Thursday 25 August 2016

Merthyr mawr warren last night, Portland moth!


          This Portland moth came to the actinic light at 11PM. The first in the county since 2002 I think.


           Archers dart


           Lesser wax moth. 46 species up to 11:30PM on a still, muggy night. The rain
           started just as I got back to the car. Other highlights - Crassa unitella, Hedge
           rustic, Feathered gothic, Double kidney, Yellow belle and Oak eggar.

9 comments:

  1. Fantastic record, Paul. Congratulations!

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  2. If I`d found a Portland moth in one of my traps, I`d stare, splutter, and cough my false teeth out! (if I had them). Really first class record Paul.There`s an old 19th Century Carms record from Laugharne, with the moth probably coming from the nearby MoD Pendine dunes but that site is difficult of access, as is the other contender, the RAF Pembrey bombing range.

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  3. Fabulous, and richly deserved after all the effort you've put in there this year.

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  4. Surely one of South Wales' star moth records of 2016 - really well done!

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  5. You've certainly earned that one, Paul. Brilliant!

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  6. That's a moth I'd love to see - if Top Trumps did moths this would be one of the cards you'd want!

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  7. Well done Sid. Good to know that this species is still present in VC41. I've been lucky with this moth, as I've trapped it at KNNR & at MMNNR with Bernard Skinner & Dave Slade and with two now departed original members of the GMRG: Steve Moon & Stefan Golaszewski.

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  8. Thanks for all the comments. I trapped the far end of the dunes where Creeping willow is plentiful to try for Portland moth and was landed to get one early, as Chris' book mentions it comes to light after midnight and rain was forecast at some point. Fortunately It came in at 11PM and the rain started at 12.

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  9. Great stuff Paul - nice to know it is not extinct in Wales!

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