not so drab

I thought that this example of a clouded drab was actually quite handsome - although it has to be admitted that most of the clouded drabs I catch live down to their name. This was one of a reasonable catch on 16th March, although I had no new species for the year.

The Twin-spot Spring

Last night seemed ideal once again with nice cloudy skies following a hot day, and I managed to get more than yesterday. Again nothing ground breaking, but it was nice to get two Twin-spotted Quaker. Otherwise I got the same 6 species as the previous night, but 41 individuals this time. I also got a nice plume, but as usual I don't have a clue at the species (now identified as Emmelina monodactyla, thanks Dean).
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15th March:

17 Common Quaker

10 Small Quaker

6 Hebrew Character

4 Clouded Drab

2 Twin-spotted Quaker

1 Early Grey

1 March Moth

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Common Quakers

Emmelina monodactyla

Early Grey

Twin-spotted Quakers

The Moths March On

My first proper catch of the year last night in nice cloudy conditions. Although, amongst 30 moths of 6 species, there were no garden ticks. Still great to see lots of moths again!

14th March:
14 Small Quaker
6 Common Quaker
5 Hebrew Character
3 Clouded Drab
1 Early Grey
1 March Moth

Species steadily building up

New species are beginning to appear more frequently now. I had about 60 moths last night. A couple of oak beauties, small brindled beauty, umpteen small quakers, several common quakers and the following new for the year:

Yellow horned


Hebrew character

Early grey

clouded drab

Odds and Ends

I haven't got round to trapping yet in March, and with the lawn due to be re-seeded, it looks like I will have to trap on the patio for the next month or so, which will probably lower the moth totals. At the moment though, I'm still catching up with a few moths from February...

I caught this micro in the garden on the 24th, and it was confirmed by the CR and John Langmaid as Agonopterix scopariella. It is a local species in Britain, and very scarce in Surrey, with this making the 11th modern record. The paler overall colour rules out heracliana, and subpropinquella and atomella do not show 2 white spots on each wing like this individual does...

This Chestnut was an added bonus when sorting out egg boxes, and must have got trapped in between them when I packed them away, resulting in a damaged hindwing. A belated garden first...

Another garden first, this Clouded Drab saved me from a night in with just the Hebrews and Quakers on the 25th! ...