Thursday, 26 March 2020

Northern Drab, Thursday 26th March 2020


The rangers and I had planned several night-time nature walks in the country parks this coming season, obviously due to the current situation all events are off until we return to normality. One event was going to be a look at moths in Pembrey Country Park using a light trap set out overnight.


Fortunately before we made the difficult decision to close our Country Parks, I had left a moth trap working overnight and caught a few moths as luck would have it one of the moths turned out to be particularly uncommon on the coast of Carmarthenshire, the Northern Drab moth is well named as it’s not very colourful, a first record for the Country Park and local experts were very interested in this find.
Northern drab



Why not look for moths in your garden, already the spectacular Hummingbird Hawk Moth, a daytime flying moth which migrates from warmer climes was seen in a Burry Port garden feeding on Primroses. I suspect the moth was helped along by the flow of south easterly winds, how it will cope with the forecast northerlies I wonder
can you spot it, (bottom LH side)


You could also just leave your outside light on and see what comes to investigate, overcast milder nights are best but if you don't try....

Bats are now on the wing with Pipestrelles perhaps the most likely over your gardens.

Keep Safe everyone....





Sunday, 22 March 2020

Moths and a monumentally sad day Sunday 22nd March 2020

I risked putting a moth trap out last night, in the hope of capturing my first moths of the year.

I set the trap on the edge of the woodland and caught six moths, more than I expected given how cold it was last night. 

Oak Beauty, "A" Drab, Hebrew Character and Chestnut made up the catch.

Oak Beauty

"A" Drab to be identified
A stunning day followed, attracting many visitors to the Country Park despite all the sensible advice from the Government and the scientists. In a responsible move to help limit the impact of Covid-19 all of Carmarthenshire County Council managed parks and green spaces will be closed to the public until further notice.

Difficult times so keep safe.

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