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