Moth night at Melinbyrhedin, 18/07/2026. In association with Butterfly Conservation and supported by Y Senedd and Local Places for Nature Fund.

In participation with National Moth Week, the common land at Melinbyrhedin was a new recording site for the moth group. Centred in the heart of the village and immediate surroundings, not many official records have been generated since 2013. This was a good opportunity to build on those records.

Over the past 25 years the bracken on the common ground has intensified substantially, particularly on the lower slopes. It is always interesting and useful to obtain data to record such changes in a landscape.

Melinbyrhedin setting.

image: © https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/File:Melinbyrhedin_-_geograph.org.uk_-_791696.jpg

Arriving on site for 8pm, traps and the white sheet were set up and switched on around 9pm, just as some of the local residents arrived to find out what we were doing and why. 

Rosy Footman was the first moth of the night, captured with a net on this occasion. There was general consensus by those present that this moth had not been observed flying at dusk before. Several were seen, unmistakable in the twilight thanks to their bright  pinkish/orange colour. 

Rosy Footman. P. McGregor

As visitors were introduced to moths and a first walk around the traps commenced, A likely hungry, young Hedgehog was the first fauna stumbled upon, heading in the direction of one of the traps, perhaps looking for an evening meal?! 

Some of the earlier evening moths potted included Silver Y, Ruby Tiger and Green Carpet. Along with an uncommon Small Rufous and Nimphula nitidulata (Beautiful China-mark)

Small Rufous. S. Spencer.

Nymphula nitidulata (Beautiful China-mark). S. Spencer.

It was not long after dark that the familiar silhouette of a tweed trilby was spotted near the white sheet with a very welcome Peter Williams underneath it! We were very pleased to see him again and receive his expert help with identifications.

As the evening progressed, a distinct chilly dampness set in at the valley bottom, leaving the higher altitude traps busiest with moths. Nonetheless, a steady flow of moths were brought to the table. Sallow Kitten, Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet and Black Arches amongst them.

Sallow Kitten. S. Spencer

Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet. P. McGregor.

Black Arches. P.McGregor.

Being in a village location, a pre-agreed finish time of around 1.30am signalled the winding down of a very enjoyable session. It was also very cold by this point. 

Nomophila noctuella (Rush Veneer) and a fine Cloaked Carpet were added to the list as the traps were packed away.

Nomophila noctuella (Rush Veneer). P. McGregor

Cloaked Carpet. P. McGregor.

A decent 70 species were recorded. 59 Macro and 11 Micro species. (Blood-vein was added to a later version of the final list).The full list will be available HERE in due course.

As always, thanks and appreciation to the residents of Melinbyrhedin for their welcome and  willingness for the event to go ahead. Also for those who were able to attend.

Thank you to Peter Williams for his assistance with identification.

We would also like to thank Butterfly Conservation for our insurance cover and Y Senedd and Powys Nature Partnership's administration of the Local Place's for Nature grant funding support of the moth group.

Our next event is a return visit to Cors Dyfi on Saturday 15th August, 9pm onwards.

Many thanks,

Phil & Simon.

Scarce Silver Y at Ty Gwyn, Cefn Coch. 11/07/2026. In association with Butterfly Conservation and supported by Y Senedd and Local Places for Nature fund.

Ty Gwyn sits on an upland rough pasture ridge in between the upper Afon Tanat and Afon Rhaedr valleys in north Montgomeryshire. This was a new survey site for the moth group.

The area surveyed is mainly wet wildflower meadows under restoration, surrounded by rough upland pasture and scrubby carr.  

Ty Gwyn meadows. A. Bridger

For once we could actually relax about the weather forecast with the prolonged hot, dry spell suggesting a good night for moth-ing.

After a warm welcome from our hosts we were greeted by the sight of  numerous Silver Y and a Hummingbird Hawk-moth feeding on Lavender and Red Valerian in the gardens. Two for the list before we had even set up!

Shortly after bats started to appear and the traps were switched on, the first visit to the traps illustrated what would prove to be some of the most abundant macro moth species for the night including Dark Arches, Ruby Tiger, Smoky Wainscot, Common Footman and the ubiquitous Large Yellow Underwing. The more common forms of Crambus, Chrysoteuchia and Agrophila micro species were already present in large numbers.

Burnished Brass. P. McGregor.

Amongst the crowd pleasers brought back to the table were Burnished Brass, Grass Emerald and Gold Spot

Grass Emerald. P. McGregor.

Gold Spot. P. McGregor.

and a fine specimen of Freyer's Pug.

Freyer's Pug. S. Spencer.

Two Gilmeria pallidactyla (Yarrow Plume) were recorded, making for the most interesting micro species of the night with much discussion about their unusual form.

Gilmeria pallidactyla. S. Spencer.

as well a single record of Acentria ephemerella (Water Veneer)

Acentria ephemerella. P. McGregor

However, the rather unexpected star (or rather moth) of the night was the appearance of a delightful Scarce Silver Y.

Scarce Silver Y. P. McGregor

Not being too far from local rocky moorland, we concluded it must have been attracted down hill to the Robinson MV. It certainly testifies to the throw of the light from an MV bulb.

