Coincidences ....

Yes, I too saw a Small Tortoiseshell in the garden yesterday (and another down the road). I hope lots of them were about.

But I did put the light trap on last night, even though I had done so on Tueday and got a nil return.

So this morning I was both pleased and disappointed. Disappointed as there were only 5 moths in the trap, but pleased because one of them was new for me here. The first of the "orthosias" a group of fairly common spring moths.

It is called a Small Quaker, Orthosia cruda. In some years (in France) I have had hundreds in the trap, but today, one was enough.

So, here is a picture of my visitor;

 

Small Quaker


The other moths in the trap were 3 Oak Beauties and a Chestnut