DECEMBER 30th - CMG - REVIEW OF THE YEAR With the year nearly at an end and the likelyhood of recording any more moths this year almost zero, it is time to look back at 2007. Statistically we have been out on the patch on more than 40 occassions, garden trapping has occurred on over a 500 nights. We have recorded 369 species, 68 species have been added to our patch list which now stands at 397. Some expected species were missed such as Clay triple-lines and Mullien Wave but on the other hand we recorded some surprising species like Shore Wainscot, Double Line and The Streak. In a year with almost no migrant activity an excellent effort by all concerned. HAPPY NEW YEAR. . |
 |
NOVEMBER 6th - A surprising new species for the patch a Streak recorded from Paul's very productive Clevedon garden. 22nd - Two species of Pug added thanks to Mike Bailey for confirming the identity of these tricky blighters from specimens taken in the summer. A Slender Pug was recorded from Walton Moor on the 21st July and a Currant Pug was trapped in Paul's garden on the 1st August. 25th - New additions to the patch list are hard to come by in November so it is nice to add Mottled Umber, a species we tried for but missed in January. This specimen trapped in Paul's Clevedon garden. 28th - December Moth added for the year from Paul's Clevedon garden. 30th - A species considered a possibilty locally, a Scarce Umber recorded in Paul's garden is the first Avon record since 1995 and a new species for our local patch. |
  |
OCTOBER 1st - The first new moth in October a Black Rustic from Paul's garden. 3rd - A midweek visit to the Perfect Bite Lakes 'cut short by rain' provided 17 species in total. Red-line Quaker and Sallow both being new for the year. 4th - Paul's garden provide a Green Brindled Crescent for the year list. 6th - 9 traps ran at Walton Common in near perfect conditions. A total of 31 species recorded. November Moth, Merveille du Jour, Deep-brown Dart and Yellow-line Quaker new for the year and Flounced Rustic and Brown-spot Pinion added to the patch list. 9th - A Beaded Chestnut new for the year list from Paul's trap. 11th - A Feathered Thorn new for the year list also from Paul's trap. 12th - An patch tick with an Autumnal Moth was our reward for running 11 traps on Walton Moor. 29 species in total were recorded. 20th - Expert inspection of the November Moth specimens taken on the 12th 'thanks go to Mike Bailey' has revealed Pale November Moth as occuring locally. 26th - Figure of Eight added from Paul's garden. 28th - Dark Chestnut recorded from Paul's garden trap. |
    |
SEPTEMBER 6th - A Centre-barred Sallow the first year tick for September taken at Paul's garden trap. 8th - A visit to Walton Common provided 2 year ticks with Grey Pine Carpet and Brindled Green and 1 patch tick with Autumnal Rustic. A total of 54 macro species recorded for the night. 13th - Paul's highly productive garden trap gets the first Lunar Underwing of the autumn. 17th - 2 more of the expected early autumn moths recorded, again from Paul's trap. A Feathered Ranunculus and a Large Wainscot. 18th - Large Ranunculus recorded from Paul's garden. 21st - Last night Paul recorded a Barred Sallow from his garden trap. 23rd - Just 20 species from 6 traps last night on Walton Moor (GVRS). Only 1 new species for the year with Pink-barred Sallow. 24th - Paul's garden adds a Brick to the year list. 28th - The first Blair's Shoulder-knot of the year from my garden last night. |
    |
AUGUST 1st - A Dagger species taken at Walton Moor on the 22nd July is confirmed as Dark Dagger. 3rd - First new species for August an Oak Eggar and a Cypress Pug from Paul's garden.. 4th - Just 4 traps run at Weston Moor (AWT) last night. 58 species recorded with 1 year tick, Lesser Cream Wave and 3 patch ticks, Sandy Carpet, Tawny Speckled Pug and Small Wainscot. Also a Dusky Thorn from Paul's and Howard's gardens. 5th - Update from Blake's Pools on the 27th July a worn specimen taken that night was a Crescent Striped, a nationally scarce moth new for the CMG. Also last night at Paul's light trap an Old Lady. 6th - A Bulrush Wainscot from Paul's garden, recorded last night. 