Report by Jan Haseler  The Berkshire Moth Group visited Sheepdrove Organic Farm near Lambourn for National Moth Night on Friday 18th September 2009. One of the most productive lights was in the Herb Garden at the back of the Eco-Conference Centre. Highlights of the catch here included Deep-brown Dart, Black Rustic and Oak Hook-tip. In the background, the bat-detector clicked away and the rams in the next paddock (who were taking a keen interest in the proceedings) emitted a chorus of grunts and belches. Waste water from the Conference Centre is filtered through a series of reed-beds and ponds. A walk through the reed-bed with torches revealed various moths, including Sallow and Large Wainscot on the flower-heads of the reeds. The actinic trap there caught the only Beaded Chestnut of the night. Sheepdrove Farm is high up in the Berkshire Downs and a long way from any other reed-beds, but this has not prevented specialist reed-bed moths from colonising the site. Three traps were run in or adjacent to Nut Wood, an area of ancient woodland. The commonest moths in the woods were Common Marbled Carpet, Green Carpet and Snout. Tawny Owls were calling from the trees. Two other Robinson traps were run in the Paddock between the wood and the Conference Centre. Their catch included the only Bulrush Wainscot and Frosted Orange. In all, 36 species of moth were identified and the event was attended by 20 people. We would like to thank Sheepdrove Organic Farm and ecologist Jason Ball for their excellent hospitality at this very interesting location. (See also Jason Ball's account on the Sheepdrove blog.)   Photos: Jan Haseler (Frosted Orange, left, Brown-spot Pinion, right), Jason Ball (people round MV light)   Photos: Martin Harvey (Drinker caterpillar, left, Common Wainscot feeding at Common Reed flower, right) The full species list for the event was: Code Name Count 0464 Diamond-back 2 1076 Celypha lacunana 1 1640 Drinker (caterpillar) 1 1646 Oak Hook-tip 1 1760 Red-green Carpet 1 1764 Common Marbled Carpet 10 1768 Grey Pine Carpet 1 1776 Green Carpet 14 1906 Brimstone Moth 4 2089 Heart and Dart 1 2107 Large Yellow Underwing 19 2109 Lesser Yellow Underwing 3 2110 Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing 7 2123 Small Square-spot 13 2126 Setaceous Hebrew Character 22 2134 Square-spot Rustic 18 2199 Common Wainscot 47 2231 Deep-brown Dart 1 2232 Black Rustic 5 2266 Brown-spot Pinion 2 2267 Beaded Chestnut 1 2269 Centre-barred Sallow 2 2270 Lunar Underwing 6 2274 Sallow 1 2299 Mouse Moth 1 2306 Angle Shades 2 2353 Flounced Rustic 1 2361 Rosy Rustic 4 2364 Frosted Orange 1 2369 Bulrush Wainscot 1 2375 Large Wainscot 1 2384 Vine's Rustic 1 2389 Pale Mottled Willow 2 2434 Burnished Brass 8 2474 Straw Dot 3 2477 Snout 15 |
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Sheepdrove Organic Farm, National Moth Night, 18 Sept 2009 |