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.