A bit of botanising

With the lack of cloud cover, the temperature dropped down to 3.1C overnight. Only 12 moths but 9 species so not too bad, especially as four of them were new for the year, ie Red-green Carpet, Common and Currant Pug and Shuttle-shaped Dart. The totals in the trap were -

Red-green Carpet (Chloroclysta siterata) 1
Currant Pug (Eupithecia assimilata) 1
Common Pug (Eupithecia vulgata) 1
Shuttle-shaped Dart (Agrotis puta) 1
Pine Beauty (Panolis flammea) 2
Small Quaker (Orthosia cruda) 2
Common Quaker (Orthosia cerasi) 2
Hebrew Character (Orthosia gothica) 1
Oak Nycteoline (Nycteola revayana) 1

Common Pug

Shuttle-shaped Pug

I did a bit of botanising on the fell later and turned up quite a few new ones in flower because of the effort. That effort being getting down on my hands and knees and getting back up again and again and again. Oh my bones. Many were a bit on the early side. Flowering plants of Greater Stitchwort, Barren Strawberry, Wild Strawberry, Tormentil, Wavy Bittercress, Bugle, Holly, Great and Field Woodrush, Bush Vetch, Gooseberry, Germander Speedwell and Heath Bedstraw were noted. Also, the grasses Sweet Vernal and Barren Brome. A total of 15 new ones.

Bugle

Wild Strawberry

Good number of butterflies were on the wing, particularly Orange-tip and at least 4 Speckled Wood. In Sunderland this morning I saw a Painted Lady, a good record as not many have been seen this year so far but hopefully this may be a sign of things to come. Checking the bumblebees, I probably should have seen one before but I did see my first Common Carder Bee queen of the year.

Nothing new on the bird front but still two (or two more) Wheatear were present near the village and there appears to be several more Blackcaps around.

Male Wheatear  

My OFFH yearlists currently at stand at

Birds - 92
Mammals - 6
Moths - 34
Butterflies -8
Bumblebees - 5
Flowers - 101