After what feels like a long, reluctant start to the year, the evening temperature in Caithness finally crept up to a positively balmy 7 °C, enough to tempt me into putting two moth traps out overnight. It’s amazing how even a small temperature rise can change everything at this time of year.
Activity was still modest, but very welcome all the same. Both traps produced a handful of early-season species, including Pale Brindled Beauty, Chestnut, and Winter Moth, all classic heralds of the moth year getting underway in the far north.
The highlight of the night, though, was a Satellite, which was a new species for me. Always a pleasure to add something new to the personal list, especially so early in the season, and a nice reminder that even familiar setups can still deliver surprises.
SatelliteIt may not have been a big catch, but it felt like an important step forward. With temperatures finally lifting, this is the first sign that the season is starting to stir properly here in Caithness.
