Following my first ever Red Chestnut on Friday night with Brian, last night, 15th, I was trapping on my own at Herringfleet Hills, although Brian popped along at packing up time. A cool clear night as it turns out, I had been hopeful of some cloud cover and a bit of a moth fest after the two warm days but it wasn’t to be. Two of the four traps made no contribution to the species count of 17. These were placed low down. The best trap accounted for 14 species and was up a bank. Powdered Quaker and Frosted Green singles recorded but the highlight in the busiest trap checked last, naturally, was a Dotted Chestnut. New for us both. Does anyone know how many have now been recorded in Suffolk? Lights were run from 20.20 to 23.00 and it turned out to be another satisfying night after all!
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Don’t know how many in Suffolk now but they seem to turn up anywhere. Tony should know. I took one last year. I recall speaking with Matthew about the species and considering it probably to be established in the county.
Hello Keith, Congrats on the Dotted Chestnut. Not one I have recorded in Woolpit but I’m sure Tony or Matthew will have some idea of its current status in Suffolk. I took a Red Chestnut last night (5th garden record) as well as Streamer (c.10th garden record) and, new for the year, a male Muslin Moth. Just off to put the trap out again … so fingers crossed.
Hello Keith, well done on seeing your first Dotted chestnut. I’ve had it twice here at IGC (both records in October 2013). I know there have been other sightings both in the east and west vice counties in recent years so it does look like it has colonized, as expected after hearing it was spreading in Essex and Hertfordshire several years ago.