Moth night at MWT Cors Dyfi, 19/08/2026. In association with Butterfly Conservationand supported by Y Senedd and Local Places for Nature Fund.

This event was the 15th moth group visit to Cors Dyfi since the group began public recording events in 2006.

It was a pleasing thought to be going somewhere so reliably wet to record species with the drought conditions lingering and the recent fierce heat. However, the weather was on the cusp of change and a cooler night with a light northerly breeze and clearing sky was forecast.

View inland along the board walk to the visitor centre. PMcG.

By 9pm two MV traps were set up, along with three green actinic snaking along the board walk to the Osprey hide, where a LepiLED was deployed on one of the viewing areas. This trap later producing an unusual light display as darkness settled in.

LepiLED trap displaying its spectrum of visible light. PMcG.

By 9.15pm all the traps were on and a number of visitors had arrived,  keen to see what we might record.  Directly from the white sheet, Small Rufous was the first macro recorded, along with Common Wave, Dusky Thorn and Freyer's Pug (new site record).

Freyer's Pug. PMcG

Much excitement and id discussion was generated as a rather splendid, suspected Sharp-angled Peacock was potted, but much to Rob Stoke's frustration, refusing to comply and open its wings for his impressive photography set up! The image below was obtained from a later specimen. Confirmed on social media by Meurig Garbutt. According to the website, this is the 2nd county record. Also confirmed by Dulcie Faulkner as a new site record.

Sharp-angled Peacock. PMcG

Shortly followed by the identification of Crescent, quite tricky in its worn state. Well done Simon!

Crescent. PMcG

Epinotia trigonella was micro moth of the night in terms of interest but a last minute appearance of Ambliptilia acanthadactyla by the visitor centre front door stole the visuals.

Ambliptilia acanthadactyla. PMcG

By midnight and all visitors having departed, the chill air and slow-down of species appearing stimulated the decision to slowly wind the event down.

With the last-man-standing winding down the traps along the board walk, it was in time honoured fashion that not only the target species for the night Rosy Rustic, (albeit a ropey specimen) was to be found, in the trap next to the area of Bog Myrtle

Rosy Rustic. PMcG

but also Marsh Oblique Barred, Neglected Rustic and Bulrush Wainscot!

Marsh Oblique Barred. PMcG

Neglected Rustic. PMcG.

Bulrush Wainscot. PMcG.

In the end, an excellent night of recording with three new site records.  51 species were recorded. Seven of those being micro's. The full list will be available HERE in due course.

As always, a big thank you to those members of the public who ventured out to share the evening with us. Your interest and enthusiasm are a large part of what makes these events worthwhile!

Many thanks go to our hosts Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust for permission to record at their reserve. 

Thanks to our recorders, Simon Spencer and Phil McGregor and determiners Peter Williams and Meurig Garbutt. Extended thanks to Kate Gillan and Rob Stokes for their invaluable help running the event in their respective ways. 

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 evening event will be on 12th September 2026 at Deri Woods, Llanfair Caerinion, 8.30pm onwards. This event was cancelled last year due to poor weather conditions. Fingers crossed for this year!

Many thanks,

Phil & Simon.

Upcoming public evening moth event at MWT Cors Dyfi (Osprey Project) Nature Reserve, Saturday 15th August 2026.

 Hi all,

Just a reminder that our next moth group evening event is to be held by kind permission of our hosts Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust, at the MWT Cors Dyfi nature reserve this coming Saturday.

View of Cors Dyfi nature reserve from the visitor centre.

Image: @sallys592 Tripadvisor

Always a great site for recording many varied moth species, thanks to the rich and diverse habitats to found there. Our target species for the night is the Red Data Book species Rosy Marsh Moth, recorded on this site before but very rare in the county due to scarcity of its food plant Bog Myrtle.

The reserve is really easy to find, situated alongside the A487,  just over 5 1/2 kilometres west of Machynlleth, in the direction of Aberystwyth.

OS NGR 703984. w3w//adhesive.quaking.asset. SY20 8SR.

Switch on time for traps will be around 9pm.

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. Seating is available.

If this 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

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 species list is available HERE.

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 is available HERE.

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.

NEWTOWN EVENT TONIGHT (20/06/2026) *******CANCELLED*******

Hi all,

It is with regret we announce that the moth event at Hafan yr Afon tonight has to be CANCELLED.

On grounds of event safety and security, last minute advice has been given that it is not appropriate on this occasion to run a solo staffed event at this location.

We do apologise for any inconvenience or disappointment caused.

This event will be rescheduled for later in the year.

Many thanks for your understanding,

Phil.

Upcoming public evening moth event at Hafan yr Afon, Y Drenewydd/Newtown. 20/06/2026. In association with Butterfly Conservation.

Hot on the heels of the moth group event at Llangynog, is our next recording session, an urban based location in Y Drenewydd/Newtown. 

