there were 10 moths of 6 species, which was a pleasant surprise.  FFY were Herald, Early Grey and Clouded Drab(5).

Several Ectoedemia heringella mines at Thurlbear today. I have had my eyes on two Holm Oaks there for a couple of years now but this is the first time I have found the mines. Possibly the first record from VC5?

7 species and 274 moths last night . F F Y 1 Water Carpet .  1 March Moth , 1 Twin - spotted Quaker , 3 Clouded Drab , 15 Hebrew Character , 21 Common Quaker ad 232 Small Quaker which is having a good year here . Highest previous number was 140 on the 15 . 03 17 .

I found mines of Ectoedemia heringella on Holm Oak (Quercus ilex) today in Frome. Thank you Paul Wilkins for your help.

This morning I found 3 cases of Luffia ferchaultella at Sand Point. I believe this is the first record for this site.

Apologies for the delay in reporting on 14th and 15th March - my last trapping sessions in Berkley Marsh for a while having since returned to Middlesex. 14th March - 67 moths of 12 species, including 2 FFY, Dotted Chestnut (2) and Tawny Pinion (1), the latter being a first for me. 15th March - 104 moths of 10 species but disappointingly no FFY. Numbers were boosted by Hebrew Character (38) and Clouded Drab (37). Only 19 moths of 4 common noctuid species actually in the trap !!

The good numbers continued last night despite the conditions not being ideal. 84 macros from 13 species including an early Pale Mottled Willow and my first Small Eggar since 2010.
I have now recorded 24 macro species including 3 types I did not see last year. I had to wait until May 1st last year to get up to that number of species. In all of last March I only recorded a total of 86 Individuals of 9 different species. It wasn't until 4th June that I recorded as many as 84 moths in one night.

Whitefield, Wiveliscombe - Min Temp 9 degrees

21 moths of 8 species including FFY - a Mottled Grey. Our first since 2014.

Anyone is welcome to come to the next moth trapping at Shapwick Heath NNR on the 26th of this month. We will be meeting at the Avalon Marshes Centre at 6:30pm. It looks like the weather will be good!

Even with the windy conditions, my second trapping in the new garden on the outskirts of Frome was productive with a stunning Small Eggar being the highlight.

The small Heath actinic produced 18 moths of 7 species: Hebrew Character (3), Common Quaker (4), Small Quaker (2), Twin-spotted Quaker (1) a lifer for me, Clouded Drab (5), Shoulder Stripe (2) and Dotted Border (1).

The Skinner MV produced 21 moths of 8 species: Small Eggar (photo) (1), Oak Beauty (2), Early Thorn (1) NFY, Hebrew Character (8), Common Quaker (6), Small Quaker (1), Twin-spotted Quaker (1), Clouded Drab (1)

Whitefield, Wiveliscombe - Min Temp 1.3 degrees

With the colder night only 12 moths of seven species including FFY - a Brindled Pug.

No need for the trap - FFY Shoulder Stripe and Angle Shades on the front wall and front door respectively this morning! It's my second earliest record of the latter (by one day).

Picking up on Ian's post yesterday, I agree that early results are good. My year to date species total is 17.The previous highest to mid-March was 15 in 2012. Only 6 last year!

Whitefield, Wiveliscombe - Min Temp 6.8 degrees

29 moths of 11 species including FFY - Water Carpet and Pale Pinion. The Oak Beauty excellent year continues. We had seven in the trap last night.

Amblyptilia acanthadactyla (Beautiful Plume) in the conservatory during the afternoon.  In the traps overnight 52 moths of 14 species.  FFY: Diurnea fagella(2) and Dark Sword-grass(1) Others included Oak Beauty(6) ;Dotted Border(2) ; Early Grey(4) ; Common Quaker(6) ; Small Quaker(14) ; Hebrew Character(6) ; Twin-spotted Quaker(4) and singles of Early Tooth-striped, Early Thorn and Chestnut.

Just 6 moths last night - I had hoped for more given the mild overcast conditions, but there it is.  Two FFY - Small Quaker(2) and March Moth, and singles of Hebrew Character, Common Quaker and a pale micro which escaped before I could box it for ID purposes. Never mind.

P.S.  5.25 pm Escapologist micro now found - Depressaria daucella (not FFY)

Last night produced the same number of moths and species as my previous session but with a different mix. FFY were Diamond-back Moth (my earliest record), Double-striped Pug (also earliest record), Early Thorn, Clouded Drab (3) and Early Grey (2). Common Quaker produced the most individuals (7). Curiously there were no Hebrew Characters, unlike five nights ago when it was the most numerous! Perhaps the greenlight is more attractive to them than the blacklight.

Whitefield, Wiveliscombe - Min Temp 7.3 degrees

41 moths of 31 species including FFY - a Double Striped Pug and in the warm sunshine in the garden this morning two Small Tortoiseshell Butterflies.

