16/1/21 = quite disappointing really, as it was slightly less cold and windy last night, and with still very little moonlight, but not one moth came calling. Never mind, try again in a couple of days.
14/1/21 - just a solitary Chestnut in the MV last night, plus the lone Winter Moth on the kitchen window all evenng - it's probably warmer there than in the great outdoors.
Unfortunately, no moths to my trap on 11th - due to poor location in too much wind. However, better luck on 12th with 4 moths of 3 species - Winter moth 1, Spring Usher 1 and Pale Brindled Beauty 2. For a while I thought I had a Small Brindled Beauty as one individual was very much smaller than the other - but probably too early for this species and it didn't look quite right - pity though. Only one moth on 13th - another Pale Brindled Beauty.
A Pale Brindled Beauty and a Dark Chestnut last night took my annual total up to 4. I did not reach that figure until March last year. Early days, I know, but still encouraging.
First trapping of the year produced 5 December Moths and a Chestnut. That's 3 times as many moths as I recorded in all of January last year. Already this year is looking better than 2020!
Kestrels Rise , Little Quantock 12/01/2021 Min temp 8.5c
A late decision to put out a trap paid off. Tucked away just outside the patio doors to avoid the worst of the rain and wind. 18 moths broke social distancing, the offenders being : December Moth (5) ; Winter Moth (11) ; Mottled Umber (1) and a good candidate for Acleris ferrugana. A good start to the year. Stay safe. PS. Paul Wilkins has kindly confirmed the A.ferrugana
12/1/21 (a nice palindromic date) - the first time I have trapped since mid-November due to vision problems and quite a lot of adverse weather - rewarded with a Winter Moth in the Actinic and a December Moth in the MV. Also earlier on, a Winter Moth spent the entire evening on my kitchen window - clearly not the adventurous type.
So far this month I have seen 3 moths - a Pale Brindled Beauty at rest on an outside stone wall on both 6th and 10th. This follows similar sightings on 27th & 30th December - possibly the same moth on each occasion but can't be sure. Also a Herald seen whilst checking the loft for vermin on 8th. I have been tempted to put the MV Skinner trap out tonight as it is a bit milder but of course it is windy and rain expected. I doubt I will get many moths, if any, but at least there is a possibility!
Last ramble of 2020 round Butleigh Solar Farm yesterday, cases of Coleophora glaucicolella plentiful on Hard Rush, Juncus inflexus. Larva shows the characteristic features to distinguish it from c. alticolella.