7th - The first Orange Swift of the year last night from Paul's trap. 8th - A Flounced Rustic recorded by Paul. 10th - A patch tick, Straw Underwing and a definate Rosy Minor recorded at Paul's garden trap. 11th - 7 traps run on Walton Common and the adjacent woodland, 97 Macro species recorded but only 1 year tick with September Thorn and 1 patch tick with Barred Rivulet. 12th - A Red Underwing was trapped last night at the Perfect Bite Lakes. 13th - Paul's garden trap continues to tick off the resident species, this time a Frosted Orange recorded last night. Recents updates - Please excuse the lack of recent updates, I have been on holiday in France (moth'ing report with photos to be posted soon). 24th - At trip to Walton Common added 3 year ticks with Mouse Moth, Hedge Rustic and Six-striped Rustic and 1 patch tick with Yellow Belle. 30th - Paul's garden trap adds Rosy Rustic to the year list. |
      |
JULY 4th - A Dunbar and a Gothic from Paul's garden get this month started. 5th - A Bordered Sallow again from Paul's trap is a new patch record for the CMG. 7th - 9 traps on Walton Common provided nearly 80 species last night. 5 are first records for the year - Wormwood Pug, Buff and Rosy Footman, Yellow-tail and Black Arches. 3 are first CMG records for the patch - Satin Beauty, Brown-line Bright-eye and Slender Brindle. 9th - The Fan-foot found at the toilet block lights, Ladye Bay. 14th - From my garden Dusky Sallow and White-spotted Pug (also from Walton Common). Although washed out in the early hours Walton Common provided a season's best count of 115 species. 7 additional patch year ticks with Small Emerald, Barred Red, Dingy Footman, Ruby Tiger, Dot Moth, Ear, Dark Swordgrass and 1 patch tick with Dotted Clay. Also from Paul's garden a Bordered Beauty. 16th - From Paul's garden the first Square-spot Rustic. 20th - Again from Paul's garden a Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing. 22nd - The rain eased off long enough to run 8 traps along the Walton Moor track. A slow night, however among the 75+ species recorded, there were 6 new for the year with Drinker, Large Emerald, Canary-shouldered Thorn, Copper Underwing, Lesser Common Rustic (to be confirmed) and Olive and 1 new for the patch with Double Kidney. 23rd - Paul's garden has provided Garden Tiger, Maple Pug and Plain Pug overnight to take us past 300 species for the year. 24th - 2 more form Paul's home trap a Vapourer and a Svensson's Copper Underwing. 25th - Again from Paul a Small Rufous and a Least Yellow Underwing. 27th - 2 sites visited last night, Perfect Bite lakes and Blake's pools targeting with some success Wainscots. 4 traps run at the Perfect Bite lakes and nearly 60 species recorded. 2 year ticks with Brown-veined Wainscot and Silky Wainscot and 2 patch ticks with Twin-spotted Wainscot and Southern Wainscot. 5 traps run at Blake's pools and 35 species recorded including an additional patch tick with Oblique Carpet. The Wainscots recorded at the Perfect Bite also occured here. 31st - From my garden trap Leopard Moth. |
          |
JUNE 2nd - 74 species recorded at Weston Moor last night. 9 traps operated across the reserve in the woodland and grassland areas. 14 new species for 2007 recorded of which 5 are new for the patch. Year ticks - Buff Arches, Blood-vein, Lime-speck Pug, Latticed Heath, Double Square-spot, Miller, Dusky Brocade, Pale Shouldered Brocade and Mottled Rustic. New for patch - Gold Swift, May Highflyer, Small Seraphim, Striped Wainscot and Dog's Tooth. Also another patch tick came from Paul's garden with a Cream-spot Tiger. 2nd - Tawny Marbled Minor added from the 25th May at Walton Common following species confirmation by Dave. 3rd - Yellow Shell, Uncertain and Pine Carpet from my garden at the UV/MV traps last night. On Walton Common last night 92 species recorded including 6 patch year ticks. Adding Riband Wave, Satin Wave, Small Rivulet, Dark Arches, Burnished Brass and Beautiful Hook-tip makes 201 species for the year. 4th - From Paul's garden a Smoky Wainscot. 