Most unexpected ….

 It’s been a very long time since I blogged…. and did much trapping. On 2nd September I set a trap in my garden at Carmel, on the edge of the NNR, to check the catch with the local Wildlife Trust group the following morning. The night was overcast, still and fairly mild, so good for mothing - and rain didn’t start until breakfast time, fortunately light, so the 6 people who turned up stayed reasonably dry, as did the moths. Twenty or so species, including a purple bar, but sitting underneath the first egg box to be turned over was… a Clifden nonpareil. Having given the catch a brief check before the group met I had had the chance to work out what it was! Gentle coaxing failed to persuade it to reveal its underwings; instead it launched itself strongly into the air and flew off, but giving us good, albeit brief, views of the lovely blue. 

Certainly a new species for me and I think for the Carmel NNR area.