Birds, Leps, Observations & Generalities - the images and ramblings of Mark Skevington. Sometimes.

Wednesday, 2 April 2025

Spring Blossom

I ran the garden trap on Monday night, not with any great expectations as the predicted minimum temps were very low but it did look like it would take until gone midnight before they completely dropped off.  The trap looked pretty bare when I checked just before heading off to bed, so I was surprised with a total of 31 of 9sp, in the morning. However the only highlight, and by far and away the best moth of the year for me so far, was a NFG Blossom Underwing. Completely unexpected for the garden so all the sweeter. It happened to be the very last moth I looked at, tucked up under the lip of the backside of the trap, but as I teased it out I could see the pale hindwing shining and knew what it was. Not the best marked specimen, it is pretty subtle this one, but I think you'd be hard-pressed to mistake it in the flesh - v. slightly smaller than typical Common Quaker which it doesn't really look like at all, but noticeable larger than typical Small Quaker which I guess you could overlook it for if unwary.

Blossom Underwing 31/03/2024

Otherwise I've had more successful overwintered Phyllonorycter mines in the last couple of days ....

Phyllonorycter cerascicolella - ex-mines on Cherry from Fosse Meadows 23/10/2024

Phyllonorycter nicellii - ex-mines on Hazel from Fosse Meadows 23/10/2024

Phyllonorycter sorbi - ex-mines on Rowan from Bradgate Park 22/10/2024

Phyllonorycter esperella - ex-mines on Hornbeam from Burbage Common 14/09/2024

I could post something by The Blossoms, but I don't like them.

No comments: