Private wood brings rewards

 9th June 2021

Cave Wood, St. Arvans (Private ) (c/o GWT)

It was a fine sunny start to the day locally with temperatures topping close to 25c by the afternoon although cloud was increasing. After a light afternoon shower, I wasn't put off with an evening visit here in this private wood, which incidentally conjured up 94 moths of 41 species. Of those 34 were macro moths and 7 micro moths. Apart from Pale Tussock (10) many were singles or low numbers but a good spread of mainly more common moths. One Poplar Hawk-moth dropped in with a 'thud' onto the ground and a Lobster Moth was pretty energetic for a while around the light. 

Three species were a bit of a surprise to me, being I hadn't bargained for these moths at this site tonight. They were Lychnis, and both Alder Moth (2) and a Shoulder-striped Wainscot pictured below.  

Cloud had covered all the sky by evening and before long patchy drizzle began falling creating misty, damp conditions, which were fairly good conditions for moths. Although befitting of the habitat, further surprises happened later into the evening around midnight and beyond when two 'Red Data Book' moths arrived. Pauper/Fletcher's Pug (pictured below) arrived within minutes of each other totalling 3 in number and tended not to be fully enticed to the light, remaining cautious on the ground sheet.

A little later 2 Scarce Hook-tip (below) dropped with one again being somewhat cautious, the other much braver kindly allowing me to get a night photograph.