A bit more variety, but fewer moths

This much warmer period has given a boost to the garden list which is now getting close to 80 species for the year, although the overall number of moths each night has declined now that most of the Orthosias are well past their peak.  Newcomers on the 11th were Caloptilia semifascia, Phyllonorycter blancardella & Epiphyas postvittana, additions on the 12th were Scrobipalpa costella, Swallow Prominent, Muslin Moth, Shuttle-shaped Dart & Least Black Arches, while the 15th added Elachista canapennella, Red Twin-spot Carpet & Chocolate-tip.  A daytime sighting this morning was a smart male Incurvaria masculella which appears at this time every year, flying around our hawthorn when it is sunny.      

Caloptilia semifascia, Westcott 11th April

Scrobipalpa costella, Westcott 12th April

Shuttle-shaped Dart, Westcott 12th April

Chocolate-tip, Westcott 15th April

Incurvaria masculella, Westcott 16th April

Brindled Beauty seems to be having a very good year here.  Four on the 12th is the highest nightly total I've ever had in one trap in the garden of a moth which until the last four or five years wasn't even guaranteed to turn up annually.  Another pair followed on the 13th, while subsequent singletons have brought this year's site total up to eleven individuals so far.

Dave Wilton Westcott, Bucks