April Moths

I've only put out the moth trap once this year, on a night when there was too much of a cold breeze.  As a result there were very few moths about, and only one was unlucky enough to get caught in the trap, but it was a fine example of a Hebrew Character.

So I'm indebted to Trevor Buttle for providing the blog with a list of species and some photographs of the moths that he's had in his moth trap.

The species are :-

Small Quaker, Common Quaker, Clouded Drab, Early Grey, Hebrew Character, Twin-Spot Quaker, March Moth, Early Thorn, Brindled Beauty, Early Toothstripe, Red Chestnut, Double-Striped Pug, Muslin Moth, Herald, Bright-Line Brown-Eye, Powdered Quaker and Pale Prominent.

In all there were 216 moths of 17 species, taken on 4 nights in April

Brindled Beauty - Lycia hirtaria

Herald - Scoliopteryx libatrix

Pale Prominent - Pterostoma palpina

The wildflowers have been amazing this year, that's probably something to do with the long slow spring with lots of sunshine, little rain and cold winds.  There are primroses, lesser celandine, and wood anemones in profusion, and the bluebells are coming on strong now as well.  The photo of the Early Purple Orchids growing on the bank at the top of Chick Hill is another contribution from Trevor Buttle.

Early Purple Orchid - Orchis mascula