Light Orange Underwing

While carrying out a butterfly transect in local woodland over lunchtime today I noticed a settled Orange Underwing sp. moth sunning itself on the ground.  The rather plain forewings suggested that it was going to be Light Orange Underwing, as expected at this aspen-rich site, but I didn't have a net with me.  However, most unusually it continued to sit still and I managed to pot it to have a closer look. 

Light Orange Underwing, 3rd April

Light Orange Underwing, 3rd April

Light Orange Underwing is by far the more common of the two species in the woods around here (in many of them it is probably the only species) and that's what this proved to be.  It was a male and its feathered antennae were obvious.  That's often an easier ID feature to check than the markings on the underside of the hind-wing. 

Dave Wilton
Westcott, Bucks