Tried battery operated 2x2w LEDs in my portable skinner, still glowing after 15hrs, 27moths of 11 app. 9 Shoulder Stripe. 1 Streamer, 1 Pale Brindled Beauty, 5 Engrailed, 4 Oak Beauty, 2 Twin-spotted Quaker and 1 each of Small Q. Common Q. Heb. Ch. Early Thorn & Dotted Border.

Using a 40 W actinic trap, just 19 moths including an early Waved Umber plus 3 Oak Beauty, 2 Early Thorn, 2 March Moth,1 Clouded Drab, 2 Silver Y, 5 Early Grey, 1 Common Quaker, 1 Shoulder Stripe, 1 Early Moth.

69 moths of 12 species. Best of the catch were my first 2 Oak Nycteolines since 2012 and my first Red Sword Grass since Autumn 2015.
I don't want to tempt fate but this year is already looking so much more promising than last year which according to my crude ratings system was the second worst year since 2003. Only the washout year of 2007 was worse. The only bright spots to last year were some good numbers of second or third generations of a few species such as Brimstone, Knot Grass and Double Striped Pug. The numbers I'm catching this year appear to confirm that improvement.

I tried out a new garden last night of a friend who lives just outside of Frome which looks to be quite promising. A rural garden surrounded by improved grass fields but with a large Oak and Pine tree nearby and mixed hedgerows. My 40W actinic trap pulled in three new moths to me Oak Beauty (1), Oak Nycteoline (1) and Shoulder Stripe (1) the rest were as follows: Clouded Drab (8), Common Quaker (8), Small Quaker (2), Hebrew Character (3), Early Grey (1) and March Moth (3). I have permission to trap there in future, so hopefully it will be a regular from now on.

whitefield, Wiveliscombe - Min Temp 7.8 degrees

16 moths of eleven species including FFY -Early Tooth-striped, Clouded Drab and a Small Quaker.

My first trapping since mid-January (initially due to lousy weather, and since mid-Feb being hampered by the post-operative effects of a shiny new hip joint) produced 11 moths (all FFY of course) 6 Hebrew Characters, 2 Common Quakers, and one each Early Thorn, Depressaria daucella and a very early Silver Y.

Nice to be back in business !!

Only a mile away from Nigel but 33 moths of 11 species including 2x FFY: Twin-spotted Quaker and Diurnea fagella. Sadly no Small Eggars here yet.

T Min 9.1°C. Only six moths of four species but that did include another Small Eggar and my earliest ever (by a full month) Nut-tree Tussock.

Due to the mild conditions, I had a flurry of moth trapping over the last three nights in three Frome gardens. Nothing as exciting as Nigel's Small Eggars but things are getting going at last.

08/03/17 Mum's garden 4 moths of 3 species: Early Grey (1), Hebrew Character (2), Common Quaker (1)

09/03/17 Home garden 6 moths of 4 species: Early Grey (1), Hebrew Character (1), Common Quaker (3) and Common Plume (1)

10/03/17 Mill House garden 17 moths of 7 species: Hebrew Character (5), Common Quaker (5), Clouded Drab (3) Chestnut(1), Pale Brindled Beauty (1) Diurnea fagella (1) and Agonopterix alstromeriana (1)

A gradual increase in moth numbers (mainly Hebrew Character) and species over the last few nights although last night took a downturn due to unexpected heavy rain. 8th March - 16 moths of 9 species with 3 ffy Clouded Drab, A. hericliana and Acleris literara. 9th March - 43 moths of 13 species with 5 ffy Early Thorn, Pale Brindled Beauty, Shoulder Stripe, Common Plume and Depressaria daucella. 10th March - 63 moths of 15 species with 6 ffy Twin-spotted Quaker, Pale Pinion, Satellite, Chestnut, Dark Chestnut and LBA moth. 11th March - 47 moths of 9 species - although I had to recover a very soggy Skinner trap in pouring rain at 6.00am, finding 2 Small Eggar in the trap made it worthwhile. It has been very noticeable that at least two-thirds of the moths on every night so far this year have been outside the trap - spread across quite a large area of grass and nearby wall - which although takes time is often rewarded with species not in the trap.

30 moths of 14 species including FFG Ypsolopha mucronella. Three other FFY were : Brindled Beauty(1) ; Early Grey(6) ; Clouded Drab(1).  The rest comprised : Mottled Grey(1) ; Early Tooth-striped(1) ; Early Thorn ; Oak Beauty(4) ; Dotted Border(2) ; Chestnut(1) ; Common Quaker(3) ; Small Quaker(2) ; Hebrew Character(5) ; Twin-spotted Quaker(1).

