All is well down in Bournmouth but the weather for moths has been dire. Whilst you have all been getting good stuff, down here has been very poor and slow. However I have at last made it out and with the help of eleven actinic traps had a fair haul of moths at a prime site called Merritown Heath just north of Bournmouth Airport. The site is very important for many things mainly reptiles and amphibians but also has the biggest alder wood I have seen in many a year. As for moths they are very under recorded so Phil Sterling has procured me a key and allowed me full access.
On the 27th May 2009 the moths included Sloe Pug
Rosy Marbled looking and settling just like weird Chinese character
Pinion Streaked Snout which I have rarely seen
And much to my surprised over 30 Lesser Treble Bar which I had never seen before twenty of which were in one trap
.
Other moths included Fox moth, Birch Mocha in double figures, Cream Spot Tigers, Brindled White Spot, May Highflyer, and Narrow winged Pugs.
A few Micros added to the list included a variety of Scoparias mainly S. ambigualis but with a few S. angustea, also others micros including B. lacticolella and P. bicostella.
Finally and keeping what Phil considers was the best till last a Small Grass Emerald. The picture has a horrible orange glow but it still records a fine moth.
That's all for now my best wishes to the group
David Evans