Wednesday night 27 May I had only my 8th trapping session of the year and this night it was at Scale Marsh, St Olaves. I haven’t trapped at all at home this season so far and have restricted my nights, focusing on the few very best nights that have come along. The site was chosen for it’s shelter, but the wind for an hour or so to 23.30 was way stronger than I had anticipated leaving me wondering why I had bothered coming out at one stage. However, although a much smaller species total than when out with Brian, it proved very worthwhile in the end. Setting up took place under the watchful eyes of a small herd of Red Deer out on the marsh. Three traps placed along the wooded edge of the marsh and one by Monk’s Hole Pond, the latter, the actinic, shut down after the first trap round due to the strong wind at that location contributed two or three species to the 65 total count.
Firsts for year included lots of Common Marbled Carpet, also Bordered White, Pine Hawk-moth, Figure of Eighty, Small Clouded Brindle. Surprise macro of the night was a very early Silky Wainscot, my second Wainscot species of the year, unusually seen the same night as a lingering, but perfect, Hebrew Character. However despite the wind it was night of the micros, not many seen but some really good ones; Ancylis upupana, Metendothenia atropuncta and Roeslerstammia erxlebella (thanks for the id on that one Neil) were all new for the area and for me. Epinotia rubiginosana also seen and the only Pug I recorded, with several specimens, was White-spotted.