Pale Brindled Beauty

When I checked my trap before going to bed last night there was a Pale Brindled Beauty on it - my first this year.  A surprise find on a pretty chilly night - it was minus 5 by the morning!

Pale Brindled Beauty, North Elmham, 19th January

Early Moth not all that early really

My last post reported my first 4 moth species of the year on 7th - until last night I'd added no more species to the year list.  There had been another 4 Mottled Umbers and a Winter Moth on 8th and single Winter Moth, Mottled Umber and Chestnut on 10th.

I expected an 8th consecutive nil return last night as although it was a fraction milder than previous nights I didn't think it was warm enough for anything to emerge.  This Early Moth thought otherwise. Not actually all that early.

Early Moth, North Elmham, 18th January

First moths of 2017

I've had the moth trap on each night but have had no moths since 23rd December... until last night.  2017 finally swung into action with 7 moths of 4 species: Sallow Button Acleris hastiana, Winter Moth, 4 Mottled Umbers and Chestnut.

Mottled Umbers, North Elmham, 7th January

Sallow Button Acleris hastiana, North Elmham, 7th January

Winter Moth, North Elmham, 7th January

Chestnut, North Elmham, 7th January

I also finished submitting the last of my 2016 records this morning.  Last year I recorded 38,176 moths of which 21,589 were in my garden.  The total number of species in the garden was an impressive (at least I was impressed) 627 (comprising 316 macros and 311 micros) and bringing my garden moth list to 720 (starting in August 2014).  I wonder how many new species this year will bring...