Moths: November 2023
Wednesday 22nd Another fairly mild night with a minimum of 5.7°C and a dropping breeze. There were five moths. A resident Dark Chestnut, Red-green Carpet and Crocidosema plebjana plus migrant related Diamondback and Rusty-dot Pearl. Tuesday 21st It remains mild but nights when it is not wet and/or windy are few and far between. Last night was forecast to have…
Moths: October 2023
Can you help? Every charity relies on its volunteers and we are no different. Our Treasurer is moving away from the area and so will be stepping down. We need a new treasurer. Bo has prepared a small manual to describe what is done and how it is done if this will help. Please contact treasurer@sbbot.org.uk if you think you…
Moths: September 2023
Saturday 30th Last night started clear and breezy allowing the temperature to drop to 8.4°C. This, combined with a bright full moon, dropped the catch to 41 moths of 19 species. Red-green Carpet, outside the trap, was new for the autumn. There are still Hummingbird Hawk-moths around. Friday 29th It was cloudy overnight, which is just as well as the…
Moths: August 2023
Thursday 31st i am guessing the cloud cleared during the night and the big moon then affected the catch. The temperature fell below 10 to 9.3°C as well. There were only 70 moths of 26 species, none of which were migrants. Clay Triple-lines was new for the year. The night was saved by a visitors trap which caught our second…
Moths: July 2023
Monday 31st Windy again and there were just 82 moths of 32 species. Silver Y’s were down to two and there was one Diamondback. A male Oak Eggar was probably searching for the females which had been in the previous two nights. Sunday 30th The wind continued to pick up and the temperature reduced to 13.9°C. This resulted in a…
Moths: June 2023
Friday 30th A much reduced trap today after the clear sky, bright moon, and slightly cooler temperatures. The clear highlight was Anarsia spartiella which is, surprisingly, new for Sandwich Bay. Thursday 29th I was wrong. The thermometer stayed upright and the temperature minimum was 18.8°C so it is warm out there. The catch was even larger – 884 moths of…
Moths: May 2023
Wednesday 31st The difference last night was a layer of cloud. This was enough to increase the catch to35 moths of 19 species. None of these were new for the year although Green Carpet is more frequent in sheltered spots such as the Elms. The migrant last night was a Diamondback. Tuesday 30th We have a severe attack of repetitive…
Moths: April 2023
Over 1,200+ species of moth have been recorded at Sandwich Bay including local and coastal specialties such as Bright Wave, Rest Harrow, White Colon, Forester, Oblique-striped, and Cynaeda dentalis. Why not pay us a visit? Our comfortable accommodation on site is perfect for trapping on our reserves or for using as a base to explore other areas nearby. See https://sbbot.org.uk/accommodation/…
Moths: March 2023
Thursday 30th A brief lull with hardly any rain allowed a range of traps to be put out. An actinic trap in the Elms caught 14 moths of four species, the highlight was a Pine Beauty; an attractive moth which is not annual. The car park trap held 38 moths of nine species. New for the year were Dotted Chestnut…
Moths: February 2023
Monday 20th The daytime temperatures are mild so the trap was out again. The night-time temperatures did not listen to the forecast and dropped to 3.5°C. There were six moths in the trap. Hebrew Character (3) and Satellite were new for the year, plus there was a Common Quaker and a Pale Brindled Beauty Wednesday 15th Hopes of an interesting…