20/04/2013 - Busy

Yesterday was busy on the natural history front, with a decent foray into the square, some patch birding in between taking and collecting Alex from Karate, and a mothing excursion last night.

I've managed to see a few spring migrants on the patch and in my home square now, though nothing too exciting. Wheatear at Grove Park in the week, and Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler and Blackcap all at Jubilee Park. Also had a pair of Oystercatchers there, and a second LRP for the patch this year. No hirundines on the patch yet though, and just the odd Swallow seen around my home square. Willow Warblers and Blackcaps singing around the square, but no Chiffchaffs as yet - seems a bit odd. Whitethroat overdue now.

Had a short mothing trip to Charnwood Lodge last night with Adrian Russell and Keith Tailby. It quickly turned cold so we didn't stay out late, but we managed 99 of 16 sp. so not too bad. Early Tooth-striped was, perhaps surprisingly, new for the site.

Early Tooth-striped

Total list:
0663  Diurnea fagella  1
0688  Agonopterix heracliana  1
1054  Acleris cristana  1
1659  Yellow Horned (Achlya flavicornis galbanus)  1
1852  Brindled Pug (Eupithecia abbreviata)  7
1881  Early Tooth-striped (Trichopteryx carpinata)  2
1917  Early Thorn (Selenia dentaria)  1
1930  Oak Beauty (Biston strataria)  7
1947  Engrailed (Ectropis bistortata)  31
2139  Red Chestnut (Cerastis rubricosa)  1
2182  Small Quaker (Orthosia cruda)  22
2187  Common Quaker (Orthosia cerasi)  6
2188  Clouded Drab (Orthosia incerta)  10
2189  Twin-spotted Quaker (Orthosia munda)  1
2190  Hebrew Character (Orthosia gothica)  1
2258  Chestnut (Conistra vaccinii)  6

I also mooched around a few fallen trees and stuff whilst there, finding a new centipede and some unidentifiable beetle larvae ..

Banded Centipede

Larva in dead birch

Some sort of click beetle I think

Trapping in the garden last night wasn't too good, with just one new for the year and small numbers than earlier in the week. Too cold to both tonight.

Taxa
1054  Acleris cristana  2
1862  Double-striped Pug (Gymnoscelis rufifasciata)  1 (NFY)
2187  Common Quaker (Orthosia cerasi)  5
2188  Clouded Drab (Orthosia incerta)  6
2190  Hebrew Character (Orthosia gothica)  7
2243  Early Grey (Xylocampa areola)  2

 Acleris cristana