Hopes we high for this night with warm cloudy conditions on arrival. 7 traps were operated (5 mv plus 2 actinic), covering the area of Oak pollards as well as the more mixed woodland. A bit of a breeze was evident while setting up which unfortunately didn’t ease off after dusk. Moths were slow to come in to begin with but soon there were good numbers of the various Oak feeding tortix buzzing round the light. The traps were similar. However, if you took away all the tortrix the actual number of other moths was quite low, more so than would be expected with the time of year, again a reflection I feel on the poor year we are having. Still, around 100sp wasn’t too bad, much better than our last visit to the site. Notable species were few but included good numbers of Blotched emerald, a Red-necked footman, O. nubilalis, Beautiful hook tip, Pretty chalk carpet and Beautiful golden Y. A few species were notable by their late appearance – Pale tussock and Least black arches. Things had quietened down considerably by 1.30am so we decided to pack up under a clear sky and a bright moon, probably why the evening had died off.
Neil