Parc Slip

It was forecast to be wet and mild last night so the trap was put out and it was worth doing.Over 130 moths of about 26 species with the highlights being 2nd (and 3rd) ever oak nycteoline (1st was in 2014), first pine beauty, streamer and Diurnea fagella since 2015, FFY of early thorn, brindled beauty, engrailed, early grey and brindled pug. A few that I'd like a bit of help with please (apologies for the state of the photos - I didn't have my good camera so had to make do with my phone..)

Mompha sp.

Orange Underwing in Swansea

The recent Butterfly Conservation office move has given me some welcome new options for a lunchtime stroll. Yesterday I had a wander down to the old Hafod-Morfa Copperworks by the River Tawe, and saw a single Orange Underwing fluttering around one of the many young birches which have colonised the site. Grid ref: SS661950.

Creigiau - 25 March

Put the GMS box out on Saturday night - a cold northerly wind but the minimum temperature wasn't too bad at 5,8C. The result was 36 moths of 11 species - 15 of those being Hebrew Character. Highlights were the first appearance of the year for Early Thorn (2), Early Tooth-striped (3) and Oak Nycteoline (1) and a second visit from Diurnea fagella.

Parc Slip

I put the trap out without too many expectations last night as it was both cold and windy. I just about had my biggest (if not most diverse) catch of the year so far with 31 moths of 8 species. Highlights were the first early tooth-striped of the year and a satellite, which is a new moth for the site so made it worthwhile getting up early in the freezing cold for...
The majority of the catch was hebrew characters, clouded drabs and common quakers.

Creigiau - GMS Saturday 18 March

The weather was pretty awful but the box went out, and surprisingly attracted 6 moths of 4 species. The foolhardy moths braving the wet, windy weather were - Common Quaker (2), Hebrew Character (1), March Moth (1) and Oak Beauty (2).

The March Moth had managed to find a spider and all that was left in the web was the two forewings, and one of the two Oak Beauty looked as though it had been having a rough time ...

Creigiau - Tuesday night

Conditions looked promising so out went the first mid-week box of the year. 8.2C minimum and mist rather than rain.

Ended up with 9 species (41 moths) in/around the box. Totally dominated by Common Quaker (17), but Oak Beauty (6)  made a first appearance of the year, as did Clouded Drab (4), Twin-spotted Quaker (1) and Double-striped Pug (1). The rest of the catch comprised Early Grey (5), Hebrew Character (5), Engrailed (1) and Small Quaker (1).

Oak Beauty

Clouded Drab

Double-striped Pug

Twin-spotted Quaker

Gowerton

I've had similar results to Barry whilst staying in my garden.
On Monday night, with 8.3 degrees min temp I had only 3 species, 6 moths.
Last night, Wednesday, with 8.1 min and some early morning drizzle
there were 14 species with 39 moths, including the first migrant of the year, Nomophila noctuella.

Nomophila noctuella