VC30 survey: Chicksands Wood......08/08

A really good night with perfect conditions for trapping. In the end 60 species of macro caught with many micros potted and taken away for analysis. Among the best were Twin-spotted Wainscot, Poplar Lutestring, Square-spotted Clay and many suspected Triple-spotted Pugs, if so a 2nd reliable site in Bedfordshire for this rare moth.

Flame Carpet

Many trapped on the night.

Common Carpet

As the name suggests..........Common!

July Highflyer

Again, many caught.

Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet?

A probable, but can't be proven without gen check.

National Moth Night @ Chicksands Wood...15/05

The VC30 Moth-ers

A field meeting in the heart of Chicksands Wood was very productive even though the temperature dropped below 5°C. It was well organised, being run in conjunction with the Beds Bat Group. Not many bats around, but finally at 0100hrs a single Natterer's Bat was recovered from a mist net.

35 species of moth were recorded (report on VC30 to follow) from 5 traps, these are a few of the highlights I managed to photograph-

Broken-barred Carpet

A broken example! 2 were trapped on the night.

Clouded Border

Just 1 of these found by an MV skinner trap.
Iron Prominent

Just 1 recovered by the tripod MV with sheet. (see top photo)
Maidens Blush

Only 1 found, again on the tripod sheet.

Scalloped Hazel

2 found by the tripod MV.
Scalloped Hook-tip
Found on my 15w 12v Actinic trap!
Scorched Carpet
The 1st moth caught- in a net by Andy Banthorpe.
Small White Wave
A real highlight, caught in a net by Stephen Plummer, it's the 1st VC30 record since 1986!
Seraphim
Quite common- with 20+ found around 4 traps.