SMG Event 8/8/2015 – Oulton Marshes (in the end Beccles Marsh).

As can be seen from the title of this post, trapping did not take place at Oulton Marshes as a new locked gate blocked our access to the site and with no key that was it, a change of plan required so we headed instead to Beccles Marsh. Felt cool on arrival, and with a clear sky it didn’t appear that it would be a good night. Still, we gave it a go and 12 traps (4 actinic) were deployed along the river wall and slightly inland. My wine ropes went out too.
Moths were slow to trickle in to the sheet lamp so we were soon up and about checking the traps and ropes to keep warm. Only moth seen on the wine ropes all night was a single Herald. The traps along the river had small numbers of moths in that did include the 2 specialities of this site, Balsam carpet and Double kidney. The inland trap performed much better with it being slightly warmer there, was swarming with moths (lots of Flame shoulder and other common species mainly) but on the top was an example of the migrant tortrix Cydia amplana, the first for the year for all present. There were also a few Hornets and wasps present at some of the lights, a trend that I’ve noticed at my home site also in the last week.
Packed up at around 1.30am with numbers of moths coming in dropping off. 129sp recorded on my list so not a bad total given the conditions. Other notable species seen included: Crescent, Double lobed, Slender pug, Gold spot, Evergestis pallidata, Reed dagger, Platytes alpinella, Chevron, Bulrush wainscot, Webb’s wainscot, Brown-veined wainscot and Olive. Every trap had at least 1 Double kidney in, with probably around 20 seen in total. Balsam carpet count about 5.

Neil

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