5th - Howard does it again with day flying species, this time finding Red-belted and Orange-tailed Clearwing with artificial pheromones on Walton Moor (GVRS). 6th - Overnight the first Heart and Club for the year came to my garden trap. 7th - First moth at Paul's garden trap tonight was a Light Arches 'left over from previous night', and added Magpie Moth. 8th - From last night a Small Blood-vein from Jason's garden trap. A daytime visit to Walton Common by Howard added 4 species to the year list with Six-spot and a probable Five-spot Burnet, a Burnet Companion and Yellow-legged Clearwing, And a night visit to Walton Moor (GVRS) provided over 85 species from just 4 traps. Notable additions to the patch and year list are Scallop Shell, Grey Pug, Common Lutestring, July Highflyer, Double Dart and Sharp-angled Peacock and Peacock Moth. Also from Paul's garden a Toadflax Pug. 9th - A visit to Weston Moor (AWT) with pheromones locates a colony of Red-tipped Clearwing's. Also a Narrow-bordered Five-spot Burnet netted there. 10th - Howard visited most of Clevedon allotments before locating Current Clearwing with pheromones at Moor Lane. 11th - Six species added today with Barred Yellow, Common Footman and Shark from Paul's garden and Lilac Beauty from the toilet block at Ladye Bay. Also late news of a Poplar Kitten in Dave's garden and a second from Paul's and a Minor Shoulder-knot from Howard's. 12th - A Common Emerald from Paul's garden the latest addition and in the evening Paul's trap provided a Swallow-tailed Moth as well. 14th - The first Cabbage Moth of the year recorded at Paul's trap last night. 15th - Lackey added again from Paul's Clevedon garden. 16th - A visit to the coast path at Walton-in-Gordano to try some different habitat added just 2 species to the patch year list, Ghost Moth and Rufous Minor (TBC). Just 2 traps used and only around 30 species were recorded after the cool wet weather. Paul's garden again adds to the list with a Scalloped Oak. 17th - Another from Paul's garden a Single-dotted Wave. 18th - Paul's garden traps deliver again with another unexpected addition to the patch list this year with a Shore Wainscot. 19th - Despite the foul weather there are still some moths flying, last night the first Small Fan-footed Wave of the year recorded by Paul. 22nd - First Marbled Green of the year at my garden trap. From Paul's a Barred Straw and a Dingy Shears. 23rd - Last night we returned to Walton Common with 4 traps. 75 species recorded with 5 new species for the year, Brown Scallop, Short-cloaked Moth, Marbled Brown, Clay and Scarce Silver-lines. Also 2 new species for the patch, Dark Umber and Red-necked Footman. A Haworth's Pug was found by Paul at Ladye Bay today. 24th - 7 traps ran overnight on Walton Common. 72 species recorded with 4 new species for the year, Scarce Footman, Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing, Phoenix and The Rustic. Also another 2 new species for the patch, Reddish Light Arches and White-line Snout. From mine and Paul's gardens the first Lesser Yellow Underwings for the year 27th - Dwarf Pug added as a result of confirmation of a specimen taken on the 2nd June at Walton Common. 28th - 3 more species for the year added from local gardens, Common Rustic and Shaded Broad-bar from Paul's and Marbled Beauty from mine. 30th - Only just over 50 species trapped at the end of Weston Moor track last night. Notable moths were Blackneck, Double Lobed, Plain Golden Y, Blue-bordered Carpet and Cloaked Minor. |
           
|
