New moth for parish records.

Sent from my iPhoneSet the trap in neglected woodland at Westland Green in an area that meant the trap and sheet were visible from the Lane leading to Little Hadham. Consequently, just ran it whilst I was present until 8.15. Well worth the effort with:
Agonopterix heracliana
2 Dotted border
4 March moth ( new for Year)
3 Tortricodes alternella
Small Brindled beauty ( new for parish records)
This takes total moths recorded in the parish to 663 species. Target is 700 by the end of the year.
The garden trap gave:
2 Dotted border
Agonopterix heracliana
Pale Brindled beauty
March moth.
A good night, best of the year but hoping to be out longer tonight as forecast looks promising.
Photos:
Acleris cristana
March moth
Small Brindled beauty.

Spring Usher

This morning the garden moth trap, a 125W Skinner type gave up 2 moths from last night. Another Pale brindled beauty and a first Spring Usher of the year. 4th night in a row that I have taken moths, the total now being 8 macro species and 3 micro species, totalling 88 moths. A comparison to 2016 can be made, where on this day I had recorded 12 macro species and 4 micro species of 85 moths. Even after the cold weather we have experienced this winter and missed out on last winter, numbers are very similar.

Spring usher

Moth update

Sent from my iPhoneAt last, a few moths coming to the traps, with 4 Pale Brindled Beauty and 2 chestnut taken in Alder Wood. An Acleris species taken in the garden skinner was gen detted and proved to be Acleris ferrugana. The A heracliana was proved to be such, also through genitalia dissection.
The temperatures are now far more conducive to mothing, so fingers crossed for more good records this weekend.
Photos:
Agonopterix heracliana in pot.
Chestnut in the hand
3 Pale Brindled beauty on pine in Alder Wood.
Tortricodes alternella: phone photo through magnifier taken in the moth shed.
Pale Brindled beauty in phone photo from moth shed.

Red Letter Day: New bird species for the parish!!

Having completed a tuition to which I walked, noting yellowhammers on the golf course, I set off home. Just outside the house where I had been I heard the unmistakable call of a Lesser Spotted woodpecker, a new bird for my parish records! It called twice as I entered the wood where I spent an inordinate amount of time checking every nuthatch, great, blue and coal tit that moved in the canopy. Nothing. Overhead, a group of 6 mandarin, 4 drakes, 2 duck. Also, a sparrowhawk skulking in a silver birch and a flushed woodcock. Not everyday you find mandarin when searching for Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers!!
Back on the lanes, plenty of bullfinches, more yellowhammers and I noted that the skylarks have begun to sing over the rough on the course. 2 buzzards and a kestrel completed the list as I arrived back home. A few poor quality shots here. I shall return to the private wood which I have permission to enter later this week for a further check.

nuthatch

2 drake flyby mandarins

The whole party through dense woodland!

Spot the sparrowhawk

Stocking Wood.

Sent from my iPhoneHaving been granted permission to run the moth trap in the private woods known as Stocking Wood, I set out at dusk to place the trap. With the temperature hovering around 4C I wasn't too optimistic. Having set the trap up I had a brief wander, netting my first Dotted border of the year. I returned at 8.45 to collect it and netted an Early moth as I wandered along the footpath. On the trap was a Winter moth, whilst inside was a pristine Satellite.
This habitat has great potential so I plan to run traps here frequently throughout the year. Satellite and winter moth shown here.

Early moth

Sent from my iPhoneWith the recent freezing conditions, moths have been few and far between. On 30.i.17 the portable trap was set in local woods, running for 5 hours. Upon returning I potted a single moth, this Early moth. 5th moth species of the year and my second Early moth of the year.