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.