I’m almost sure that this is….

 Glaucous Shears., but stand to be corrected of course! I’ve had it twice before, 2017 and 19. Two nights ago, along with a few of the usuals, Elephants, Broom, Peppered, Puss, Buff Tips and lots of Pale Tussocks.

Marbled Coronet

 Things have just started to happen in the trap at last. Such cold, clear nights over the past few weeks have really put the numbers down.

This Marbled Coronet was in the trap a few nights ago

A new micromoth in my Burry Port Garden

 Apart from FFY Limespeck Pug, Marbled Minor (sp.) and Mottled Beauty the most interesting thing in the trap was a tautologically microscopic micro, smaller than a grain of rice (uncooked) but with an orange tinge. At first I thought it might be Argyresthia cupresella, but it was a different accidental introduction to western Europe, the Firethorn Leaf Miner. It's a pretty thing and hard to photograph as it is probably less than 5mm long and skittish.

Broken barred Carpet and firsts for the year.

 Last night produced the best trap of a cold spring that has produced meagre returns so far.

It produced over 50 individuals of 26 species including a number of firsts for the year including Heart and Dart, Vine's Rustic, Rustic Shoulderknot and Pale Mottled Willow. I also had a specimen of Dichrorampha acuminanata which is not on the carms template. I was pleased to have another specimen of the tiny Swammerdamia pyrelella which I've only found once before.

I also had a broken-barred carpet which is not common in my garden.

Buttercup Munchers at Maenol

 

A gathering of  Micropterix calthella

This particular flower must have been very special, all the neighbouring ones had only attracted one or two individuals.

Pseudoswammerdamia combinella

 I trapped on Wednesday night but had to wait 24 hours before the subject had calmed down enough for photography. Along with a crop of Cockchafers there were FFY Treble Lines and a Sandy Carpet.

Pseudoswammerdamia combinella is new for the garden and a welcome addition to the usual Light Brown Apples, Tachystola acroxantha and Eudonia angustea.

Spring firsts for the year in Burry Port

 When I went to collect my trap shortly before dawn I could see a triangular shape on the shed door next to the trap.

My first Puss Moth of 2023 and possibly for a few years. Other FFYs included Oblique-striped, Least Black Arches, Cochylis atricapitana, Muslin Moth and Shuttle-shaped Dart.