Redhouse Barns, Newport Wetlands NNR, 12th July 2022

I ran the Robinson MV trap overnight. In the morning I recorded 83 species. High-lights were - 12 Rosy Footman, 1 Brussel's Lace, 9 Elephant Hawkmoth, 2 Poplar Hawkmoth, 1 Lime Hawkmoth, 5 Dark Spectacle, 5 Spectacle, 6 Southern Wainscot,1 Peach Blossom, 1 Double Lobed, 1 Lesser Yellow Underwing, 1 Brown-tail, 1 Silky Wainscot,  1 July High-flyer, 2 Small Blood-vein, 1 Ear moth spp (Saltern?) . 1 Antler Moth, 1 Herald, 3 Lunar-spotted Pinion, 2 Water veneer, 1 Rush Veneer, Pseudargyrotoza conwagana, Catoptria pinella, Udea prunalis, Chilo phragmitella, Ebulea crocealis, 2 Calamatropha paludella, Donacaula forficella, and Agapeta hamana.

After I had been checking the trap for about 15 minutes, sudendly there was a terrific whirring of wings and for a split second I though it was a very large brown moth flying out of the trap, before I realised it was a wren who had been in there the whole time eating moths. Many years ago I had fitted small metal bars to the trap (see photo), to stop birds getting it. They probably stop blue-tits and robins, but obviously not wrens.

Lesser Yellow Underwing

Lime Hawkmoth

The bars on my trap

Saltern Ear?