First away trap of the year

Taking advantage of the much warmer conditions, I took two MV traps to local oak woodland for the usual three hours last night where they were run in sheltered spots out of the ever-increasing wind.  This was actually my second choice of site, having failed to get past the padlocked barrier at the first one, so I was a little bit late getting set up!  The results were, if anything, just a little bit disappointing in that only nine species appeared.  With one exception there were almost no micros and there was no sign yet of early Orthosias such as Common Quaker and Hebrew Character or of Oak Beauty, all of which have put in appearances elsewhere already.  However, they'll all appear in good time and in any case more than 500 moths were seen so I've nothing to complain about:  Acleris ferrugana/notana (1), Tortricodes alternella (47), Small Brindled Beauty (6), Pale Brindled Beauty (233), Spring Usher (207), Dotted Border (10), Mottled Umber (8), Early Moth (4) & Chestnut (3).  More unusually, a couple of shieldbugs had been tempted out of hibernation and came to one of the lights, Hairy Shieldbug Dolycoris baccarum and Green Shieldbug Palomena prasina, the latter in its brown winter form.

Tortricodes alternella, 28th January

Early Moth, 28th January

Small Brindled Beauty, 28th January

Dave Wilton
Westcott, Bucks