There’s an electronic version of the new checklist available on the Natural History Museum web site. Contains both new checklist number and B&F numbers so will be useful for referencing back to older names.
It can be download from here
Tony
Doors will open at 11.00am for setting up, refreshments and general chat and looking at exhibits. Some of the group will be lunching in the pub from 12.00pm onwards. and the formal meeting will start at 1.15pm with picture shows and talks. The meeting will finish at 4.15pm. I should be back from the pub at 1.00pm to make sure that the hall is open for the afternoon session.
The day’s entertainment is entirely dependent on members bringing along items of interest or being prepared to give a short/long talk. I will be bringing a digital projector for those with digital presentations or images. If anyone would like to show slides I can provide a slide projector if they let me know beforehand. Tables will also be provided for those with exhibits. It would be useful if you are intending on giving a presentation to let me know. Refreshments will be provided.
If you are doing a Powerpoint presentation then you should save it in OpenOffice format or if you use Microsoft Office then Office 2007 format or earlier. I do not have Microsoft Office but do have Powerpoint 2007 viewer. If in doubt about this get in touch with me.
Bucklesham Village Hall is not far from the Nacton A12/A14 roundabout to the east of Ipswich. From the A12/A14 roundabout take the minor exit after the A12 exit but before the A14 Felixstowe exit. This exit is signposted to Bucklesham and leads via a single track road to Bucklesham Village. At the end of this road you will reach the village, at the T junction turn right into Bucklesham Road. Take the next right turn into Levington Lane and the village hall is a short distance down the lane on the right.
A map of the location can be viewed by following this link. The OS Grid Reference for the hall is TM242417. If you need any more detailed instructions in how to get there then do get in contact with myself.
Ran a couple of traps up in the woods last night, 6sp seen with an Oak beauty being the only addition to the year list, my earliest ever record (previous earliest in 2014 on the 19th Feb).
Neil
I ran a single trap on Monday night (9th) up in the woods on the golf course as it was cloudy and just about warm enough at 5 degrees. Pleased to find 28 moths in the morning – 14 Spring usher, 6 Pale brindled beauty, Ypsolopha ustella, 3 Chestnut, March moth, Dotted border and new for the year Tortricodes alternella and a Small brindled beauty. Been a bit too cold to try any other nights the rest of this week but hopefully it looks more promising over the weekend.
Neil
I set up a couple of actinic traps yesterday evening in a new and very large area of woodland that I have been asked to survey this year, not expecting very much as although conditions were calm, the temperature was only 5 deg. In just over an hour, 26 moths came to the traps including 22 Spring Usher. The others were Tortricodes alternella, Dotted Border & Pale Brindled Beauty.
It was good to get out and enjoy a session with the traps.
Brian
Ran a single trap last night and caught 4sp, with the first Spring usher (2) and March moth appearing. Also 3 Chestnut and a Ypsolopha ustella. May try again Tues night if it stays mild, just before the arctic blast hits us later in the week.
Neil
Did run a trap at home in the garden on the night of the 27th, 3 moths caught – 2 Spring usher and a Mottled umber.
I’ve booked Bucklesham Village Hall for Saturday 28th March 2015 for the annual indoor meeting. We have to be out a half hour earlier than previously (at 4.30pm) so I’ll be thinking about starting the meeting earlier. One option is to start the meeting in the late morning, break for lunch and then carry on till mid-afternoon. Let me know what’s your preference. Further details here when they’ve been finalised.
As conditions were mild last night, I put a trap out in the woods around the work-sheds at IGC. 4sp recorded, Winter moth (2), Mottled umber (15), Chestnut (1) and Pale brindled beauty (1). Also had a Winter moth and an Agonopterix scopariella on the kitchen window at home. Nice to get the moth season underway quite early on. Surprised not to see any Spring usher, will look out for those next time I trap if another opportunity arises soon.
Neil
With the rise in temperature today and cloud cover, this evening was a good opportunity to find some January 1st moths. I took the 22w actinic to the nearby SWT reserve along with the spare car battery and set it up out of the wind over a sheet (without a trap) in the woodland just after dusk, while I spent an hour checking tree trunks with the torch. I counted about 75 Winter Moth on the trunks of which 15 or so were females in cop. Lots of other insects crawling up the trunks on the mild night air. At the sheet there were another 10 Winter Moth, 5 Mottled Umber and an Early Moth.
It’s easy to spot which Winter Moth males are attached to females. The head of the male is always pointing down the trunk and the female up the trunk as she makes progress toward the higher branches (in most cases tonight on Sycamore) with him in tow. I was back home by 6pm.
All the best for the new mothing year and may it be an enjoyable and rewarding one for us all.
Brian
Happy New Year to all. The IGC moth list for the new year has started already, with the sighting of a Ypsolopha ustella at the kitchen window this evening. Bit windy to run a trap, shame, as it seems a mild night.
Good luck to all over the coming year.
Neil
