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.