An Autumnal evening in Gerddi Bro Dyfi, Machynlleth

All was set up & the lights were on by the time Mark & I arrived in the gardens, behind the Plas in Machynlleth.  And there were already a number of people there eager for the traps to start yielding their moths.  The first record was a Brimstone Moth, and in face it was one of the more numerous moths of the night.  

As well as moths there was a good showing by other invertebrates, including some magnificent crane flies, lots of pesky caddis flies pretending to be moths, and a very handsome beetle.  One keen person managed to pot up a sleeping Large White Butterfly as well.  

Crane fly - (photo by Fern Towers)

Brimstone Moths (photo by Fern Towers)

A surprise visitor to the light sheet - Peter Williams (photo Fern Towers)

Nicrophorus sp. Beetle (photo by Fern Towers)

We had a very rare but welcome sighting of the county moth recorder, Peter Williams.  It was a great pleasure to see him at an event again, and it was lovely to be able to hand the pots of moths to him for an instant ID.  Especially as I managed to completely mis-identify the Udea ferrugalis (Rusty-dot Pearl) as a Straw Dot!  In my defence the light wasn't very good.....

Phil was kept very busy through the night, taking groups round to all the traps.  He also stayed long after the last of us had started to head home.  Many thanks to him for organising and setting up an excellent night, and to Fern Towers for allowing Montgomeryshire Moth Group to trap in the gardens.  It is always a very warm welcome there.  In total we trapped 15 macros & 6 micros (plus one butterfly).  The full list of moths can be found here.

Black Rustic (photo by Phil McGregor)

Copper Underwing Agg. (photo by Phil McGregor)

Silver Y (photo by Phil McGregor)

Udea ferrugalis (photo by Phil McGregor)

Butterfly Conservation Wild Spaces project.

Butterfly Conservation have a relatively new project entitled "Wild Spaces". No doubt some of you are aware of this already.

The idea behind this project is to engage people, groups and organisations in creating room for nature to help stem the decline in species, focussing on Butterflies and Moths. From balconies to parks, gardens, schools and work place grounds, no space is too small or too large. BC have pledged to achieve 100,000 of these Wild Spaces by 2026, a very ambitious but possible target.

Attending a BC branch meeting yesterday (28/09/2024), where this project was more formally promoted, it really struck me as a positive and worthwhile project that anybody can sign up to, even if you have already created a wild area. It is good for nationwide environmental charities to know about these, to build a picture of awareness and action. Where it is happening and not happening.

On the BC website map which roughly shows where all the pledged Wild Spaces are, Wales is terribly lagging behind and the message needs to be spread. Montgomeryshire has only a few places pledged when I know of dozens myself. This is the link to the project where you can read more about it and sign up https://wild-spaces.co.uk/ Please do so if you can and encourage others to do likewise. It does not cost anything. It will not result in clip-board visits!

Many thanks,

Phil.

Cypress Pug and an NCR at Cultivate , Y Drenewydd/Newtown. 21/09/2024 In association with Butterfly Conservation.

As part of efforts to increase species records at Cultivate community garden in Newtown, I was invited by Stephanie Green, Branching Out Volunteer Leader of this cooperative organisation, to conduct a moth recording session and workshop. Primarily for members of the project and public, at their premises on the south side of Newtown, neighbouring Theatr Hafren.

Cultivate gardens. ngs.org.uk©

Established in 2012, the project was founded with the aim of supporting and promoting the local food economy and network. Volunteers help to maintain the very productive gardens.

Traps were set up around the gardens, according to the weather forecast, which was for ideal conditions other than scattered, heavy rain showers. Fortunately, it was possible to keep the two MV lights under cover.

Before the trapping had even started, I experienced a personal, new county record, in the form of a superb evening meal being laid on for a mothing event. It really was great, a delicious, vegan curry.  All compliments to the chefs!

