Small Brindled Beauty

Having run lights there regularly since 2007, last year I decided to take a break from one of my favourite local oak woodland sites, BBOWT's Finemere Wood.  I'm back there again this season though, and a single MV run for a few hours last night didn't fare too badly despite constant light drizzle, bringing in 126 moths of eight species.  As might be expected, Tortricodes alternella, Pale Brindled Beauty and Spring Usher made up the majority of the catch, but it was good to see March Moth and Small Brindled Beauty which were both new to me for the year.  Seven of the latter species appeared at the trap.

Small Brindled Beauty males, Finemere Wood 16th February

Back home in the garden at Westcott the twin-30wt actinic caught seven species, of which Acleris ferrugana (to be checked), Acleris cristana, March Moth, Dotted Border and Satellite were new for the year list.

Acleris cristana, Westcott 16th February

Update:  another example of the infinitely variable Acleris cristana came to the garden trap on the 18th.  It is difficult to believe that this is the same species! 

Acleris cristana, Westcott 18th February

Rather unexpectedly we seem to have struck lucky with the weather for the next several nights so hopefully a few more spring species will begin to emerge now.

Dave Wilton
Westcott, Bucks