SMG visit to North Cove 14th July

Our follow-up visit to North Cove told us nothing about the interesting moths we found there in July 2017 as none of them were recorded even though there was just 7 days difference in the dates. Six of us with 10 traps met up on a clear evening which felt chilly out on the marsh with a thin mist making it quite damp.
These conditions no doubt contributed to the slow trickle of moths that came to the traps and the sheet light, so that by the time we packed up with the thermometer showing 11 degrees we had only recorded around 160 species which was well down on last year’s bumper numbers. Those recorded were typical for the time of year. Most interesting was Catoptria verellus (3) which is now appearing regularly in the Waveney Valley and must be considered as resident but was a ‘first’ for several present. Anclis baddiella, Ypsolopha nemorella, Stathmopoda pedella , Monochroa palustrellus and Phtheochroa inopiana were the only other micros of note with a Phalonidia that looked interesting turning out to be manniana and not the rarer udana.
Of the macros, Muslin Footman (3) was probably the most interesting and none of the others came in any great numbers. An unusually marked Clouded Bordered Brindle was the only macro we had to deliberate over.
It illustrates well how much we rely on the right weather conditions even on a prime site such as North Cove.

Brian

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