Traps were switched on around 8.15pm and it was not long before the first moth, a Silver Y (of which many have been sighted throughout Montgomeryshire this year), appeared in a pot and then several more, some being caught feeding on the lavenders. A good steady flow of moths followed, including the odd looking Lilac and Privet leaf-miner Gracillaria syringella, and this time a true New County Record, Tachystola acroxantha, apparently an Australian species!

Gracillaria syringella. PMcG

Tachystola acroxantha. PMcG

And another sometimes immigrant, Pale Mottled Willow.

Pale Mottled Willow. PMcG

Fantastic enthusiasm and curiosity was present from the 14 strong group of all ages, throughout the evening as they collected moths from the traps and brought them back to the room we were based in, for help with identification. Attendees were soon however, confidently identifying the moths for themselves.

Dusky Thorn and Canary-shouldered Thorn delighted many while the striking shape of Angle Shades was much admired.

All members of the group had retired from the event by around midnight. As the last two left, I decided to do a quick round of the traps myself and came across a very much out of its range Cypress Pug in one of the synergetic traps, confirmed by Peter Williams as 5th county record. A moth normally confined to southern Wales and England.

Cypress Pug. PMcG.

This was accompanied by Small Dusty Wave and a stunning (as ever), Black Rustic.

Small Dusty Wave. PMcG.

Black Rustic. PMcG.

All traps were switched off by 2am.  21 species were recorded, four of those being micro's.

A very enjoyable and worthwhile event, hopefully to be repeated in Spring 2025.

Traps used:

1 x White Sheet 125wMV

1 x Skinner's 125wMV

3 x Skinner's 15w synergetic

Many thanks to Cultivate https://www.cultivate.uk.com/, Newtown for their hospitality and enabling the event.

Thanks to Butterfly Conservation https://butterfly-conservation.org/ for mothing event insurance cover.

Many thanks to Peter Williams, Vice County Moth Recorder for verifications.

Phil.

Butterfly Conservation - Butterfly Emergency

This in effect applies to moths too, they feed on many of the same poisoned flowers/plants, just at night:

Call on the Government to take urgent action.

Wondering where all the butterflies have gone? You're not alone.  

In 2024, we've seen butterfly numbers fall across the UK. With 80% of butterflies having declined since the 1970s and a third of moth numbers having fallen in that same period, the time has come to tell the Government  enough is enough.

We're calling on the Government to:

1. Declare a nature emergency
2. Implement an immediate and permanent ban on butterfly-harming neonicotinoid pesticides, without exceptions. 

If you agree, sign our letter and join leading conservation figures in calling on the Government to take action now. 

This is the link to the letter:

https://butterfly-conservation.org/emergency?_cldee=gyI6xY11UQ3DDj_ICJ3MFzXye2nczxyn8VE7wsp_liM3deKNqXh4zZ3jYYsGqByT&recipientid=contact-a2bcc0cd571feb11a81300224801b559-1cabf98a60ff43ce8908936932253a09&esid=7cef5480-0a75-ef11-a670-6045bdf23bce

Phil.

Coed Dolforwyn event, Abermiwl. Saturday 14th September.

The last visit by the moth group to this reserve being in October 2022, we had a realistic chance of 17 species to beat, with the advantage this time around being one month earlier in the year.

The weather forecast proved favourable as promised with a calm, mostly overcast and fairly mild night.

Traps were set up and switched on by 8.20pm with HQ based at the very grand, new shelter, where once was just a turning circle.

Keenest, first moth to be potted (actually the white sheet itself) was a lovely Black Arches soon followed by Green Carpet, Snout and any number of Common Marbled Carpet. All typical early evening emergence moths.

Common Marbled Carpet. PMcG

Copper Underwing agg. also showed in good numbers during the night and a very nice Treble Bar.

Treble Bar. MEG

It was to be a steady trickle of micro's for the night, including Pandemis cinnamomeana, Blastobasis adustella, 

Pandemis cinnamomeana. MEG

Blastobasis adustella. MEG

 

and a less common in the county, Hypatima Rhomboidella. Probably moth of the night.

