Migrants & Moths

I enjoyed two brief forays with bins today. A lunchtime jaunt to Thornton Res. provided nice views of singing Willow Warblers (3) and a spanking drake White Wagtail in the regular field - no sign of any Yellow Wagtails though whilst I was there. On the way home from work, I dropped past Grove Park for a quick peek and was really pleased to see a diminutive wading bird that has used the site in the past. I thought they were long gone from this site so good to see though time will tell as to whether any success this year.

Is it just me, or has all of the Blackthorn suddenly sprung to life over the last couple of days?

The garden moth traps last night produced another yeartick, but the windy conditions limited numbers despite the mild temps. 16 of 8sp. was the total (125W MV 10 of 8, 80W actinic 6 of 3).

0663 Diurnea fagella 1
0667 Semioscopis steinkellneriana 1 [first for year]
1524 Emmelina monodactyla 1
1746 Shoulder Stripe (Anticlea badiata) 1
2187 Common Quaker (Orthosia cerasi) 3
2188 Clouded Drab (Orthosia incerta) 2
2190 Hebrew Character (Orthosia gothica) 6
2243 Early Grey (Xylocampa areola) 1

Diurnea fagella - a darker form with a rubbed right wing

Semioscopis steinkellneriana - a classic example of why vernacular names are useful ...

Just off out for a bit of local woodland mothing seeing as the conditions look good.