New on the Observation Board

December and January do not create too many enteries on the Observation Board, so we are always pleased when we can add something.  We know where to look for the first Hazel tree that has both male and female flowers and we were not disappointed.  Male catkins have been tightly closed until this last week when they have opened to release their pollen.

The tiny red flowers often escape us until we 'get our eye in' and then we find them all over the branches.

The Moth Trap.  It is like a story that begins 'Once upon a time ....'.  Yes, we will trap all through the winter, we decided, but the weather has had its say, so no moth trap for weeks.  The wind has been too high, the temperature too low and or too much rain.  Even the Field Centre walls have been bare of moths.  Wednesday we found one! On identification it was recorded as Pale Brindled Beauty, with a flight season stretching from January through to March.  Larvae can be found from mid April to mid June on many of the deciduous trees including Downy and Silver Birch, Hawthorn, Blackthorn, Alder, Hazel and Goat Willow.  Newly hatched adults can have a pink tinge to their abdomens and if you look closely (and possibly squint a bit) you can just see a pink hint along his abdomen.  This is definately a male as the females are wingless, brown and not particularly hairy.

On Tuesday we will take delivery of a second moth trap, kindly awarded to us from our grant application to the CSF Conservation Group Fund.  The Moth Group at Foxglove would like to thank Richard Brooks, Head of MoD Conservation, Dr Moira Owen (BSc PhD MCIEEM) and Hannah Mintram for their support and assistance.  All we need now is some good moth weather!