Hypatima rhomboidella. MEG

By around midnight it was all quietening down. A Centre-barred Sallow and Autumnal Rustic rounded off the night in terms of typical species for the type of woodland. A bit surprising not to get the traditional Spruce Carpet on this occasion. Traps were steadily shut down by 1.30am.

Autumnal Rustic. PMcG

However, small victories being taken whenever they can, we successfully managed 30 species, 22 of those being macro, easily beating the attendance total of five people and the previous visits' trapping. 

The full species list is available HERE.

Acknowledgements go to Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust for permission to trap at Coed Dolforwyn https://www.montwt.co.uk/nature-reserves/dolforwyn-woods 

To Butterfly Conservation https://butterfly-conservation.org/ for provision of insurance cover for the event.

Many thanks to Simon for recording and identification, also the latter applying to Meurig, Paul and Sandy.

Finally, thanks to Peter Williams, Vice County Recorder, for verifications.

Next MMG event is at Gerddi Bro Dyfi, Machynlleth (behind Y Plas) on Saturday 5th October. We are looking forward to adding Autumn species to the list for that site having previously only recorded in summertime.

Phil.

Return visit to Severn Farm Pond, Welshpool. 09/09/2024. In association with Butterfly Conservation.

As an Autumn re-visit to Severn Farm Pond, this was another opportunity to involve the Wild Skills Wild Spaces (WSWS) project group run by Nik Cain and Frances Louise from Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust.

The previous moth event here being on the cusp of the Summer Solstice earlier in the year, this would hopefully prove a good contrast in species present and a much friendlier time of night for attendees to be involved in moth trapping.

A peculiar weather system in the form of a "cut-off low" to the south of the UK opened a window for a short spell of unusually mild Easterly weather drawn in from the continent, happily coinciding with this event. Conditions looked ideal, overcast, high humidity, calm and 16 centigrade.

Severn Farm Pond shelter with white sheet. PMcG.

After a spell of bat detecting while the traps were set up and switched on (around 8.45pm), the group set about collecting moths. A different approach to the event this time was that everybody was encouraged to try and identify a moth that they brought to the table. All credit to the group, this proved very popular and there was much discussion and page turning of field guides.

Much excitement was demonstrated as the first moth to be potted, actually flying around in the shelter itself, was a very large "Old Lady" shortly followed by Brimstone Moth and a multitude of highly variable Common Marbled Carpets.

The first confirmation of the arrival of Autumn was a Centre-barred Sallow, associated with the plentiful Ash trees growing on the reserve.

Centre-barred Sallow. PMcG.

Notably, there were a great many micro moths in the traps, the first to be identified being Epinotia nisella

Epinotia nisella. PMcG.

There followed a good number of both macro's and micro's, including Dusky Thorn and Brindled Green

Dusky Thorn. PMcG

Brindled Green.PMcG.

and later in the night, three very large Red Underwing were recorded along with Frosted Orange

Red Underwing. PMcG.

Frosted Orange. PMcG

along with Pandemis and Acleris sp.

Acleris emergana. PMcG.

Best record of the night was a confirmed Roeslerstammia erxlebella, a Lime and Birch leaf miner. 14th county record. The orangey-brown sheen of the wings is shadowed in this image.

Roeslerstammia erxlebella. PMcG.

37 species were recorded. 25 of those being Macro.

The event was thoroughly enjoyed and engaging with all the group, traps being switched off at 2.30am, most attendees having departed by midnight.

Equipment used:

White Sheet 125wMV

2 x Skinner's 125wMV

3 x Skinner's 15w synergetic

Thank you to Butterfly Conservation https://butterfly-conservation.org/ for event insurance cover.

Thank you to Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust https://www.montwt.co.uk/ for permission to trap at their reserve.

Also a big thank you to Nik Cain and members of the WSWS group https://www.montwt.co.uk/WSWS for their participation and enthusiasm.

Many thanks to Peter Williams, Vice County Recorder for verifications.

