Closworth 24/12/2006
Two Winter moth at lighted window

I have just added a clarification of how to add to 'Latest Sightings' on the 'Show My Pages' button.  I know this is confusing many and will try to simplify this more for next year.

The best action is to: Logon, click the 'show my pages' button and then follow the link to 'Latest Sightings' there.  Once viewing the Latest Sightings page you can click the 'add blog here' button to add your comments.  The basic thing to remember is that you need to be viewing the destination page for your post to be added there.

Also, I think it would be a good idea (from the beginning of next year) to post everything to the Latest Sightings page so we have a single web log running for everyone.  Having a number of blogs running is confusing.

Any ideas or suggestions are, as always, very welcome.

On the website generally, we have just moved service provider and after a disaster recovery exercise last weekend (which did uncover some potential problems - now resolved) all is back to normal.

We have also taken ownership of the 'old' website names (somersetmoths.org.uk and somersetmothgroup.co.uk) and have these re-directing to the new site (somersetmothgroup.org.uk).  Many other groups and sites are still using links to the old addresses and getting these changed seems to be difficult and slow.  Also, the two older sites were causing odd search results in Google and preventing some of the public from finding our site.  In time we hope to have all links pointing to the new site and then the old names can be discarded.

Best wishes for the Season to everyone and I hope you have a happy and prosperous New Year.

Closworth17th December
Mottled umber
December moth
Winter moth

Closworth 14/12/2006
Nine December moth

I too put the trap on last night (125w MV) but the spider outside my back door did better! It caught 1 tortricid and I had nothing!

I thought I'd try my Actinic last night as it was so mild - a few files but no Lepidoptera!

This is very interesting.  I know that Ian Mathieson seems to be in a great migrant 'hot spot' here (at Norton sub Hamdon) which is against a ridge.  I also think it helps if you have your trap out every night where ever you are!

Good morning, everyone.

I joined the Migrant Recorders Network (a Yahoo group) earlier this year when it rose phoenix-like from the ashes of the migrant moth website. It has been very interesting looking at the catches from as far afield as the Faeroe Islands!

At the moment there is some discussion going on as to what makes a site good for migrants and here is a complete quote from Dave Grundy in Birmingham:

"As the group is getting a bit quieter over winter, I thought I would raise the question about what makes a good inland migrant site? The best coastal sites for migrant moths tend to be the ones that stick out into the sea - so brilliant sites like the Scillies, Portland and Dungeness tend to be better than your average bit of coastline. But what about inland sites? I know that for birds that ridges of hills such as the Malverns in the West Midlands can be good and even on small hills like Barr Beacon where I work - I have seen migrants such as Honey Buzzard and commoner migrants such as wheatears, pipits, swallows etc. However the same site attracts very few moth migrants and certainly no more than average. My back garden in inner city Birmingham is rubbish for migrants and not that good for other species, but some rural sites have traps heaving with moths, but not apparently any better for migrants than my back garden. Mike Southall from near Stourport, Worcestershire wrote recently to the group about his garden migrants and also recently had the Red Sword-grass that I mentioned to the group and earlier in the year he managed 10 Scarce bordered Straws in his trap in one night. Another Herefordshire garden also has good numbers of migrants including 4 Convolvulus Hawks this year! So what makes the good gardens like these two? - there seems to be a correlation with river valleys. But, what is it? Is it related to the size of the river or the shape of the valley, or how close you are to the river or which side of the valley and does it matter whether the valley runs east west or north south? Or are there any other major factors? What does anyone think - how much of an answer can we work out?"

If anyone has any comments I'd be interested!

Thanks

John Bebbington

Closworth 4/12/2006
December moth
Blair's Shoulder knot
Udea ferrugalis

Langport 1 December 2006

Mottled Umber 1
Sprawler 2
Dark Chestnut 1

John Bebbington

Closworth 1st December
Silver Y
Red-Green carpet
December moth 2

Thursday 30 November 2006, Peter Tennant

Whitefield Corner, Wiveliscombe

Pearly Underwing

Langport 30 November 2006

Udea ferrugalis 2
December Moth 3
Winter Moth 1
Sprawler 1
Silver Y 3

John Bebbington