B&B

With the days so warm, there is a strong urge to go out and moth trap at night, but it gets chilly very quickly. Last night I ventured out to the Brockhampton Estate and ran 2 traps for 3 hours. 126 moths of 16 species with Frosted Green stealing the show with a count of 24. Singletons of Purple Thorn and Oak Nycteoline.

I also ran the white robinson in the garden at Bringsty and it went quickly down to a chilly 6 degrees, however I caught 126 moths (yes the same number) but this time 24 species. No Frosted Green, despite some large oaks nearby but it was nice to record Grey Shoulder-knot, Herald, Streamer, White-marked, the first Powdered Quaker of the year plus the usual crowd. Peter Hall

Grey Shoulder-knot: Bringsty Common

Streamer: Bringsty Common

Bodenham April 5th

At last moths are appearing. This weekend has seen Mottled Grey x2, Dotted chestnut, Oak Nycteoline, Tawny and Pale Pinion but best of all my first ever Small Eggar. The Bodenham area has produced one of these most years in recent years. A larval nest was found here in 2010.

Small Eggar: Bodenham

Tawny and Pale Pinion: Bodenham

Robin Hemming.

Chaddesley Woods Saturday

Joined the monthly survey last night under cloudy skies and 10 degrees C to start. 8 traps were monitored past midnight and at least 26 species were recorded including Semioscopis avellanella, Eriocrania sp, a Frosted Green, several Water Carpets, Early Tooth-striped and a Land Caddis larva.

Early Tooth-striped: Chaddesley Woods

Eriocrania sp.: Chaddesley Woods

Water Carpet: Chaddesley Woods

Steve Whitehouse

Halesowen, 4th April

A little better in the garden trap last night with 13 species, including a second garden record of Tawny Pinion along with Pale Pinion (first Tawny Pinion record was last year).  Patrick Clement

Pale Pinion left, Tawny Pinion right

Hurcott, 3rd April

Drinker Moth larva

 I made a quick visit to Hurcott Pool looking for mines of Elachista utonella on the greater tussock sedge (Tony recorded the moth there in 1988), but all I found was one small Drinker Moth larva.

I took the opportunity to do a quick litter-pick, most of it left by scutty fishermen! I couldn't get it all in the single bag I had so I'll finish the job next time.

Patrick Clement

Bringsty Common

Rob and I decided not to venture out last night to play as the rain was forecast to be persistent. So at the last moment I decided to run the white robinson trap in the garden. It wasn't too bad in the end with 15 species and a total of 74 moths. Of interest (for me at least) was Mottled Grey and Tawny Pinion (I've only had a cursory glance ...anyone disagree?) Peter Hall

Warndon Garden 1st April

Caloptilia populetorum

A breezy but cloudy and later wet night managed only a handful of Orthosias but a Diurnea fagella and a presumed Caloptilia populetorum (only 3rd site record in six years) gave glimmer of hope for next few days...apologies for last minute phone camera record shot! Steve Whitehouse