Llyn Coed Y Dinas Bat and Moth event in association with Butterfly Conservation. 24/08/2024

In my experience, a clearing sky is a common feature of Llyn Coed Y Dinas, a Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust nature reserve. Especially when a moth-ing event is planned!

MMG have trapped at this reserve on a number of occasions in the past. After a period of reorganisation for the group, this was the first main event the moth group has staged this year. 

Llyn Coed Y Dinas. ©Eliot Collins Google Maps

Montgomeryshire Bat Group were invited to the event, Simon, Nicola and Kim attending to provide their expertise and knowledge of the various bats identified with the detectors.

The evening was warm enough to begin with but the clear sky was a sure indicator the temperature would sink. 

Traps and the white sheet were set up and switched on by 8.45pm

Early moths potted for id included Acleris emargana, Garden Carpet, Green Carpet and a lovely Centre-barred Sallow, surprisingly the only Sallow for the night, it being the season for their emergence.

Green Carpet. R. stokes

Centre-barred Sallow. R.Stokes.

Followed by a steady trickle as the temperature lowered, including locally common in the county, Pale Eggar and Epinotia nisella 

Pale Eggar. R.Stokes.

Epinotia nisella. P. McGregor

While we were all puzzling over the Epinotia and a possible Pammene populana, (not confirmed) a vague apparition appeared at the fringe of the actinic glow, in the form of a welcome but shock, guest appearance by Gavin Chambers, a former MMG core member.  Really good to see you again Gavin!

By midnight it was pretty chilly, stars twinkling and that familiar stillness that signalled the practical end to the survey. All but two of the Synergetic traps were closed down at this point.

I stayed on for another hour and a half "just in case" and amongst seven extra species recorded were a  Canary-shouldered Thorn, Ypsolopha scabrella and Rosy Rustic

Canary-shouldered Thorn. P. McGregor

Ypsolopha scabrella P. McGregor

Rosy Rustic. P. McGregor

36 moth species were recorded, the full list is available HERE.

Results of the bat survey, provided by Simon Cope, were as follows (species and numbers):

Daubenton's Bat  6

Noctule  7

Common Pipistrelle  2

Soprano Pipistrelle   125

Indeterminate Myotis sp.  6

Unknown  5

We are very grateful to Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust for permission to trap at the reserve. 

Also to Butterfly Conservation for providing insurance for the event.

A big thank you to Simon, Nicola and Kim from Montgomeryshire Bat Group for illuminating the predators making a meal of our moths.

Thanks to team members Simon, Julie and Mark for help setting up, recording and identification. The latter applying to Gavin and Rob too.

Thanks to Rob for photographs and to Peter Williams, County Moth Recorder, for verifications.

The next moth group event will be at Dolforwyn woods nature reserve (MWT) on Saturday 14th September from 8.30pm onwards. Further details can be found on the moth group website.

Many thanks,

Phil.

Beech-green Carpet at Hendre. Recording session 10th August 2024. In association with Butterfly Conservation.

Seven traps and a variety of lures were deployed at this very promising, previously unrecorded monad location.

At 220m altitude, the diverse site is largely a mix of Conifer and Sallow, with good wildflower populations along the access tracks.

It was great to arrive in the evening to an already present Chris Williams and Meurig Garbutt.

No time was lost setting up traps and lures along the track, also along paths into the trees. A handy shelter was used as a base for identification and recording.

 

Hendre site and handy shelter. SS

Carpet and Footman sp. moths proved to be abundant from the outset, with a lovely, uncommon Beech-green Carpet soon spotted on the shelter framework. 

Beech-green Carpet. MEG

Bordered Beauty, Scalloped Hook-tip, Lunar Thorn and Slender Brindle were also recorded.

Bordered Beauty. MEG

Amongst the micro's, a typical specialist of conifer plantations, Dioryctria abietella (Dark-pine Knot-horn) was noted along with similar looking Euzophera pinguis (Ash-bark Knot-horn). Also, Oxypteryx atrella (Two-spotted Neb), a feeder of St.John's Wort, plenty of which was noticed along the access track.

