It was another red-letter day in the moth traps at Bawdsey Hall where I took a specimen of SMALL MARBLED – believed to be the first Suffolk record of this tiny macro-moth – but a most exquisite one!
An increase in migrant moths generally at Bawdsey with 11 Diamond-back Moth, 28 Rush Veneer, a Convolvulus Hawk-moth, eight Dark Sword-grass and 96 Silver Y also arriving on the southerlies last night.
A few species appearing for the first time this season included Pretty Chalk Carpet, Mullein Wave, Dusky Thorn and Feathered Gothic. Also notable were Ethmia bipunctella, two Pebble Hook-tips, Flame Carpet, Satin Wave, Coronet, Bulrush Wainscot and two Square-spotted Clay.
You have an excellent site there, with some terrific records already! Yet to see a DSG this year!
I have not seen a Dark Sword Grass either. Eublemma parva is a beautiful little moth, good to see it in Suffolk. i didn’t trap last night owing to the bad weather forecast and sort of wish I had now. Will do so tonight. Lots of Red Admirals around too. Also pleased to see a settled Grayling in the garden along with the other butterflies.
How many traps do you run at Bawdsey Matthew?
Thanks for the encouraging comments. Yes, the new Bawdsey site is certainly reaping rewards. The number of traps varies, more at the weekend when I haven’t got to rush off to work and more when I have visiting moth-ers too. Last weekend I had guests from as far afield as Greater Manchester, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Dorset homing in on the Bawdsey illuminations!