I put out a moth box at Whillet’s meadows on Thursday night, the moth list for the night was 45 moths from 21 species. My highlights were 2 new species for the reserve. A rather plain looking moth called Grass Rivulet (see pic) which is actually a day-flyer normally late afternoon, although not rare it is rather local as the food plant for the larvae is Yellow Rattle. Another new species to us was a night flyer called Small Clouded Brindle (see pic) which is fairly common, one of its larval food plants being Reed Canary Grass which grows at Whillet’s Pool. A Pale Prominent & Sallow Kitten moth (see pics) which are common, their larval food plants including Willows.
The following night, Friday 16/6, I put out the moth box in the study area, by coincidence there were 45 moths but slightly more species 23. No new species but a rather fresh Buff Arches (see pic) was seen. It is also common its larval food plant being Bramble.
On the 18/6 I popped over to Whillet’s for a butterfly count – 32 Meadow Brown, 3 Large Skipper, 2 Small Skipper, 2 Burnet Companion moths. On checking Meadow Pond an Emperor Dragonfly was seen (see pic). A quick look at Whillet’s Pool gave an even more impressive view of Orange Foxtail (see pic).
A look at the West End confirmed that all 3 Common Tern pairs on the rafts had at least one chick. Also seen were 1 Little Egret, 4 Lapwing, 1 Pied Wagtail. One Cormorant nest still has a growing chick. I also saw in the distance what looked like a Mink swimming close to Pintail Bank. It swam into Plaw Hatch Stream.