Dioryctria abietella. PMcG

Euzophera pinguis. PMcG

A sub-total 52 species (Final count 60 species. 23/08/2024) were recorded in total. 

Kit used:

6 Skinner's 15w Green Phosphor and 1 Skinner's 125w MV trap.

Many thanks to Chris Williams, Meurig Garbutt and Simon Spencer for their contributions to the session.

Thanks also to Peter Williams for verifications.

Phil.

New recording session location for this Saturday, 10th August 2024.

 Hi all,

Despite officially cancelling the recording session at Aberangell back in July, I did go to the site on the day and run a series of three Skinner's 15w Green Phosphor traps. Frustratingly, the weather proved in the end to be ideal and I recorded 69 species. A good start to a very promising site for a re-visit in spring 2025.

So it now seems rather pointless to re-run a session there just for the sake of it, so soon after. 

I have instead found a promising new location back in the Eastern edge of the Dyfnant forest that is a mixture of mature pine with heather/bilberry floor and scrubby Salix areas.

Known as "Hendre", it is a public parking area at the end of a longish stone track with a small wooden shelter. As the "crow flies", it is quite close to Pont Llogel but completely different habitat. According to Aderyn species list, it is also in a different square kilometre (SJ0215) to Pont Llogel and has no moth records.

The location is off the B4395, turning down a lane in between two houses (SJ029148).  Approximately 1km along this lane on the right is a stone track with "Hendre" parking sign. Follow this track to its end.

The recording location is at SJ0295 1516. w3w// milkman.plod.inhales

Traps will be switched on from around 9.15pm.

Anyone interested is most welcome to attend. 

Appropriate footwear and a head/hand torch are essential. There are no facilities so self-sufficiency is recommended. Insect repellant is advised.

If the session is cancelled, it will be notified via a post on the MMG website blog so please refer to this before setting out.

Phil.

Moth group recording session at Aberangell, Saturday July 20th 2024. ***CANCELLED***

 Hi all,

Unfortunately, we have a very poor weather forecast for tomorrow evening and night. Due to insurance implications I am compelled to cancel this as a public event for health and safety reasons.

However,  all is not lost. I am rescheduling the session to Saturday 10th August. Lets hope for dry weather then instead!

I will confirm this again nearer that date.

Phil.

Milltir Gerrig, Llangynog. 13/07/2024

A chilly, small scale survey was undertaken by myself on Saturday night at this rather inhospitable moorland site.  The main purpose being to add species to a very under recorded area in the very far north of the county, bordering Gwynedd. There was also an optimistic hope of finding a new colony of Silurian, being a Bilberry dominated landscape such as they inhabit.

At around 500m it was never going to be warm. However, the weather was calm, dry and largely overcast which is not bad considering the location.

Apparently, Silurian only fly around 2am to 4am so a necessarily long night in the car was in store. If I had found any, you would have heard about it already...

However, I was not to be disappointed. Shortly after setting out two 12v 15w synergetic Skinner's traps, my first two moths for the night were a Narrow-winged Pug and a Scarce Silver Y (a personal first for me).

Scarce Silver Y. PMcG

Dozens of Barred Yellow and True Lover's Knot steadily emerged from the darkness to engulf the traps. Other highlights from the night included a very finely marked Grey Mountain Carpet (another personal first), Donacaula forficella, Pammene fasciana and Phiaris schultziana

Grey Mountain Carpet. PMcG.

Donacaula forficella. PMcG

19 species were recorded, four of those being micro's. 15 of the species look to be new to the quadrat list.

Pammene fasciana. PMcG

Phiaris schultziana. PMcG

I called it a night at 3.30am as I had to get home to empty my trap there before daylight! Two lovely Garden Tigers to greet me!

Phil

Moth group recording session at Aberangell, Saturday July 20th 2024. In association with Butterfly Conservation.