This is a new site for the moth group to record at. There are only a handful of micro moth species records from 2012 in this area.

By kind permission of OpenNewtown https://opennewtown.org.uk/, the event base will be located in their outdoor shelter at the end of the Hafan yr Afon building.

Thanks to the thoughtful layout of the paths and building, this is an open access event suitable for people of all mobilities.

Switch on time for traps is likely to be around 9.50pm given the time of year, until late. 

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 although there are outdoor tables and benches nearby.

Location.

Hafan yr Afon can be found at the rear of the main town car park off Back Lane (entrance next to the bus station). Parking is free after 6pm.

OS NGR SO105915. w3w//smiling.buzz.ordeals. SY16 2NH.

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

Phil.

Moth night at Craig Rhiwarth, Llangynog. In association with Butterfly Conservation 13/06/2026.

Craig Rhiwarth would easily be a lifetimes study of Geology, Flora, Fauna and History.

Heavily faulted, with rich mineral deposits and very thin soils has resulted in a landscape, part disturbed by human industrial activity since at least the Iron Age and a locally distinct environment with numerous niche habitat opportunities for uncommon wildlife to establish.

 

Craig Rhiwarth, Llangynog. PMG.

August 2025, the moth group surveyed the base of the southern slopes of the mountain, in the hope of finding Ashworth's Rustic. We had not expected to find Weaver's Wave as well as the former, being the target species.

The Weaver's Wave was identified as 2nd generation and with only one previous record from near Pystll Llanrhaedr, it was decided that we would return to the site in June 2026, the hope being to find some 1st generation. 

The weather had been marginal good/ok with a risk of lowering night temperatures as Saturday approached.

Traps were set up along the base of the slope in much the same places as last year, with the addition of two of the new LepiLED traps, purchased with our Local Places for Nature grant funding.

Switch on time was around 9.50pm and a Green Carpet was the first moth caught, with a net.

As people arrived to the event in greater numbers, thankfully, so did the moths, in a steady flow to keep Simon occupied with identification whilst the remainder of the 11 attendees walked up and down the lane and paths, visiting the various traps.

Knotgrass and Bordered White were among the macro's recorded

Knotgrass. SS

Bordered White. PMG

along with Grey Pug and Shears.

Grey Pug. PMG

Shears. PMG

Tortrix viridana and a not so common Teleiopsis diffinis (19th county record) were amongst the five micro species noted.

Teleiopsis diffinis. PMG

Alas, no Weaver's Wave on this occasion. It is the beginning of the flight time for this moth. It is not impossible that they are a little late this year with the disruptive cold spells we have experienced recently. Indeed, it was very chilly where the base was located, with a heavy dew.

However, our cold complex was unexpectedly warmed by the arrival in a pot of a Glowworm (Lampiris noctiluca), spotted by an eagle eyed participant. The strength of the green bioluminescence was most impressive. They have not been recorded at this site before.

By 1.30am, with the chill properly set in, we were down to three people and it was decided that with 7 traps on the go, we should start closing them down. 

44 macro and 5 micro species were recorded, the full list is available HERE..

Many thanks as always to those willing to come out into the night and join the event.  Your enthusiasm and keenness to learn about moths does not go unnoticed!

Thanks also to Simon Spencer and Phil McGregor for identifications and Peter Bent for verifications via the facebook page.

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

Our next public moth group evening event is this coming Saturday, 20th June, starting around 9.50pm at Hafan yr Afon visitor centre in Newtown. This is a new recording site for the group, in the vicinity of Dolerw Park. Further details will be available in another blog post and on the facebook group page very soon.

Many thanks,

Phil & Simon.

Upcoming public moth group re-visit to Llangynog, 13th June 2026. In association with Butterfly Conservation. Supported by Y Senedd and Local Places for Nature.

Hi all,

Just a reminder that our re-visit to Craig Rhiwarth, Llangynog is nearly upon us.

The forecast is looking favourable for our target species Weaver's Wave, which was discovered as a second generation, in August last year at this site, on the North-east side of the village.

Most of the traps will be placed alongside the back lane which leads from Llangynog to Penybontfawr.

Parking is in the village car park and involves a short walk along the lane to where the event will be based.

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.

Directions:

The event base is about 380 metres from the village car park.

It is best to approach Llangynog from the east or west, along the B4391. Park up in the village car park, where there are public toilets. 

Walking, turn right, out of the car park, crossing the river, then turn right, off the B4391 and up a single track lane. Almost immediately turn right again and walk along this lane, with the open, rocky slopes of Craig Rhiwarth on your left until you reach the event base location.

Drop-off at the event location is possible but vehicles will still need to be left in the village car park.

Village car parking: OS NGR SJ 053 261 w3w///galloped.published.documents

Event base location: OS NGR SJ 0570 2638  w3w///unsettled.dinosaur.alongside.

Traps will be turned on around 9.30pm.

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

Phil & Simon.