Whitefield, Wiveliscombe

We were away visiting family on Friday so we did not trap until Boxing Day for GMS when the temperature was at 4 degrees the best we have had for some time and we had fifteen December Moths.

Winter GMS last night - although the ground was still frozen this morning min temp was 3˚C and there were 3 December Moth and one Winter Moth in the trap.

Whitefield, Wiveliscombe - Min Temp 5 degrees

Understandably no moths this week but the cold weather has driven the Wrens back to roosting in the House Martin's nests under our eaves. Starting at 4pm I saw at least ten arrive last night.

Mike Ridge has organised the following moth nights, open to the public, for 2010. All meetings are on Friday evenings except 29th May and 3rd July (both Saturdays). Click on the grid reference to see a map/aerial photograph of the area.

May 7th Cothelstone Hill ST185366 19.30 Meet at car park
May 14th Henlade Wood ST272225 20.00 Off minor road east of Stoke St Mary
May 21st Berrow ST293524 20.00 Meet at Berrow Church
May 28th Adcombe Wood ST222178 20.00 Off minor road Corfe-Feltham at Adcombe Hill
May 29th (Saturday) Shapwick Heath ST423411 20.00 Meet at bridge
June 4th Staple Common ST266158 20.30 Approx. 2 miles south of Staple Fitzpaine. Meet at gate
June 18th Haddon Hill SS979285 20.30 Meet at car parking area near entrance gate opposite Britannia Shield Wood
June 25th Shervage Wood/Woodland Hill ST165403 20.30 Meet at car park at Shervage Wood
July 3rd (Saturday) Langport Ranges ST425306 20.30 Meet at Ham Cemetery
July 9th Shapwick Heath ST423411 20.30 Meet at bridge
July 16th Beacon Hill Wood ST639459 20.00 North-east of Shepton Mallet, off old Frome Road
July 23rd Dead Woman’s Ditch ST162382 20.00 Off minor road west of Over Stowey
July 30th Swell Wood ST361239 20.00 Car park north of A378 between Fivehead & Curry Rivel
August 13th Ham Wall ST444398 19.30 Meet at car park near Railway Inn, Ashcott Corner
August 20th Hurlstone Point/Bossington SS897480 19.30 Meet at NT car park at Bossington
August 27th Steart ST275459 19.00 Meet at car park near Dowells Farm
September 3rd Berrow ST293524 20.00 Meet at Berrow Church
September 10th Ham Hill Country Park ST468169 18.30 Meet at car park south of Stoke-sub-Hamdon
September 24th Wimbleball/Hurstcombe SS974308 18.00 Meet at car park at Bessom Bridge
October 1st Wessex Water land ST252163 17.30 Meet at Mount Fancy Farm, end of minor road near Burford
October 8th Hurlstone Point SS89748017.30 Meet at NT car park at Bossington

Note: further meetings will be arranged during the year, but not all will be public events.
Please contact the organiser, Mike Ridge, beforehand on 01278 450793 if there is any uncertainty about the weather.

GMS last night - min temp 1˚C, one December Moth

I have just heard from Tony Liebert that he has received a photograph of a Silver Striped Hawk Moth. It was found roosting on a property in Crowcombe ST140367 on 28/11/09 by someone who was cutting back vegetation. An excellent if slightly suprising find.

Whitefield, Wiveliscombe

With regular heavy rain and wind the last few weeks have been very poor moth wise and I have not put out the trap. However last night our first Winter Moth for the season came to a lighted window.

The SMG Agm last week was a special occasion with an excellent attendance. The photos John Bebbington and Bill Urwin showed were outstanding but for me the highlight was to see the actual specimen of Robin Clatworthy's mainland first - his Ringed Border.

As it was my GMS night I felt obliged to put the trap out despite the weather forecast. By 0545 the wind and rain were battering the house but this morning there were 2 December Moth and one Light Brown Apple Moth in the trap.

Thankyou to everyone who attended the AGM on Thrsday last - well over 20 people there which is the highest membership percentage of an AGM of any organisation that I have seen in the last 10 years!

Thankyou particularly to everyone who provided refreshments and especially to those who helped lay out and clear away and wash up afterwards.