A recording session is planned in an area of Montgomeryshire that has only four moth records. Two macro (Straw Dot (Aderyn) and Welsh Clearwing) and two micro (Glyphipterix thrasanella (Aderyn) and Small Magpie) species have been recorded. This circumstance would appear largely due to only a very thin slither of the county being present in this particular 1km OS quadrat. It is located in SH81 of the OS 10km quadrat species distribution map on the MMG website.

I believe we have a reasonable chance to improve on this species list.

The location is beside the Afon Angell, approximately 1 mile along the lane from Aberangell, which eventually leads to Corris,

OS ref SH 8316 1038. what3words crimson.acrobatic.manual 

From the A470 turn right after crossing the Afon Dyfi, following the windy lane up into Aberangell, take the left turn signposted Corris. After approximately 1 mile you come to a multi-direction junction. Follow the lane bearing slightly left and down, across a cattle grid then small river bridge. The parking area is ahead on the left.

The area for recording is in a narrow wooded valley with some mature Aspen, Beech and Alder mixed with native species. Some small fields create a mosaic effect which is always promising for species diversity. There is newly SSSI designated "temperate rainforest" to the north, just over the border in Gwynedd.

We will be setting up traps from 8.30pm onwards with an envisaged switch on time around 9.30pm.

Anyone interested is most welcome to attend. 

Appropriate footwear and a head/hand torch are essential. There are no facilities so self-sufficiency is recommended.

If the session is cancelled, it will be notified via a post on the MMG website blog so please refer to this before setting out.

Phil.

Severn Farm Pond nature reserve, Welshpool . 21/06/2024

A moth survey was held last Friday night at the reserve by myself, in conjunction with the Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust Wild Skills Wild Spaces (WSWS) group, headed by Frances Louise and Nik Cain.

As far as I am aware, it is the first time a significant moth survey has been staged at this reserve.  

Common Emerald. PMcG

Probably more than twenty years ago, I first visited this MWT reserve and it was a sorry sight with an unpleasant industrial waste pipe draining into the site and lots of signs of anti-social behaviour. I had a spare moment last year, waiting for tyres to be fitted on my car so I took the chance to re-visit the site. I must say I was blown away by the transformation thanks to the persistent efforts of the mid-week group and latterly the WSWS group. A rich wetland mix with plenty of scrub, sallow, open water and a fabulous events shelter.

Severn Farm Pond nature reserve. Nationaltrails.co.uk

I quickly realised that a moth survey had to be done and it made complete sense to run it as an event with WSWS.

Being the middle of the year it was always going to be a late switch on. By the time I had set up and the inevitable rain was easing it was around 10pm. The group had arrived, some keen volunteers from Newtown and Welshpool areas. At least it was calm and overcast!

After an ad hoc briefing about moths and types of moth trap, the group set about collecting while Frances helped me with the listing of species as potted moths were brought to the table and identified.

Barred Yellow. PMcG

It was another of those steady trickle sort of nights with Udea olivalis to the table first. Then much excitement as a fresh Swallow-tailed Moth was brought in.  Much to their credit and perseverance it was after midnight when the WSWS group needed to depart. I stayed on until 2.45am, slowly winding down (drying) the traps.

Crowd pleasers included the Swallow-tailed Moth, Common Emerald and Barred Yellow while Epagoge grotiana and Clepsis spectrana added interest. Most abundant moth of the night by far was Archips xylosteana.

Epagoge grotiana. PMcG.

A total of 33 species were recorded. 23 Macro and 10 Micro's. Not a bad total as the temperature was at best only 10 Celsius.

Burnished Brass. PMcG.

It was a really enjoyable night and we hope to hold another survey in the autumn.

Thanks go to WSWS volunteers and staff for their time and help with the survey, to Montgomeryshire Moth Group for the loan of table top identification equipment and Peter Williams, Vice County Moth Recorder for help with id verifications.

Traps used:

1 x 125w MV white sheet.

1 x 125w MV Skinner's.

3 x 15w green synergetic Skinner's.

Phil.