6 moth hunters came to this meeting, including one from the Norfolk group on his first meeting out with us. As usual, the staff and Mike Marsh helped us transport the load of equipment over to the reserve by boat. A Barn owl was seen en route, crossing the river back to the ness.
All the moth equipment!
The ‘Holm Oaks’ area
We put traps out in 3 areas: out in the ‘Holm Oaks’ an area of scrub trees on the edge of the shingle and saltmarsh, around the buildings in the middle of the site and also the reedbed area to try and find White-mantled wainscot. It was slightly windy but felt warm with some cloud cover so things were looking promising. All traps put out in sheltered spots from the breeze.
Back at the accomodation block whilst having a beer a few moths came in to the lights – Garden tiger, Aphomia zelleri and Pima boisduvaliella, a good start!
Up early the next morning to check the traps. First, the Holm Oaks. Reasonable number of moths seen here, with the following highlights: Tawny shears, Dog’s tooth, Acleris cristana, Saltern ear, Pempelia genistella, Agdistis bennetii, Aphomia zelleri, Aristotelia brizella, Ground lackey (c.15), Tree-lichen beauty (5), Plain pug, Starwort, Coleophora limoniella, Marbled green and a very worn Mathew’s wainscot.
Trap full of moths at the reedbed
Next stop was the reedbed traps. These were amazing, absolutely full of moths! For example, I estimate at least 800 Dog’s tooth alone recorded between the 3 traps! Highlights here: Garden tiger (40+), Leopard (2nd site record), Reed dagger, Dark sword-grass (a few), Crescent, Crescent striped (c.15, most ever seen in one night at the site), Brown-veined wainscot (2), Silky wainscot, Twin-spotted wainscot, Gold spot, Lesser cream wave, Dotted fan-foot, Brachima inornatella, Cosmopterix lienigiella, Ancylosis oblitella. Sadly no White-mantled wainscot seen here. Trap sorting had to take place in the bird ringing hut as it poured with rain at this point!
Highlights from the building traps: More Tree-lichen beauty, Monopis monachella, Sandhill rustic (first for year) and Pima boisduvaliella. These traps were probably the quietest of the lot for an unknown reason. Also close to the buildings a check of Prickly lettuce plants revealed a number of Small ranunculus larvae.
Yet again this was another very good event with a large number of moths seen. Sadly not the target but gives us a reason to return again next year!
Thanks must go to the National trust staff for their assistance and also Mike Marsh for helping put out the traps and with recording the catch.
Neil
Ancylosis oblitella
Sandhill rustic
Crescent striped f. abjecta