Not a bad catch for my garden this time of year in my 40W skinner trap. Min temp. 7.8 degrees -7 moths of 5 species. 3 Common Quaker, 1 Hebrew Character, 1 Early Grey ffy, 1 Common Plume (Emmelina monodactyla) and 1 March Moth which I believe is a first for my garden. Obviously not very common around here as the nearest record to my garden was in Ashley Road in 2005 despite being more or less annual in Bishop's Hull and Staplegrove on the edge of the town.

A welcome 28 moths of 14 spp last night, including a Dark Sword-grass, other FFYs- Oak Nicteoline, Twin-spotted Quaker, 3 Clouded Drab, Brindled Beauty, Diurnea fagella, Parsnip Moth, others- 7 Hebrew Ch, 2 Dotted Border, 2 Small Quaker, 3 Common Quaker, 3 Early Thorn, Agonopterix Herac agg, Common Plume.

T Min 8.3°C. 18 moths of 10 species: Double-striped Pug (2), Small Eggar (1), Dotted Border (1), Oak Beauty (1), Hebrew Character (1), Early Grey (2), Common Quaker (7), Clouded Drab (1), Chestnut (1) and Common Plume (1).

My second garden record of Small Eggar; the first was on 7/5/2016, well outside the normal January - March flight period.

Not a bad catch for my garden this time of year in my 40W skinner trap. Min temp. 7.8 degrees -7 moths of 5 species. 3 Common Quaker, 1 Hebrew Character, 1 Early Grey ffy, 1 Common Plume (Emmelina monodactyla) and 1 March Moth which I believe is a first for my garden. Obviously not very common around here as the nearest record to my garden was in Ashley Road in 2005 despite being more or less annual in Bishop's Hull and Staplegrove on the edge of the town.

Whitefield, Wiveliscombe - Min temp 8.2 degrees

At last a good nights trapping! FFY - Shoulder Stripe 7, Early Grey 2, March Moth 6. Twin-spotted Quaker 2 and Acleris cristana.

Last night's trapping session was pretty good, with 19 moths of 9 species. FFY were March Moth (5), Oak Beauty, Dotted Border (2), Small Quaker, Lead-coloured Drab (3rd record, a nice grey individual), Common Quaker, Hebrew Character (5) and Dark Chestnut (2nd record). Oddly, 12 of the moths were outside of the trap but the Hebrew Characters seemed to prefer it inside!

T Min 10.1°C. 18 moths of 10 species. Double-striped Pug (4), Pale Brindled Beauty (1), Dotted Border (1), Hebrew Character (2), Common Quaker (3), Oak Beauty (1), Red-green Carpet (1), Early Grey (3), Agonopterix alstromeriana (1) and Ypsolopha mucronella (1).

The second time I've caught Y. mucronella the first being 12/4/2015 but, for some reason, that record doesn't appear on the species map on the website.

Ypsolopha mucronella

My first opportunity to trap for three weeks resulted in 18 moths of 10 species. Nothing new but a nice array of Spring species: Pale Pinion (FFY), March Moth (2), Dotted Border (3, FFY), Clouded Drab (FFY), Early Grey (3, FFY), Hebrew Character (4, FFY), Oak Beauty (FFY), Common Quaker, LBAM, Caloptilia semifascia (FFY).

At last a mild night with no wind to speak of and a gentle "mizzle" falling...and moths.  22 of twelve species, plus an escaped micro that may appear this evening when the lights go on.  Mottled Grey(1) ; Early Tooth-striped(2) ; Early Thorn(1) ; March Moth(3) ; Oak Beauty(5) ; Dotted Border(1) Chestnut(1) ; Grey Shoulder-knot(1) ; Common Quaker(1) ; Small Quaker(2) ; Hebrew Character(1) ; Twin-spotted Quaker(1).

Small Quaker, Early Grey, Clouded Drab, Dotted Border and Dotted Chestnut were all year firsts last night.

Didn't trap last night but there was a Diamond-back Moth resting on the garage door this morning.

Moths at last..well 10 of 6spp. A big improvement on 1. FFYs 1 each of Oak Beauty, Early Moth, March Moth, 5 Hebrew Ch. 1 Chestnut & 1 Com. Quaker.

At last a couple of moth trapping sessions in Berkley Marsh. 13 moths of 7 species on 2/3/17 - Hebrew Character 5, Common Quaker 1, Small Quaker 1, Dotted Border 1, Early Moth 3, Grey Shoulder-knot 1 and Tortricodes alternella 1. Last night produced 15 moths of 6 species including 2 firsts for the year, namely March Moth 2 and Oak Beauty (male) 1. Not bad for cool and rainy nights. All but 3 of the moths were found outside the trap in grass or on an adjacent stone wall.

Despite T Min down to 3.9°C a reasonable start to life as a GMS recorder with Common Quaker (3), Oak Beauty (2) and a Grey Shoulder-knot.