More moths 20/21 March

With some warmer weather and a hint that the night could become cloudy I put the moth trap out and gained almost instant success when a largish moth on the window proved to be a Twin-spotted Quaker, only the second I have seen.

Twin-spotted Quaker

I was therefore very optimistic this morning as I stepped outside to check the trap. The immediate surroundings were disappointingly devoid of moths, so it was all down to what was in or on the trap.

Two hours later I had recorded 40 moths, but only five more species. Most were Common Quakers (26), plus Small Quakers (eight). However there were some new ones for the year including one, a micro identified as Acleris literana which is a lifer.

Acleris literana

I had vaguely decided I wasn't going to put myself through the stress of trying to identify micros this year, but this one looked pretty distinctive.

Other firsts for the year were a Light Brown Apple Moth (another micro), and three Hebrew Characters.

Hebrew Character

Ironically, there was no sign of the Twin-spotted Quaker which had been returned to the utility room window by the time I went to bed.

Mothing - 28 Feb/1 Mar

I seem to remember declaring (or at least thinking) that this year I would only put the trap out once per month. Well that seems to gone by the board as the mild, rather damp, overnight conditions encouraged me to run it again.

I was up early and quickly spotted the back end of a moth poking out from a narrow cavity between the wall of the trap and one of the supports. It looked like a geometer (and therefore interesting). I eventually poked it out with a ruler, but before I could pot it, or even get a good look at it, it took to the air and fluttered around behind the trap with me in hot pursuit. Not hot enough though, because it seemingly vanished.

So a disappointing start but as soon as I started examining the inside of the trap I soon found there were lots of moths; 23 in all.

The majority, 18 of them, were Common Quakers. However I soon started to find some that were different. Three Small Quakers were new for the year, as was a Clouded Drab. There was also one that didn't look familiar at all, although it did eventually turn out to be a species JS had identified from a photograph last year. A Chestnut.

Small Quaker and Common Quaker

Clouded Drab

Chestnut

With almost as many moths trying to hide in recesses in the box as were in the egg boxes, I had the tricky task of extracting each one with the tip of my pencil before placing the dangling creature onto a green napkin I had spread out on the garden table. The eventual effect was quite impressive.

Or appalling if moths give you the collywobbles.

February 22/23 - mothing

After a series of warm days and cool nights I decided to try the trap again.

There was a heavy dew and some fog by the time I got up, so I was half expecting to see an empty trap. But no, it contained four Common Rustics and nothing else.

I checked the fence - nothing. I checked the brickwork of the house - noth...oh hang on a minute. Brilliantly camouflaged against the mortar was a moth, and it looked like a new one.

After a quick check in the book I confirmed it was a Spring Usher.

Spring Usher

Another moth which is reasonably common, but new for me.

Saturday February 16

For the third time this year I put the trap out, but this time success shined upon me. My first two moths in the garden this year.

The first was also a lifer. Clinging to the fence was a Pale Brindled Beauty. Not an uncommon moth, but as I didn't start mothing in earnest until last April its not surprising that I hadn't seen one before.

Pale Brindled Beauty

The second was in the trap itself, a pristine Common Quaker. Last April this was one of the commonest captures, but its great to get one early.

Common Quaker

Finally, some bird news. A Blackcap which I had seen a couple of times in the garden this winter, was singing from the hedge along Costers Lane both yesterday and this morning.

Spring is on the way.

Selfridges comes up trumps

The moth famine was broken this morning on my way to work. The discs on the side of Selfridges in Birmingham city centre seem to act as a giant moth trap. The favoured areas are the heating ducts, and I was very pleased to discover a Satellite there, the first I have ever seen.

Satellite

I had devised a plan for this year, although I wasted the opportunity on 2 Jan, when I found an Angle Shades. The plan was to take a moth pot into work in the hope I would find another one.

My colleagues' reaction to my placing it in the fridge for the day varied between alarm, revulsion, concern, and fascination. I was obliged to bodge a hole in the lid of the pot to give it some air (I'm sure it would have been fine anyway).

This evening I photographed it and let it go in the garden.

The Satellite is a winter flying species which is pretty common if you can be bothered to put the trap out in the winter. My January and February efforts (one in each month) produced absolutely nothing, so its Selfridges 2 Winyates East 0 at the moment.

Thursday January 17

The lack of posts since the new year is entirely deliberate. I like to set myself a challenge at the beginning of each year and I intend to spend 2019 hammering my other patch, Morton Bagot.

It was good to go out on a high though. 2018 produced quite a smattering of good birds, mostly at Arrow Valley Lake. Highlights included Slavonian Grebe, Kittiwake, and Dunlin in March, Goldeneye from November, and a Black-throated Diver in December.

I will still be putting my moth trap out. The plan is for once a month targeting warmer nights. My January night about 10 days ago produced nothing at all.

Lyn has been stuck in hospital from just before New Year, but I'm pleased to say she was allowed home yesterday. I am now fussing over her while she regains her strength. So its garden birds only for a day or two.

My next post is likely to be in late February (unless a Waxwing intervenes).

Thursday December 27

A cloudy mild morning.

 I visited Ipsley Alders where I didn't see a soul, but didn't see any unusual birds either. The best was a Pheasant and a handful of Siskins.

So I went to Arrow Valley Lake where I saw hundreds of people and a good many birders twitching the Black-throated Diver, Among them were Paul Hyde and Des Jennings, so it was very nice to have a catch-up chat with them.

The Black-throated Diver was still showing well.

Goldeneye

Tufted Duck

The Goldeneye has been joined by three Tufted Ducks. I learned, from chatting to various birders, that I had missed some Pochard on a frosty day last winter, and a Pink-footed Goose this week.

The site has never been so popular.