As visitors to the event gradually left, the moths kept on coming and it was down to the super hardy few still "in the zone" to continue recording deep into the night. Traps were finally all turned off by 3.30am. 94 species were recorded, 74 macro and 20 micro. The full species list will be available HERE in due course.

Many thanks to our hosts Alan Bridger and Fiona Slater for what turned out to be a brilliant moth-ing site. Also thanks must go to those willing to come out into the night and participate in the event.

We would also like to thank Butterfly Conservation for our insurance cover and Y Senedd and Powys Nature Partnership's administration of the Local Place's for Nature grant funding support of the moth group.

A brief reminder that our next event is this coming Saturday, 18th July 9.15pm onwards, at Melinbyrhedin, near Machynlleth. Another new recording site. Further details for this event can be found in the previous post on this blog.

Many thanks,

Phil & Simon.

Upcoming moth group evening events. Ty Gwyn, Cefn Coch, nr Llanrhaedr ym Mochnant and Melinbyrhedyn, nr Machynlleth.

 Hi all,

We have two public evening events running consecutive weekends. They are both new sites for the moth group to hold recording events.

Saturday 11th July 2026 Ty Gwyn, Cefn Coch.

By kind permission of the landowners/hosts, Alan Bridger and Fiona Slater.

This is an upland event on marginal enclosed pasture leading to open hillsides.

This event coincides with Wales Nature Week.

Ty Gwyn, Cefn Coch, Llanrhaedr ym Mochnant, 

SY10 0BP.  NGR OS SJ101268. w3w//ahead.character.inserted.

Directions: From Llanrhaedr YM, head west, up the hill along the road in the direction of Penybontfawr. After approximately 1km, take the turning on the right, it has stone walls either side and a white cottage. Follow this lane for just over another kilometre, bearing left at the fork in the road, encountered about half way. Ty Gwyn will be found on the left.

From Penybontfawr, it is the third turning on the left after around 3km, it has stone walls either side and a white cottage. Follow this lane for just over another kilometre, bearing left at the fork in the road, encountered about half way. Ty Gwyn will be found on the left.

Parking is rather limited and we would encourage people to car share from the free car parks in Llanrhaedr YM or Penybontfawr, where possible. 

We will be switching on traps around 9.30pm.

Saturday 18th July 2026. Melinbyrhedin.

This event is participating in National Moth Week.

We will be based on the common land at Melinbyrhedin on the lane just south of the main hamlet. 

The area is a typical mixture of open heathy scrub and bracken slopes.

Nearest postcode SY20 8SQ. NGR OS SN815988. w3w//dinner.clocking.romance.

Directions: There are a number of back lanes to this location but for simplicity we would recommend the following. 

From Machynlleth, follow the Dylife/Llyn Clywedog mountain road, (the turning is located opposite Hennigan's Fish and Chip shop), for around 7 kilometres until up a steep section of road, a left fork turn, signposts Melinbyrhedin. Follow this lane for just over 1 kilometre. We will be based on the left side of the lane as you descend to the hamlet. Please refrain from parking in/obstructing obviously used entrances within the hamlet and surroundings.

From Llanidloes, follow the B4158, through Staylittle until you reach the left turn, signposted Machynlleth. Follow this road over the mountain top, dropping down eventually to a sharp right turn for Melinbyrhedin after around 12km. Follow this lane for just over 1 kilometre. We will be based on the left side of the lane as you descend toward the hamlet.

As ever, car sharing is always a good idea where possible.

We will be switching traps on around 9.15pm.

For both of these events, please wear appropriate clothing and footwear for an evening, outdoor event and you will need to bring your own refreshments. A head/hand torch is essential. Insect repellant is recommended as a precaution. Please bring something to sit on if needed.

If either event needs to be cancelled, it will be notified by a post on this blog and also the group facebook page. Please check these before setting out.

Many thanks and we look forward to seeing you there,

Phil McGregor 07971335384

Simon Spencer 07866428875

Montgomeryshire Vice County Moth Recorder changeover.

 Hi All,

Most of you will now be aware that Peter Williams is hanging up his memorable tweed Trilby hat, as far as being County Moth Recorder is concerned.

Simon Spencer and I would like to formally thank Peter, on behalf of the Montgomeryshire Moth Group, for the time, incredible effort, dedication and ruthless enthusiasm he has given over the last 21 years, not only in founding and running the county moth group for which he passed on the batten a few years back but also as our Vice County Moth Recorder.

Always available to help with photos of tricky Pugs and worn micro's (and a good few justified rejections too!). Just the sheer quantity of records needing verifying, collating and organising is a mammoth task let alone annually updating the MMG website with the assistance of Mike Haigh and much more. All of this done voluntarily from Peter's indefatigable passion for moths.

As in Peter's own words, he has "truly put Montgomeryshire on the moth map" building up a dedicated team of voluntary recorders across the county.

Thank you and we wish you "all the best" for your future with many more moth-ing years to come.

We would also like to give a very warm welcome to Simon Layton, our new Vice County Moth Recorder, based not far from Peter. We wish you every success in the role and will support you in any way that we can. Looking forward to the transfer to you of Impossible Pugs and Mysterious Micro's. It's now over to your capable skills!

Good luck and best wishes to you both,

Phil & Simon.