Still going up

LYU numbers this morning in garden = 222, constituting a considerable percentage of the overall total of moths which was just over 550. Square-spot Rustics were not as abundant as at Dave's, they never are here, but largest total so far this year with over 70. On top of that were 29 Brimstone and 15 Chinese Character of note among modest numbers of all the usual suspects with just 42 species overall and the best being my first Frosted Orange of the year.

2.5 hrs trapping at Aston Rowant last night following some botanising with fellow CEH colleagues (though I missed the botany after locking myself out my car temporarily and thus turning up late) yielded a fairly unimpressive species list of just over 40, but notable were well over a hundred Feathered Gothic, the most I've ever seen in one haul and the most numerous species despite Square-spot Rustics trying their hardest. Quite a few Chinese Character and dozens of Brimstone there as well but nothing unusual and best moth was the lovely little plume moth, Hellinsia (Euleioptilus) carphodactyla, though first Hedge Rustic in years was very nice too. Marc Botham, Benson