Blossom is out at Bringsty

Whilst kicking off a planned series of visits to Wigmore Rolls (and forgetting to pack cable),  I ran my old Robinsons type in the garden here.  21 species for the garden, all expected species with an "abundance" of Powdered Quaker - well 4 last night and 5 the night before - more than I can ever remember catching in one night anywhere, plus my first Blossom Underwing for the garden.  I wondered if it was here.  Wigmore, with a single trap being run produced the expected abundance of moth numbers (259 moths for a 2 and a half hour session).  21 species again. Topping the bill was Diurnea fagella (66), then Hebrew Character (40), Brindled Pug (37) and Common Quaker (28), otherwise nothing to excite too much.  Peter Hall

Bringsty Common: Blossom Underwing

Bringsty Common: Brindled Beautys

Wigmore Rolls: March moth

Wigmore Rolls: Frosted Green

 

Kingsford Country Park 6th April

The Kinver Moth Group decided to pitch their first meeting at the adjacent Kingsford CP,  most of which is in VC37. We met by the old toilet block in the car park on Kingsford Lane at 19:15. Four MV traps were set in the heathland section on the opposite side of the road and an actinic was placed on the edge of the car park. At least 30 species were recorded in what were good overcast conditions. The highlight were at least 3 Mottled Grey which may be new for Kingsford.


Mottled Grey by Patrick Clement

Other things of interest were a Herald, possibly just out of hibernation from the nearby caves, Red Chestnut, Early Tooth-striped, Shoulder Stripe, Water Carpet and Yellow Horned. Micros included Acleris cristana, Eriocrania sangii, Caloptilia betulicola and best of all a Carpatolechia decorella in the actinic. Regular meets are planned on the first Friday of each month and Dave Smith can let you know where we will be. Feel free to email me for contact details; stevewhitehouse123atbtinternet.com - remember to slot @ in!

Bringsty Common April 7th

Remembered to put 1 trap out overnight.  Not bad even with temperatures dropping in to single digits fairly quickly.  179 moths of 17 species.  The species lists slowly change with time as new for the site for this year are Early Thorn, Early Tooth-striped, Streamer, Water Carpet and Pine Beauty.  Top of the list was Common Quaker (51), followed by Hebrew Character (33), then Small Quaker (29) and Clouded Drab (23). A single micro: Diurnea fagella, which is odd considering the numbers of Agonopterix heracliana that come to the nearby house windows every night, but not to the trap.  Peter Hall

Bringsty Common: White-marked

Bringsty Common: Water Carpet

Bringsty Common: Pine Beauty

 

Amphisbatis incongruella

Amphisbatis incongruella

Not the most colourful of moths but the first Worcester record of the species for 35 years, according to my Mapmate.
Hartlebury Common is the only site for it in Worcs but also recorded at Kinver Edge, Staffs, a few years ago.
4 individuals swept from heather in about 30 mins yesterday.
                            Patrick Clement

Bringsty Common

I decided to run a single mv light on the night of the 23rd and again last night (26th).  The 23rd was quite a productive night with 140 moths of 15 species, whilst last night, with the cooler temperatures and rain I recorded 58 moths of 14 species.  The usual suspects plus Grey Shoulder-knot, Red Chestnut, Dotted Chestnut and Pale Pinion. Topping the bill on each night was Common Quaker with a combined tally of 73 individuals, followed by Hebrew Character 24 and in bronze medal position was Yellow Horned with 17. Peter Hall

Bringsty Common: Dotted Chestnut

Bringsty Common: Pale Pinion

Bringsty Common: Yellow Horned

Warndon Orthosias

At last a cloudy night without the freezing chill on the 21st and a small burst of fresh Quakers and Drabs in the garden Robbo. A Small Quaker, 22 Common Quaker, 3 Hebrew Character, 5 Clouded Drabs and the first site Lead-coloured Drab for 6 years.


Lead-coloured Drab

Clouded Drab

The two images show the general colour, wing-shape and antennae structure differences well. The last Lead-coloured was on the 22nd March 2012......perhaps there is some Aspen nearby that the council have not cut down.....L-c Drab seem to have good years every now and again. Orthosias seem to do better after longer colder winters round here.

Oak Nycteoline f.ramosana

This Oak Nycteoline f.ramosana came to my garden at Norchard, Worcs, on Friday night of the 16th. I usually see a few during the season but I don't recall seeing this form before. Thirteen Oak Beauty was a record count for the garden on the same night.