10 moth-ers meet up for this meeting (along with the warden later in the night) to survey this excellent wetland trust reserve which has just successfully secured funds for a major expansion. A mixture of actinic and mv traps were spread out around the tracks and dyke edges to try and target White-mantled wainscot, one of which had been seen at the site on a previous survey. It was quite breezy so the most sheltered spots were used, and thankfully the wind did drop later in the night. The sky was fairly clear with a bright moon but it stayed mild.
Moths came to the sheet light at a steady pace and some of the traps at the top end of the reserve did pretty well with large numbers of wainscots caught. The target moth was seen, with one fairly fresh White-mantled coming into the sheet light just before we set off to do the first trap round. No others were found.
At around 2am we decided to pack up as the numbers of new species started to drop off, and the Garden tigers were in, a traditional late flyer!
Other moths of interest seen included, starting with the micros: Apodia bifractella (adult found on Fleabane flower), Monochroa palustrella, Dichomeris alacella, Acleris shepherdana (a few), Scoparia subfusca, Nascia cilialis, Agdistis bennetii, Agonopterix yeatiana, Elachista utonella and Gynnidomorpha alismana (3 probables, need dissection to be certain). Macros: 10 species of wainscots including Southern wainscot (abundant), Small, Webb’s, Bulrush, Brown-veined and Twin-spotted, Gold spot, Double lobed, Ghost moth (a half-sized female), Lesser cream wave, Kent black arches, Crescent, Reed dagger, Flame carpet, Chevron and a Dark sword-grass. Total just over 170 species with a few more to add at a later date, so, given the conditions quite a good night. Certainly my best total at a recording meeting this summer so far.
Neil