First newbie of 2012

2011 was my first spring so until the 2nd anniversary of garden mothing at the start of June, I am hopeful of a couple of new editions. This smart looking species was one I was hoping for as there are a few pines around both in nearby Wardown Park and probably more significantly as odd specimens across the large gardens of the local suburbs.

Pine Beauty - in classic resting pose. New for garden 24th March

Pine Beauty showing the bright orange and white wing pattern more extensively

Shoulder strip - new for year 24th March, I had a handful of these last spring. Nice to see the daintier moths beginning to appear.

Oak Nycteoline... first "goodie" of the year

Warm and cloudy evening produced my first real variety of the year from the garden trap. Top spot on the list goes to this garden first Oak Nycteoline which seems to be rather an unusual species in Bedfordshire. The book tells me this is of the form "notata".
Also new for the garden in the last couple of nights have been a Twin-spotted Quaker and Shoulder Stripe (three records) and a couple of micros that I actually managed to identify !

Oak Nycteoline (form notata) - garden first 22/3/11

Twin spotted Quaker

Shoulder Stripe

Full garden list for the evening of March 22nd: 20 macro of 9 species

Common Quaker - 5

Hebrew Character - 8

Small Quaker - 1

Clouded Drab - 1

Twin Spotted Quaker - 1 NFG

Double-striped Pug - 1 FFY

March Moth - 1
Early Grey - 1

Oak Nycteoline - 1 NFG

Twenty Plume Moth

Emmelina monodactyla

Diurnea fagella NFG