Friday 31 May 2013

Between the bridges - 30 May

Ventured east with KD to Black Rock picnic site that overlooks the Severn and both crossings.  Ran MV and actinic, which between them produced 47 moths of 14 species: Brimstone x11, Sandy Carpet x3, Flame Shoulder x3, Least Black Arches x2, Green Carpet x2, Chinese Character, Yellow-barred Brindle x4, Common Carpet x10, Pale Tussock x2, Shuttle-shaped Dart, Iron Prominent, Flame Carpet, Common Pug and Scorched Carpet x2.  There was plenty of bat activity early on, which no doubt had a bearing on the size of the catch, but despite this it was a respectable catch in a poorly recorded part of the county.  Scorched Carpet was undoubtedly the species of the night.  The plan is to return to the site over the coming months.

Scorched Carpet

Thursday 30 May 2013

Lower Ochrwyth - 29 May

Temperature was warmer, but windy conditions didn't help catch - nevertheless, 16 moths of 14 species including NFY: Waved Umber, Rivulet; Common Marbled Carpet; White-spotted Pug; and, Nematopogon swammerdamella.  

Waved Umber

Monday 27 May 2013

24th-26th May

Not a lot to report, although a Scalloped Hazel on the outside light on 24th was NFY as was an Adela reaumurella during the day on 25th, but MV later that day only produced x4 Nut-tree Tussock, Common Carpet, Flame Shoulder, Hebrew Character and Small Phoenix.  

Had a look at the Tirpentwys nature reserve yesterday: moths included Burnet Companion and some 20+ Gorse Pod Moths; and, butterflies included Dingy Skipper x2, Green-veined White x4, Orange Tip x3 and Small Whites but otherwise very quiet - no Green Hairstreak.      
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Scalloped Hazel



Tuesday 21 May 2013

Lower Ochrwyth - 20 May

The night was warm and overcast and the catch was good in that there were 19 species, but still only 29 moths in total.  NFY were: Coxcomb Prominent, Pale Prominent, V-pug, Brimstone, Least Black Arches, Red-green Carpet, White-pinion Spotted, Small Phoenix, Common Carpet, Yellow-barred Brindle, Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet and Common Wave.


Least Black Arches

Saturday 18 May 2013

Bedwas - 18 May

Sunny day so ventured out to look for butterflies at Bedwas - target species Dingy Skipper, recorded minimum of 8 individuals.  Also, Orange Tip x6, Large White x2, Green-veined White, Small Tortoiseshell, Small White.

Dingy Skipper
  

Lower Ochrwyth - 17 May

Just six moths last night to MV, but despite low numbers the catch did include FFY Flame Shoulder x2, Lesser Swallow Prominent and Square Spot.  

Square Spot

Friday 10 May 2013

Uskmouth 8th May

I was disappointed on the morning of 8th May to find that the MV trap had failed to come on at Redhouse Barns due to a faulty timer switch. There was further disappointment in the reedbeds at Uskmouth where I found only one moth in the actinic trap I had put out the previous night. This was a Hebrew character. Normally at this time of year I would be trapping dozens of wainscots such as silky wainscot and obscure wainscot. The day was saved, however, when in the afternoon I found 10 scarlet tiger moth larvae and 1 garden tiger moth larva in a small area of dry reedbed. Two of the scarlet tiger moth larvae were feeding on hemp agrimony and the other 8 were all on bramble.

Scarlet tiger moth larva
 
In the last few weeks I have also seen drinker moth and oak eggar larvae - almost as many species as the adult moths that I have seen.

Thursday 9 May 2013

Lower Ochrwyth - 7 May


A FFY - Chinese Character (Goose-egg) to the outside light.   
Chinese Character

Tuesday 7 May 2013

Lower Ochrwyth - 6 May

With the increase in temperature (12c), things are starting to pick up with 14 species last night - 7 of which were new for the year: Purple Thorn; Nut-tree Tussock; Small Phoenix; Spectacle; Red-green Carpet; Twenty-plume Moth; and, Lunar Marbled Brown.  The previous night also saw  NFY Brown Silver Line.


Purple Thorn

Thursday 2 May 2013

Lower Ochrwyth - 1st May, Summer is here

Best catch of the year so far with 54 moths of 11 species.  The majority of the catch was of Common Quaker (x29).  Otherwise, Early Thorn (x8), Streamer (x2), Water Carpet, Hebrew Character (x4), Brindled Pug (x2), Small Quaker (x3), Twin Spotted Quaker (x2), Mottled Grey, NFY Pebble Prominent and a YTBI micro.

Pebble Prominent