2011 and all that...

The first update for some time, for which I apologise, mainly due to the fact that I have not done any trapping since the warm spell in early October.  In addition, there were other very time-consuming events, including trying to replace the old boiler....no, not a reference to any attempts to change my marital status, but more to vast amounts of cash spent on a temperamental heating system that defies all attempts to burst into life as and when I need the heat!  The boiler has now been replaced (thanks Mother!) just in time for this unseasonal mild weather......hoorah!

So, forgive my indulgence, but time for a bit of a look back on the year so far.  Moth trapping has been the most successful year yet in Yorkshire, with 10,290 moths of 429 species for the year, considerably more than the totals achieved in the previous 5 years, but still only just similar numbers to my annual Dorset garden year-list.  This was obviously assisted by spending 45 nights out and about in the county from late February to early October, an increase of 10 nights on the previous two years. 

Other than a few days trapping in Ireland and a brief foray to Dorset, the highlights for me in Yorkshire were as follows:

Of the scarcer micros, the rare but strikingly pied Ethmia quadrillella at Kilburn on 2^nd June; four Epinotia demarniana from three sites in the Pilmoor area 12^th June to 10^th July; singles of Eucosmomorpha albersana and Cydia coniferana at Kilburn on 2^nd June; four of the reed-dwelling Calamotropha paludella at Staveley 2^nd and 13^th August; five Phlyctaenia perlucidalis at Staveley on 26^th June and 3^rd July.

A Poplar Lutestring at Kilburn on 11^th May, the most westerly of about ten previous records in Yorkshire; single Birch Mocha in Pilmoor area on 7^th June and 14^th July; singles of the beautiful Clouded Magpie at Kilburn on  25^th June, and by day near Scawton on 6^th June.  Brindled Beauty is a scarce moth in Yorkshire, so six in a wood near Helmsley on 22^nd April was a record count; Red-necked Footman consolidated its arrival in the County with three at Kilburn on 2^nd June; unprecedented numbers of Four-dotted Footman with a maximum of 103 at Sessay wood on 2^nd July.

Targeting Aspen in the spring produced a Lead-coloured Drab at Pilmoor on 21^st March; a total of 15 Angle-striped Sallow from five sites, unusually including Brimham Rocks, 2^nd July to the 4^th September; Mere Wainscot recorded from two sites at Pilmoor/Sessay, the first here since first recorded in 1968, and the most northern records of a patchy distribution in the UK.

Speculative trapping on Dallowgill Moor in less than ideal weather produced a Haworth's Minor on 1^st October;   Autumn trapping at Staveley produced some good reed-bed species including a Crescent on 2^nd and 13^th August, two Brown-veined Wainscot on 13^th August, and a Blackneck on 3^rd July; an Anomalous at Brimham on 2^nd September was new for the site.

As far as birding went, no real surprises due very little effort, although had some extremely enjoyable birding in Ireland on the beautiful west coast.  In the totally meaningless quest for new species it was actually a bumper year, with a couple of lifers and several good British and Irish ticks: Stejneger’s Scoter, Black Scoter, Terek Sandpiper, White-throated Robin, Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, Pallid Harrier and Greater Yellowlegs. The long-staying Northumbrian Yellowlegs was particularly good to see, as it is nearly 30 years since seeing good numbers in the USA and Canada, and my only previous attempt for a British one was the long-distance dip at Great Yarmouth 35 years ago!

What 2012 holds is full of uncertainty…..as Pessi-mystic Meg says "we're doomed!"