Moth night at MWT Cors Dyfi, 19/08/2026. In association with Butterfly Conservationand supported by Y Senedd and Local Places for Nature Fund.

This event was the 15th moth group visit to Cors Dyfi since the group began public recording events in 2006.

It was a pleasing thought to be going somewhere so reliably wet to record species with the drought conditions lingering and the recent fierce heat. However, the weather was on the cusp of change and a cooler night with a light northerly breeze and clearing sky was forecast.

View inland along the board walk to the visitor centre. PMcG.

By 9pm two MV traps were set up, along with three green actinic snaking along the board walk to the Osprey hide, where a LepiLED was deployed on one of the viewing areas. This trap later producing an unusual light display as darkness settled in.

LepiLED trap displaying its spectrum of visible light. PMcG.

By 9.15pm all the traps were on and a number of visitors had arrived,  keen to see what we might record.  Directly from the white sheet, Small Rufous was the first macro recorded, along with Common Wave, Dusky Thorn and Freyer's Pug (new site record).

Freyer's Pug. PMcG

Much excitement and id discussion was generated as a rather splendid, suspected Sharp-angled Peacock was potted, but much to Rob Stoke's frustration, refusing to comply and open its wings for his impressive photography set up! The image below was obtained from a later specimen. Confirmed on social media by Meurig Garbutt. According to the website, this is the 2nd county record. Also confirmed by Dulcie Faulkner as a new site record.

Sharp-angled Peacock. PMcG

Shortly followed by the identification of Crescent, quite tricky in its worn state. Well done Simon!

Crescent. PMcG

Epinotia trigonella was micro moth of the night in terms of interest but a last minute appearance of Ambliptilia acanthadactyla by the visitor centre front door stole the visuals.

Ambliptilia acanthadactyla. PMcG

By midnight and all visitors having departed, the chill air and slow-down of species appearing stimulated the decision to slowly wind the event down.

With the last-man-standing winding down the traps along the board walk, it was in time honoured fashion that not only the target species for the night Rosy Rustic, (albeit a ropey specimen) was to be found, in the trap next to the area of Bog Myrtle

Rosy Rustic. PMcG

but also Marsh Oblique Barred, Neglected Rustic and Bulrush Wainscot!

Marsh Oblique Barred. PMcG

Neglected Rustic. PMcG.

Bulrush Wainscot. PMcG.

In the end, an excellent night of recording with three new site records.  51 species were recorded. Seven of those being micro's. The full list will be available HERE in due course.

As always, a big thank you to those members of the public who ventured out to share the evening with us. Your interest and enthusiasm are a large part of what makes these events worthwhile!

Many thanks go to our hosts Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust for permission to record at their reserve. 

Thanks to our recorders, Simon Spencer and Phil McGregor and determiners Peter Williams and Meurig Garbutt. Extended thanks to Kate Gillan and Rob Stokes for their invaluable help running the event in their respective ways. 

We would also like to thank Butterfly Conservation for our insurance cover and Y Senedd and Powys Nature Partnership's administration of the Local Place's for Nature grant funding support of the moth group.

Our next evening event will be on 12th September 2026 at Deri Woods, Llanfair Caerinion, 8.30pm onwards. This event was cancelled last year due to poor weather conditions. Fingers crossed for this year!

Many thanks,

Phil & Simon.