‘Mothing and bat event’ at Coed Y Dinas Nature Reserve

Hello Moth-ers,

This Saturday the MMG (Montgomeryshire Moth Group) and the MWT are holding a joint ‘mothing and bat event’ at Coed Y Dinas Nature Reserve, just south of Welshpool. This event completes the MMG’s events calendar for 2015 and we are targeting autumn migrant species, along with the resident species of the Large Wainscot. Hopefully, the current dry conditions will prevail and some light southerly winds wouldn’t go amiss, which would push the migrant species towards us. This is your last chance to come to an event this season, so please come along and join us for what promises to be a terrific evening’s mothing at this superb wetland site.

Full event details are:-

Venue: Coed Y Dinas Nature Reserve

Event Date: Saturday 3rd October

Target Species: Migrant species & the Large Wainscot

Event Time: 6:30 onwards, at the reserve car park.

Directions: From Welshpool head south on the A490 for about a mile and a half and the reserve entrance is just before the roundabout on the left.
Grid Reference:SJ220051                                                                                                       

All the best,

Peter.

Montgomeryshire Moth Group (MMG) is an independent voluntary group of people interested in moths. All ages are welcome to attend events whether experts or beginners.

This year all the events are light trapping events. We set up the light traps at dusk to attract moths and then release them after identification.

As with all our evening events, please bring a torch and wear suitable outdoor clothing.

You are welcome to join us for as much of the evening that suits you, we are likely to stay for several hours. However, in case of cancellation, due to poor weather or unforeseen circumstances, always ring or e-mail to check the event is on before joining us.

Dolforwyn Woods 'Moth Night' - Event Report

This event was held on National Moth Night, which this year had the theme of’ Migrant Moths’.

The event was also in conjunction with Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust, who were represented by Tammy, who brought an array of electronic devices for detecting bats and identifying other small creatures.

Base camp, as we were setting up

Sighting of the Robinson trap

A total of 8 traps were used, with a white sheet at ‘base camp’ and 4 MV Skinners, an MV Robinson and 2 Heath Actinics being spaced out along the main track. While these were being setup Tammy, after standing for a long time with her head in the undergrowth, produced the first insect of the evening, a Dark Bush-cricket which she had heard chirping deep in the vegetation.

Dark Bush-cricket

Canary-shouldered Thorn

As the light faded Common and Soprano Pipistrelle bats were heard on the bat detectors, and could be seen flying up and down the track searching for insects. Tammy also recorded other bat calls for later analysis including at least one Myotis species.

The first moth of the evening was a Centre-barred Sallow followed shortly afterwards by a Canary-shouldered Thorn, a new species for this site.

Hornet

Another early visitor to the traps was a hornet. After everyone had a good look she was released, and promptly went and settled on the white sheet, as close to the warmth from the lamp as possible, where she remained for the rest of the evening.

A cloudless sky giving low temperatures meant the number of moths was quite low, but there was a steady trickle throughout the evening. The most numerous species was Common Marbled Carpet, each of which was checked to see if it was a Dark Marbled Carpet, without success The best macros were Pale Eggar and a couple of Hedge Rustics, both new for species this site.

A male Black Arches

Blastobasis adustella

The only migrant species Silver Y

Just before midnight, with the temperature dropping down to 8.2C and little further moth activity we decided to pack up the traps. Final checks of the traps added Flame Carpet, Spruce Carpet, Flounced Rustic (new for the site) and July Highflyer, bringing the total count of macro species to 20. 8 micro species were recorded, including Agonopterix arenella and Eudonia lacustrata, both new to the site. The only migrant moth found was Silver Y; a warmer evening might have produced a few more. For a full species list please click here.

Thirteen people attended the event, and Peter recruited a couple more recorders to help fill holes in the county records database.

Paul Roughley

Joint event with the MMG and MWT 'Mothing and other nocturnal creatures' at Dolforwyn Woods Nature Reserve

Hello Moth-ers,

This Saturday the MMG (Montgomeryshire Moth Group) and the MWT are holding a joint ‘mothing and other nocturnal creature’s’ event at Dolforwyn Woods Nature Reserve, just north of Newtown. The event is also being held on Butterfly Conservation’s ‘Moth Night’ weekend and this year the theme is ‘Migrant species’, and hopefully the current southerly winds we’re having will continue and a few migrant species will be pushed towards us. This is our penultimate event of the season, so please come along and join us for what promises to be a terrific evening’s mothing at this superb woodland site.

Full event details are:-

Venue: Dolforwyn Woods Nature Reserve

Event Date: Saturday 12th September

Target Species: Dusky-lemon Sallow and all Migrant species

Event Time: 7:30 onwards, at the reserve car park.

Directions: Going north on the A483 from Newtown to Welshpool you will see two signposts for Abermule on the right hand side of the road. Directly after the second signpost take the first left turn, signposted for Dolforwyn Castle. Dolforwyn Hotel is visible as you turn up this lane. Go straight on and follow the lane as it curves right for about 300yds. The reserve track is on the right. Follow the track for about 400yds until you reach a parking area.

Grid Reference: SO158956.

All the best,

Peter.

 

Montgomeryshire Moth Group (MMG) is an independent voluntary group of people interested in moths. All ages are welcome to attend events whether experts or beginners.

This year all the events are light trapping events. We set up the light traps at dusk to attract moths and then release them after identification.

As with all our evening events, please bring a torch and wear suitable outdoor clothing.

You are welcome to join us for as much of the evening that suits you, we are likely to stay for several hours. However, in case of cancellation, due to poor weather or unforeseen circumstances, always ring or e-mail to check the event is on before joining us.

Death's Head Hawk-moth turns up in the county

Hello Moth-ers,

I just thought you would all like to know that a fabulous Death's Head Hawk-moth has turned up in the county at Pont Robert in the north of the county. Is was seen and photographed by John King who was spending the bank holiday with is in-laws.

John says:-

"It certainly surprised us. Our 21 month old son was ‘sweeping’ the patio outside the front door and his auntie spotted the moth just before he hit it with the brush. It was in a very exposed location, but the camouflage appeared to work. We kept an eye on it until it was dark". 

A great record John, and only the second time that this species has been recorded in the county since 1967.

Peter.