MAY 2nd - First new species in May a Vine's Rustic from my garden trap. 4th - A trip to the Perfect Bite Lakes was limited to only 9 species, however a year and patch tick was recorded with a Seraphim. Also added a Freyer's Pug from Paul's home trap. 6th - Jason recorded a Poplar Grey at his garden trap last night. 8th - From Paul's garden a Marbled Minor confirmed by Mike Bailey. 12th - 11 traps deployed in the Gordano last night from the Poplar wood and along the track beyond the ringing station. Despite on/off rain an excellent 72 species recorded with 26 new additions to the year list. The first Hawk-moths of the year were recorded with Lime, Poplar and Elephant. Other notable species were Clouded-bordered Brindle, Square Spot, Orange Footman, Marbled White Spot, Dingy Shell, Mottled Pug and Green Arches. From Paul's garden a Figure of Eighty. 15th - An Eyed Hawk-moth and a Shears from my garden trap adds another 2 and Howard provides another day flyer with a Small Yellow Underwing from Clapton Moor. 16th - A Light Emerald from Ladye Bay and we have 138 on the year list. 17th - A Small Dusty Wave, Sycamore, Cypress Carpet, Lychnis and a Puss Moth from Paul's garden, a Yellow-barred Brindle from mine and a Green Pug from Jason's for 145. 18th - A disappointing night at Walton Common with 4 traps run and 25 species recorded. Only addition to the year list was Ingrailed Clay. 20th - From my garden trap a Willow Beauty. 22nd - A Gold Spot and a Snout were added from Paul's trap. 23rd - Again from Paul's trap a Buff Ermine and a Treble Brown Spot added to the year list. 24th - More good stuff from Paul, Privet Hawk-moth, Straw Dot and new for the patch Obscure Wainscot, also a Buff-tip from Jason a Treble Bar from Howard and a Scarlet Tiger from the outside lights of The Royal Inn, Portishead adds 3 more. 25th - Last night Rustic Shoulder-knot and today a newly emerged Garden Carpet from Paul. 26th - At Walton Common last night 9 traps were run spread between the woodland and the more open areas of the common itself. An excellent 73 species recorded with 16 year ticks 6 of which are new species for the patch. Year ticks - Flame Carpet, Purple Bar, Small Yellow Wave, Tawny-barred Angle, Small Elephant Hawk-moth, Cinnabar, Shoulder-striped Wainscot, Alder Moth, Beautiful Golden Y and Small Fan-foot. New for patch - Tissue, Brindled White-spot, Grey Arches, Light Brocade, Brown Rustic and Clouded Brindle. 31st - A very unexpected addition to the patch list from Paul's garden a Double Line, Photo below.  |
         
|
APRIL 6th - Last night local gardens provided the first year ticks for April, with an Angle Shades in Howard's trap and an early Muslin Moth in Paul's. 6th - A very poor evening session on Weston Moor produced only 1 Dotted Border, 2 Double-striped Pug and several Common Quaker. 9th - Pebble Prominent from Paul's garden makes 33. 10th - 20 species recorded including 7 new species for 2007 at Walton Moor (GVRS) last night. The ticks were Brimstone moth, Flame Shoulder, Nut-tree Tussock, Sallow Kitten, Early-tooth Striped, Powdered Quaker and a new record for the patch Lunar Marbled Brown. Also a Waved Umber trapped in Paul's garden. 11th - Howard recorded a Herald in his garden. 12th - Pale Mottled Willow from Howard's garden adds yet another to the year list. 13th - Best night of the year so far gives us 36 species with 14 year ticks. Walton Common woodland provides the following Purple Thorn, Red Twin-spot Carpet, Spruce Carpet, Dotted Chestnut, Spectacle, Mottled Beauty, Chinese Character, Coxcomb Prominent, Least Black Arches, Oak-tree Pug, White-pinion Spotted, Knot Grass, Scalloped Hazel, Frosted Green and along with Jason's garden the Streamer. Also from Paul's garden a Pine Beauty take the species count to 59. 14th - Iron Prominent from Paul's garden and a V-Pug from the Perfect Bite lakes gives us 61. 17th - Shuttle-shaped Dart from my garden and a Mullein from Paul's adds 2 more. A possible Lead Coloured Drab also from Paul may add 1 more to the patch list if confirmed. 18th - Update, the Lead Coloured Drab is confirmed as a Clouded Drab and a record of Brindled Beauty from the 14th in Dave Pritchard's garden makes 64 species recorded on the patch this year. 20th - The first migrant for the year with a Silver Y, also a Swallow Prominent both from Paul added to the year list. 21st - An excellent evenings mothing at Walton Moor last night provided at least 15 new species for the patch year list. 46 species were recorded in total and the additions to the year list are, Small Pheonix, Common Carpet, Dark Barred Twin-spot Carpet, Lesser Swallow Prominent, Pale Tussock, Silver Ground Carpet, Clouded Border, Small White Wave, Red Green Carpet, Brown Silver-line, Bright-line Brown-eye, Grey Birch, Chocolate-tip, Common Wave, Pebble Hook-tip. Its possible that this will increase by 2 when the outstanding Pugs are Identified. Also a further species added to the list today when a Small Waved Umber found in the toilet block at Ladye Bay by Howard. 