Bancyffordd 19/3 - murky night

Got back from the pub, where I participated in a quiz team that struggled to finish in last place (no questions on moths to fox everyone), and emptied the MV trap. Usual suspects for this time of the year. This morning I emptied the trap again. 13 Hebrew character is nothing special, however none was in the trap at 2300hrs. 8 species in total  with a single Pale Pinion being the most notable species, record shot below.

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Back trapping...

After quite a long spell of non-trapping due to bad weather and other factors, out went one garden actinic last night (18/3). Only nine species of the usual mid-late March moth assemblage were present, but a second grey shoulder-knot of the year was nice compensation.

                                              Above: grey shoulder-knot, Stradey, Llanelli.

Just testing...

The first operational use of the `Morgan Mk 1` moth shelter was undertaken last night (1st March) and it certainly performed satisfactorily, keeping both the trap and the moths dry in the breezy drizzle. The slope of the cover is orientated to face the wind/rain. Only nine resident species were caught however, though with oak beauties in increasing numbers.
In the field (or even the garden), four bamboo sticks, a clear plastic sheet and some string should do the same job of providing shelter from the rain.

No visitors last night...

There were no migrant moths visiting my garden traps last night (27/2) though a decent selection of residents were present - a total of 16 species. An Acleris literana was nice and a least black arches clearly does n`t read the field guides as to when it should be on the wing.
I had hoped - perhaps too optimistically - to try to catch one of the immigrant moths that are still being reported (though now in much smaller numbers), but obviously failed. The weather followed the forecast - clear until midnight, cloudy thereafter and rain showers after c 5 .00 am. I retrieved one trap `pre-rain` at c 4.30 am, but left the other one out until a gap in the quite heavy showers.

                            Above: a bit battered, but clearly the distinctive Acleris literana.

                                     Above: least black arches, flight season: `May -June`!

Much better, thank you!

Fifteen species graced the MV trap in the alder grove at Cwmllwyd last night (26/02/2019) and, unsurprisingly, most were FFY. Pick of the bunch, I think, were Early Thorn, Oak Beauty, Clouded Drab and two Red Sword-grass(!). Earlier in the day this little jewel appeared in the house (after hibernation):

Herald.

Spring has sprung!

A male brimstone butterfly in my west Llanelli garden about five minutes ago (25/2), the first of the year.
I`m afraid though, that my title is premature, as the weather is set to deteriorate back to normal westerly winds and rain at the end of the week.

PS. I saw a second male brimstone later that afternoon in nearby Stradey Woods, along with a peacock.
and a PPS. - a comma seen today Tues 26/2. Also the male brimstone re-visited the garden, feeding at primroses and Pulmonaria.