mid-March update - Red Chestnut NFG

Red Chestnut - Not the most uncommon moth in the county but my first newbie of the year. Otherwise pretty slow with cold nights and infrequent trapping; been working through micro photos though so a good update and first publish of the list from last year soon, and no doubt the odd one appearing on this blog, including my first notable of the year below.

 Red Chestnut - new for garden 12th March

 Acleris cristana - 12th March

Chestnut - do not get many of these surprisingly, was not on the list for 2014 at all. This one from 9th March

Oak Beauty - one of my early spring favourites, 7th March

Pale Pinion - A first to start April

First day of the month and a new for the garden, otherwise predominantly Orthosias trapped at the moment as per the expectations of the season.

Pale Pinion - new for garden April 1st

A few others trapped in the last few days of warmer weather of more interest to me at least:

 Twin-spotted Quaker - only a couple of these per year normally

 March Moth - in March of course

 Satellite - surprisingly uncommon in my garden - only four records, two in March, two in November

 Oak Beauty - always nice to see

Grey Shoulder-Knot - three records no for the garden, all in month of March

Mid-March deja vu

A steady catch of the normal Common and Small Quakers, Hebrew Characters and Clouded Drabs has been enlivened this week with the first Early Grey of the year and single Twin-spot Quaker and a couple of Oak Beautys. Very much like the same week last year then...

Twin-spotted Quaker, 21st March 2012 (just one in 2011 - on the 22nd March ! )

Oak Beauty - different individuals trapped on 12th and 14th March (just one last year on the 12th March ! )

You (Oak) Beauty !

After a couple of days fretting as others seemed to be getting these while none were arriving at Wychwood Moths, I was most pleased when a check around the trap during Saturday evening produced this Oak Beauty investigating the illuminated fence panel. I have had no return visit or second individual in the three subsequent evenings. Also new for the year have been a few Small Quakers and one Grey Shoulder Knot, a species that I did not record last autumn.
Common Quaker continues as the predominant species with plenty of Hebrew Characters and multiple Clouded Drab and Early Grey also.

Oak Beauty (garden first March 12th)

Small Quaker

Grey Shoulder Knot (garden first March 12th)