This morning was an object lesson in persistence. When I first checked the trap at Cnwc y Llwyn (Brechfa) I came away disappointed: there were no moths in it and just 2 Pale Brindled Beauties on the wall. After breakfast I returned and searched the surrounding 3m radius, revealing 4 Pale Brindled Beauty, 1 Dotted Border, 1 Spring Usher and 1 Early Moth: not bad for February! Many/most moths don't make it into the trap, particularly on cool nights. It's important to site a trap so that the surroundings are searchable - my regular Cnwc and Dingestow trap sites have a gravel/concrete base edged with walls up which roses, ferns and long grass grow, so there are plenty of hiding places but it's easy enough to search through them methodically.
I had three Dotted border last night, and two more Pale Brindled Beauties, all of them around the trap. I nearly mistook the DBs for Mottled Umber though. Must concentrate!
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