Friday, 4 April 2025

Recent moths at Little Oak Lodge

I've been stuck at the Homestead working and on family duty for the last couple of days (which cost me the Alpine Swift over The Bill this morning). However the moth trap has been getting more interesting with 25 species of nearly 60 individuals this morning- the best single night return this year so far. Now on 438 species for the garden as we pick off the classic Spring collection and 47 species for the year. 

After dropping Jacob off at school I popped into Birdham Pool- just a couple of Sand Martins and a Willow Warbler. Had a couple of Swallow over the garden yesterday while working with Matt - now on 139 for the local patch year list. 

I took a walk yesterday evening from here to the Ferry and then along the tram line to Mill Pond and back- still shocked by how few summer migrants. There was a gathering of about 150 Sandwich Tern at Church Norton which I could see distantly but that was it in the way of summer migrants- Ebird list HERE. I could only see a single Wigeon in the harbour and haven't seen a Pintail in a few days. The only Brents have had recently were two at Medmerry - looks like most winter birds now gone with the harbour looking pretty empty overall. 

This evening I took Isaac out with the stroller and we walked to Mill Lane Marsh and then back via Ferry. Highlights including 1 Willow Warbler singing at Mill Lane duck pond, 2 Swallow over the Marsh and 2 Green Sandpiper and a Spotted Redshank in the Ferry Channel. 

The first Chocolate-tip of the year is always a welcome sight
The first Frosted Green for the year- a sure sign that Spring is advancing. Also Lunar Marbled Browns yesterday- another sign that we are getting there. 
Quite a subtle marked Powdered Quaker
What looks like an unseasonal Mottled Rustic
Blossom Underwing- the most delicate of the Spring Orthosias
Getting quite a few Agonopoterix. Amongst the Alstromeriana and heracliana there seems to be some yeatiana (below) and maybe subpropinquella (above) and also a single arenella (below that) and also what might be a propinquella (below that). I guess some of these could do with gen dent. 



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