Moths

An unprecedented run of bad weather resulting in the wettest drought since records began has resulted in very poor trapping records with several blank nights from garden traps. Around the country many recorders were suffering from   withdrawal symptons with so many poor results. With three days of decent warm weather and no rain a hastily arranged  visit was deemed urgent to see the state of play. Area 4 was the only choice of site with the muddy paths and damp undergrowth hindering trapping.  We used only four traps, the sheet with a 125 and 160 bulbs either side, two 125′s and a 160 Robinson.  The temperature was 13 degrees when we started at 21.00 and 7 degrees when we left at 23.00 although it felt much colder due to clear skies. For the time of year trapping was poor to say the least but not in the least unexpected. There was virrtually no activity away from the traps and searches through the woods with torches drew a blank.

March has always been a good month for trapping in the woods with previous high counts especially of Yellow Horned. We tried area 4  this time and set up our traps in eager anticipation of a good night. Weather had been unseasonably warm with daytime temperatures hitting 17 degrees. Garden catches had been steadilly increasing both with species and numbers. A change of set up also. The sheet trap as normal but with just two 125 watt bulbs eith side. This freed up a Robinson which was placed behind a holly bush amongst some Beech. We also ran the usual two Robinsons, one 125 and one 160 and the 40 Watt Heath. We trapped from 18.45 to 21.30 in temperatures starting at 16 degrees C dropping to 7 degrees C when we left. It was a still night with clearing skies although there was some mist later. We were not to be disappointed, after an initial slow start we trapped continuously till we ran out of containers even with estimating, it turned out to be our best night ever although with only one new Micro but two Dotted Chestnuts which were a bonus.

It was anticipated that the earlier October 31 st trip would be the last of the year but with moths still being caught in good numbers in garden traps and other sites near by it was decided that with the continuing unseasonable mild weather to have a go to prove whether December moth was resident. We were not to be disappointed with four individuals being caught along with the ever present November moth and Feathered Thorn. We started at 16.45 and continued to 20.15 in mild temperatures of 15 degrees on starting dropping to 12 degrees on leaving. The sky was cloudy and although no rain it was very foggy on leaving. We trapped in area 4 underneath the oaks which are associated with  the December Moth. The traps were the Sheet with a 125 one side and 160 the other, Two 125 Watt and one 160 Watt Robinson. No trap was deemed to be more successful than the other. Along with the hooting Tawny Owl some bat sp. were seen during setting up.

The promise of a week of sunshine and high daytime temperatures hopefully meant that a good evenings trapping was in prospect. How wrong could we have been with only 22 moths of 15 species caught although 6 of these were firsts for the woods. Why the count was so low we cannot imagine the temperature was good, 21 degrees on arrival and 17 degrees on departure, there was no moon, wind or rain although the sky was clear. Several forays into the woods away from the traps so no activity at all  –  very disappointing. We ran the usual sheet with a 125 and 160 watt bulb either side, three 125 Robinsons and the 40 watt battery heath. Site 1 was our base with the battery on site 4, there was still some heather in bloom but nectaring was totally absent.

Our intention tonight was to trap in area 1 now that the heather was in bloom. Sadly on entering the site it started raining so we ended up trapping in area3 where it is much more sheltered. The omens looked good full moon but  very cloudy, no wind, reasonably damp and a temperature of 25 degrees plus it had been reasonably warm for the previous few days. We trapped using the usual sheet with a 125 bulb one side and a 125 Robinson the other, two further 125 Robinsons and a 40 Heath. We placed the 40 watt  battery trap on the edge of area 4 amongst the oaks. To say things were slow would be an understatement although there were plenty of micros about macros were thin on the ground. This really mirrored our garden catches which had likewise also been poor for most of the previous week. We did however get two new macros for the site, Jersey Tiger seems to be expanding its range from a stronghold in London and is now being frequently reported with ever increasing numbers in the suburbs, Sidcup in particular seems to have a good population. Tree lichen beauty used to be a speciality of this area and again is expanding in all directions with ever increasing numbers reported. We trapped for three hours from 20.45 and the temperature on leaving was still an acceptable 15 degrees.