Summer arrives 55 deg N

I picked the right day to do my BBS (Breeding Bird survey). Clear skies, warm sun, light winds. First stop was Earsdon cemetery for a few sunrise snaps then off to Widdrington Station to do the survey.

Fox just before sunrise

Swallow - an early riser

Back home and the moth trap had three moths of three different species.

Twenty-plume Moth

Hebrew Character

Scalloped Hazel

New Moths!

As spring warms up and moves on it was just a matter of time before the mothing got a bit more interesting. Last night's catch included a couple of Hebrew Characters and four moths of three different species not seen before. One of them, Monopis imella, has only been recorded in Northumberland twice before!

Twenty-plume Moth

Double-striped Pug

Monopis imella

Monopis imella
Nationally scarce, in Britain as far north as Morayshire, found more in wild habitats than other British species of the genus, and in the British Isles most common near the sea, but very local.