22nd - Common Pug added from Walton Moor makes 83 species. 23rd - Last night a White Ermine came to Paul's garden trap. 25th - Ladye Bay toilet block does it again with a Fern found by Paul. 26th - A Heart and Dart from my garden trap make 86 species to date. 27th - Last night Howard trapped a Turnip. 28th - Walton Common woodland with 7 traps used produced a total 42 species. Patch year ticks were Mocha, Lobster, Oak Hook-tip, Common Carpet, Green Carpet, Coronet, Treble Lines, Clouded Silver, Maidens Blush and a new record for the patch of the nationally scarce 'Little Thorn'. Another day flying species added with a Cistus Forester found by Howard this afternoon on the open areas of Walton Common. 29th - Late news of a Foxglove Pug in Dave Pritchard's garden and a Common Marbled Carpet and a Pretty Chalk Carpet both from the toilets at Ladye Bay gives us 101 species. |
         
|
MARCH 3rd - Visited Weston Moor AWT on a clear night with full moon, so not ideal conditions targeting 'Yellow Horned' unsuccessfully for the patch. Added species no. 13 with Red Chestnut. Also recorded 8 March Moth, 4 Common Quaker, 3 Pale Brindled Beauty including the dark form and a Chestnut and Satellite. 7th - Early Thorn from HT garden makes no. 14. 8th - Twin-spotted Quaker and Pale Pinion from my garden to make 16. 9th - Two more added with Early Moth from Howard's garden and Early Grey from mine. 10th - Around 100 moths of 16 species recorded during a session at Walton Common Woodland. 6 traps were run and 7 species were added to the year list as follows:- Small Quaker, Brindled Pug, Oak Beauty, Oak Nycteolene, 16th - The first day flying species added today when Howard successfully found Orange Underwing at Weston Moor. 17th - Another attempt at finding 'Yellow Horned' on Weston Moor failed. A very poor night with only 5 or 6 Common Quaker and 2 Chestnut. 24th - 15 species recorded at Walton Common woodland with 2 species added to the patch year list. A very early Scorched Carpet and an expected Double-striped Pug. 28th - 29th species added with a Shoulder Stripe in PC garden last night. 28th - A visit to the Perfect Bite lakes this evening for Small Eggar was rewarded with the first moth trapped that species. 7 species and 20 individuals trapped in total. |
      |
1st - First new species for 3 weeks, a Dotted Border trapped in Howard Taff's garden at his MV trap. 2nd - A second visit to the Perfect Bite resulted in no moths being trapped. 15th - A mild and dry evening prompted a visit to Walton Common woodland targeting 'Spring Usher'. 1 MV and 1 UV trap was used. The trapping session proved successful with 1 Spring Usher trapped, a new species for the patch. Also recorded March Moth, Satellite, Pale Brindled Beauty and a surprise record of the Engrailed. 16th - The 9th species for the year added with a Hebrew Character from my garden UV trap. 18th - Another visit to the Perfect Bite Lakes resulted in just 1 Hebrew Character. 21st - 10th species added with Common Quaker in Howards garden. 23rd - Grey Shoulder-knot trapped in JP garden making 11 species. 24th - Another visit to the Perfect Bite didn't add any new species. Dotted Border, Hebrew Character, Common Quaker and Grey Shoulder-knot recorded. From my garden species no. 12 a Clouded Drab. |
    |
|
1st - As predicted, the first moth recorded was Winter Moth with 5 seen along Nortons Wood Lane just before dawn. Photo right of a ♂ netted in car headlamps. 5th - Did the first site trapping session of the year tonight with a visit to the Perfect Bite Lakes. 1 MV and 2 UV traps were used. A new species was added to the year list as 2 Chestnut were trapped along with 15 Winter Moth. |
 |
Contact the Webmaster Top of page Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec