Dolforwyn Woods event

After a spell of rather wet weather Saturday afternoon had dried up quite nicely, it seemed as though the mothing gods were with us and we would have a dry event, However, as we were setting up at around 8:15 the heavens opened up with a torrential downpour, luckily we had just got the gazebo erected, so we at least could keep ourselves and some of the kit dry. After ten minutes or so the rain abated and we could switch the traps on - thankfully the rest of the evening remained dry.

Gathering by the white sheet

After the rain the moths started coming at a steady flow with a Small Fan-footed Wave followed by a Black Arches, a very striking species. Some of the more common species like Large Yellow Underwing, Small Phoenix, Dingy Footman and Buff Footman didn't disappoint and made a show.

Black Arches

Small Phoenix

The Common Carpet turned up which generated a workshop on the diagnostic differences between this species and the Wood Carpet. A similar workshop took place when a Treble-bar came to the white sheet and we discussed the differences between this and the Lesser Treble-bar.

Treble-bar

Species continued to come to arrive and the white sheet was particularly busy; the Snout, Oak Hook-tip and Iron Prominent all made a show, but the two best species of the evening were undoubtedly a Blomer's Rivulet, a nationally scarce B species, and one which we have recorded at this site in the past and the Lesser-spotted Pinion, a local species of which we only have 14 records in our database. In all we managed to record 25 macro species.

Iron Prominent

Blomer's Rivulet

Lesser-spotted Pinion

Micro species were slightly down in numbers but we did manage to record 12 species which included Pandemis corylana, Epinotia nisella and Acleris laterana.

Epinotia nisella

Pandemis corylana

By midnight moths coming to the table had slowed down so the ten of us who had turned up for the event decided to call it a night, which was enjoyed by everyone. Many thanks to Julie, Meurig and Rob for supplying the photos. A full species list can be seen here.

On a rain related footnote - as we were leaving the site we had to replace the big post which we had to remove earlier so that we could access the site with our vehicles - Mark knew that the rain would be sitting in the bottom of the post hole, so he told Julie and myself to 'stand back' as he dropped the post in, but hilariously, when he dropped the post in the hole, the splashback only went in one direction - back towards Mark, shouldn't laugh really, but it was rather funny.

We look forwards to our next event which will be at Roundton Hill on Saturday 25th September - I look forwards to seeing some of you there. 

Peter. 

Lockdown Species Challenge - July update.

 Hello Moth-ers,

The data for July in our ‘lockdown Target species challenge’ is now in and can be viewed on our blog as well as our Facebook page. 

In general things have been pretty slow recently, but Alan Sibley from Essex who has recorded 6 of the 11 species possible and is on 9 points is well ahead of the rest of the field. His nearest challengers are  Meurig Garbutt, Julie Pearce & Mark Thomas, Stuart Thomas, Peter Williams and Douglas Boyes all on five points.

This months target species is the Leopard Moth (worth 2 points) If you've already recorded one please let me know and I'll add it to the table, thanks. 

Please note the following 'Challenge' points: 

1) That all target species will remain active in the challenge (although some may have finished their flight time), so please let me know if you record one of these at any time and I’ll update your points on the table. 

2) Also, it may well be you’ve already recorded a species before I add it to the target list, that’s fine, just let me know and I’ll add the record to the main table.

3) This challenge is open to everyone without any restrictions and you can join in whenever you like, just let me know and I'll add your name to the chart.

The target species added in previous months are (and quite a few will still be on the wing) ; -

12) Clouded Brindle (2 points)

11) Shaded broad-bar (1 point)

10) Yellow Shell (1 point)

9) Yellow-barred Brindle (1 point)

😎 Tawny Pinion (2 Points)

7) Any migrant hawk moth – this might seem rather unlikely, but it does of course include the Humming-bird Hawk-moth, so everyone will have a chance to record one of these (3 points)

6) White-marked (1 point)

5) Pine Beauty (2 points)

4) Oak Nycteoline (1 point)

3) Blossom Underwing (2 points)

2) Shoulder Stripe (1 point)

1) Small Brindled Beauty (2 points)