5th March 2013 ... NEWTo Garden

Following a very warm day, a few moths turned up in and around the traps, but the highlight for me was a first appearance of a newt near my small fish pond.
In fact my fish pond has been the centre of attention this week with a heron seeking to devour my 6 goldfish (was 8)

Keeping an eye on my 6 remaining goldfish from the neighbours roof...Grey Heron

Smooth Newt 

Last nights Moths ....
The first Common Quakers turned up as expected and I was pleased to see a March Moth as I missed out on it last year.
4 x Agonopterix heracliana and 1 Acleris schalleriana completed the tally.

Common Quaker

Common Quaker

March Moth

Acleris schalleriana,  (To be confirmed)

1st March 2013 ... Dotty about Spring

5 deg C at dusk on a calm overcast evening meant game on for the garden trap.
Half expecting the first Common Quaker/Hebrew Character/Clouded Drab/Satellite etc of the year I checked the trap at 2 glasses past Shiraz 'o clock.
Two moths on the wall near the trap justified the electric bill, a garden first appearance of  Dotted Border and the second garden record for Spring Usher.
Nothing more in or around the trap this morning, no Orthosia species, but the week ahead looks very favourable.

Agriopis marginaria ... Dotted Border

Agriopis leucophaearia ... Spring Usher