Ruth Newby

I did wonder if there was a downside…

I was never a fan of South Park but I completely get what you & the podcaster mean…trying to go from A to C without any idea where/what B is…

I don’t know. It was pretty cold last Feb too & wet the previous year. It might be that numbers fluctuate for other reasons too.

I certainly will! Don’t know what’s up with Oak Beauty this year, I usually get my first in Feb, but you could be right about them waiting for warmer nights.

Very much so. A bonus of being a moth-er is hearing birdsong while you’re going through your trap.

Turn up the volume! My overwintering Blackcap is singing from somewhere in the Prunus tree (it’s not the bird at the top of the tree, which is a Chaffinch). I imagine it won’t be long before he’s heading back to his summer home. 🪶

That’s very cute!

March Moth, bang on cue!

Chestnut, looking a bit the worse for wear.

Common Plume

Clouded Drab, actually quite pretty in a subtle way.

Finally things seem to be getting going with the moths this year. 15:6 (first time in double figures this year) with 2 March Moth, 2 Clouded Drab & a Chestnut NFY. CQ, HC & Common Plume made up the rest, but still no Oak Beauty. #teammoth @pmandrews1973.bsky.social @bcwarwickshire.bsky.social

Beautiful photo!

Yes, it’s out there now. Much calmer and cloudier so hoping for an Oak Beauty at least!

Thanks Dave! Annoyingly the next couple of days are forecast cloudy, though it has been sunny today.

I think I have FUN and MOL though I need to check in the freezer. Are they attracted during the day or at night?

That reminds me that I bought some micro lures last year & never got round to trying them. Time to get them out now perhaps?

Darn, perhaps I should have stuck the trap out. Was put off by the wind.

😂

Why it’s good to have a messy garden… #wildlifegardening @joelashton.bsky.social

A female Blackbird has been gathering (unswept) leaves in the garden and flying into the Ivy with them. I think a nest is in progress… Meanwhile, I discovered one from last year in a tangle of Rose and Honeysuckle I was pruning. 🪶

Happy St David’s Day!

Must be something special about the lichens round there…

Fascinating! What do the larvae eat?

Tulipa ‘The First’, originally planted in a pot, subsequently replanted in the flower bed. A good repeat flowerer. #spring #flowers

Mine too!

About 1/3 of a mile. @pmandrews1973.bsky.social is even closer than me and he hasn’t had them either to my knowledge.

I need to get planting, clearly! Though there is plenty locally at Hill Hook, so it is a bit of a puzzler.

Some interesting aberrations/melanics there Dave. Haven’t you had the non-spotted form of Twin-spot Quaker before?

Shoulder Stripe would be NFG for me, it’s frustrating that neither this or Streamer seem to come anywhere near my garden.

I was certainly hoping for something a bit more exciting

You did better than me!

What seemed like a promising night for moths scuppered by a heavy shower around 10pm and a cold wind. 3:3, with Yosolopha ustella and Common Plume NFY and a Common Quaker. #teammoth @pmandrews1973.bsky.social @bcwarwickshire.bsky.social

Congratulations, it’s a moth that really does like up to its name!