Species count soars to record high at Bawdsey in the heatwave

The night of 16 July was very still and muggy and produced the highest all-time count at Bawdsey of 205 + species. I’ve identified most, but not all, of the micros. One wonders what the actual total would have been if all micros were retained including coleophora and cnephasia which were released. I suspect nearer the 215 species mark.

Lots of wetland and woodland wanderers have appeared in recent nights which has boosted numbers.  Another factor is the season running late the totals include species that I would not normally expect so late in the season.  I’m still catching Rustic Shoulder-knot and White Ermine for example. 

Highlights on 16th included Teleiodes vulgella, Brachmia blandella, Crescent Plume, Hedya salicella, Epiblema foenella, Beautiful China Mark, Scoparia subfusca, Sciota adelphella, Large Emerald (second ever Bawdsey record), Lesser Cream Wave, Dingy Shell, Bordered Pug, Plain Pug, Common Lutestring, Garden Tiger (eight), Ghost, White Satin, Brown-tail, Kent Black Arches, Coronet, Silky Wainscot, Maple Prominent and Dotted Fan-foot.

23 Hawk-moths were trapped as follows: 9 Privet, 5 Elephant, 5 Poplar, 3 Pine and 1 Eyed.

Numbers dropped by 25 – 30 species last night (17th) with a slight breeze. However, the breeze was what was needed to bring a rare immigrant in and boy was it a good one! A pristine Beautiful Marbled was in the ‘Three-humped Trap’ – where the tritophus was taken last August.   A photo of the moth is on the ‘Atropos’ website, I haven’t worked out how to add one here yet.   I believe this to be the fifth Suffolk record following singletons at Bawdsey Manor and Dunwich Heath in 2006 and Landguard and Leiston in 2012).  It’s interesting that it’s more regular than parva here in Suffolk (Bawdsey, 2012 and Woolpit, 2013) which bucks the national trend.  Only one ostrina has made it to our county so far (Minsmere, 2012).    

Species recorded last night (but not on the record night of 16th) included Anania verbascalis, Rosy Wave (a high count of 5) drifting up from the saltmarsh; Mullein Wave, Maiden’s Blush, Small Elephant Hawk, Clouded Brindle, Water Ermine, Marbled White-spot, Broad-barred White and Shaded Fan-foot.

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