Not Drowing Dotty at Home

No idea where the time goes these days. I've been: busy at work; busy reconciling the 2022 VC55 moth dataset and starting to write a review of it; watching LCFC disintegrate into a completely shite and relegation-worthy team; listening on repeat to new albums from Depeche Mode and Orbital, and recently starting to get my head around the idea of being a 'Grandad' in October ....

The rubbish wet/windy weather through most of March has not been very helpful to getting out for anything, though a slightly better first week in April gave me chance to waft a lure around and add a few more Pammene giganteana dots to the VC map.

The garden trap went out last night for a few hours, I pulled it in early ahead of more rain. Just as well really, as loitering at the bottom of the dry trap was the first garden tick for 2023 (and it probably would have drowned I'd left the trap out). So just over 11 years since I last saw one, and a very welcome addition to the garden, is this Dotted Chestnut. I couldn't decide which pic to post so have a few.

I mentioned listening to new albums, one being Optical Delusion from Orbital. I went to Nottingham on Friday night to watch their live set, absolutely loved it and it's about 10 years since I last saw them live. This one is probably my favourite track, not least because it mentions 'Sandeels disappearing, Puffins lost at sea'.

A much more sombre offering, but one I've thoroughly enjoyed, is Memento Mori from Depeche Mode. Several great tracks, though I doubt this release will generate a new generation of fans. Sadly, as it stands their current World tour only has one UK date - which falls in the same June weekend that I'm away at the Isle of Wight festival. Hopefully more dates to be added either late this year or early in 2024 (if previous tours are anything to go by).

Charnwood Lodge 24/03/2012

Superbly warm and sunny yesterday. I headed over to Charnwood Lodge last night with both Josh and Alex in tow to help put out a few traps and pot a few moths. When we left home it was still showing 16°C on the car dash. By the time we arrived at Charnwood Lodge, after stopping for a bite and fuel on the way, it was already down to 10°C. It was crystal clear and felt just like the temps would plummet further. I only had one target in mind, Mottled Grey, so we set up anyway on the basis that if it was really quiet we'd pack up early.

We lit up just before 19:00, and after an hour we'd picked up a few moths but overall it was pretty quiet. I had a sheet and three traps running, so by 20:30 I decided we'd pack up knowing that would take a good 45 minutes or so. At the first trap, I found a Mottled Grey sitting on the outside so it was at least a successful trip even if brief and quiet. I'd emptied all the egg trays and tipped the trap on to its side to check around the underside of the lip at the top ...... WTF!!!!!

Superb Dotted Chestnut - British Tick for me

I really couldn't believe my luck - it was such a marginal night to go out at all, but to pick up a new macro was the last thing I expected. That it is only the second post-VCH record for VC55 was also pretty good. The other traps and the sheet were less exciting, but the overall total [261 of 15sp.] wasn't too bad for such a short session on a rapidly cooling night.

0663 Diurnea fagella 96
1659 Yellow Horned (Achlya flavicornis galbanus) 1
1663 March Moth (Alsophila aescularia) 2

1775 Mottled Grey (Colostygia multistrigaria) 10

1852 Brindled Pug (Eupithecia abbreviata) 12
1930 Oak Beauty (Biston strataria) 6
1947 Engrailed (Ectropis bistortata) 13
2182 Small Quaker (Orthosia cruda) 24
2187 Common Quaker (Orthosia cerasi) 37
2188 Clouded Drab (Orthosia incerta) 14
2189 Twin-spotted Quaker (Orthosia munda) 27
2190 Hebrew Character (Orthosia gothica) 3
2256 Satellite (Eupsilia transversa) 3
2258 Chestnut (Conistra vaccinii) 12

2260 Dotted Chestnut (Conistra rubiginea) 1

Mottled Grey

The garden traps were actually better than I thought they would be, with a total of 42 of 13sp., though nothing new for the year:

0663 Diurnea fagella 1
0688 Agonopterix heracliana 2
1053 Acleris hastiana 1
1497 Amblyptilia acanthadactyla 2
1524 Emmelina monodactyla 9
1663 March Moth (Alsophila aescularia) 1
1746 Shoulder Stripe (Anticlea badiata) 2
1862 Double-striped Pug (Gymnoscelis rufifasciata) 1
1917 Early Thorn (Selenia dentaria) 4
2187 Common Quaker (Orthosia cerasi) 1
2188 Clouded Drab (Orthosia incerta) 7
2190 Hebrew Character (Orthosia gothica) 9
2243 Early Grey (Xylocampa areola) 2

Early Thorn

Garden traps are staying off tonight - it's been very warm and sunny again but it will plummet pretty quickly and be close to freezing overnight.

Full story to follow .......

Phwoar!