Mottled Umber and lots of work

It's been damp and miserable weather all day today. Our volunteers, who did a variety of tasks, went home early after getting soaked in the lunchtime rain. Before they went they had filled up the seed hoppers, cleaned the peanut feeders, checked the electric fence, filled rabbit holes in the paths and also carried on with Saturday's work of clearing gorse and birch! Whew, that's a lot of work!

The moth, pictured here, was found outside the field centre this morning. It is a Mottled Umber and is on the wing from December until January. It is quite common in woodland, scrub and hedgerows.

Because the air has been mild and damp today the moth trap has been set tonight in the hopes of attracting some in. It has been a few weeks since we tried trapping as the nights have been so cold. Fingers crossed for a a good catch tomorrow.