Birds and Moths

 of Burnham-on-Sea

Moths

The moths recorded below are the results of the moth traps run in Burnham and Berrow. All records below are from the moth trap in Burnham-on-Sea unless otherwise stated. Dates refer to the night the trap was set.

 
Moths 2006   Moths 2007

November 2003:

• A single Gem was caught on the 3rd  and a Silver Y on the 8th of the month. Ten species were caught on the 11th  including 1 Silver Y, 2 Udea ferrugalis, Feathered Thorn, November Moth, Blair's Shoulder-knot, Angle Shades, Setaceous Hebrew Character, Black Rustic, Beaded Chestnut and Epiphyas postvittana. On the 17th, much colder weather meant just 2 Red-line Quaker, Spruce Carpet, November Moth and Epiphyas postvittana were caught.

October 2003: 

• Due to the weather very few moths were caught during the whole month, the only highlights were a Gem on the 7th and the first November Moths of the year towards the end of the month.

September 2003:

• 20th - 30th September: Immigrants recorded were ( maximum counts), Silver Y (4), Nomophila noctuella (10), Vestal (singles on 20th, 21st and 26th), Dark Sword Grass (2), Convolvulus Hawk (1 on the 23rd), Scarce Bordered Straw (singles on 28th and 30th) and a White Speck (30th). Also the first Beaded Chestnut, Green-brindled Crescent, Large Ranunculus and Blair's Shoulder-knot of the year were caught.
  
  

  
  
  White Speck, 30th September 2003 & Scarce Bordered Straw, 28th September 2003
  
  
  
  Two different coloured Vestals 20th & 26th September 2003
  
  

• 16th- 19th September: The number of moths caught each night has dropped dramatically recently, but there have been some more interesting immigrants with a White Speck (18th) and a Striped Hawk Moth (19th), both first site records. Also a Gem (19th) and the first Feathered Ranunculus of the year.
  
  

  
  
  The Gem and Striped Hawk 19th September 2003
  
  

• 12th - 15th September: It is still quiet on the moth front. Highlights being a Bordered Straw(14th), and the first Lunar Underwing, Black Rustic, Bulrush Wainscot and Centre-barred Sallow of the year.
  
  

• 1st - 11th September: So far this month has not been very productive, either too cold or too windy. The totals for this period are 37 Silver Y, 1 Pearly Underwing, 1 Small Mottled Willow, 3 Dark Sword Grass, 1 Udea ferrugalis and 5 Nomophila noctuella. Other interesting species included Feathered Gothic on the 3rd September (1st site record), and the first Hedge Rustic, Large Wainscot, Spruce Carpet and Frosted Orange of the year.
  
  

  
  
  Feathered Gothic, 3rd September 2003.

August 2003: 

• 25th August: Immigrant moths today included 88 Silver Y, 14 Dark Sword Grass, 1 Small Mottled Willow and 11 Nomophila noctuella. Also the second Maiden's Blush of the year was caught at Burnham.
  
  

• 23rd August: Today there were 60 Silver Y, 1 Small Mottled Willow, 1 Dark Sword Grass, 1 Palpita vitrealis, 3 Nomophila noctuella, 2 Udea ferrugalis. Also Nephopterix angustella (2nd site record) and Agonopterix pupurea (1st site record).
  
  

  
  
  Palpita vitrealis, Berrow, 23rd August 2003
  
  

• 19th August: The first Archer's Dart of the year was the only moth worthy of a mention.
  
  

• 17th August: Totals for today were 89 Silver Y, 1 Small Mottled Willow, 5 Nomophila noctuella, 2 Plutella xylostella, 1 Udea ferrugalis. The only other moth of interest was the first Oblique striped of the year.
  
  

• 16th August: Today's immigrant numbers were 346 Silver Y, 4 Dark Sword Grass,1 Small Mottled Willow, 2 Bordered Straw, 1 Straw Dot, 2 Plutella xylostella, 18 Nomophila noctuella and 7 Udea ferrugalis. Moths recorded for the first time this year were Dusky Thorn, Horse Chestnut ( 2nd Site Record), Narrow-winged Pug, Copper Underwing.
  
  

  
  
  Horse Chestnut, Berrow 16th August 2003
  
  

• 14th August: Immigrants today included 1 Convolvulus Hawk, 151 Silver Y,1 Small Mottled Willow, 1 Plutella xylostella, 6 Nomophila noctuella and 2 Udea ferrugalis.
  
  

• 13th August: After one windy night and a quick return to calm warm nights meant an increase in numbers again. Immigrants moths recorded were 195 Silver Y, 1 Dark Sword Grass, 3 Nomophila noctuella and 2  Plutella xylostella.
  
  

• 12th August: A very poor night produced only 7 Silver Y, 1 Dark Sword Grass, 1 Convolvulus Hawk and 1 Nomophila noctuella.
  
  

  
  
  Convolvulus Hawk Moth, 12th August 2003
  
  

• 11th August: Today there were 280 Silver Y, 3 Dark Sword Grass, 2  Nomophila noctuella, 7 Plutella xylostella and 1 Udea ferrugalis. New for this year were Scorched Carpet, Clay Triple-lines, Straw Underwing and Canary-shouldered Thorn
  
  

• 10th August: Very good numbers of immigrant moths today with an astonishing 442 Silver Y moths in just one trap at Burnham, also 1 Convolvulus Hawk, 1 Small Mottled Willow, 7 Nomophila noctuella, 1 Udea ferrugalis and 4 Plutella xylostella. Recorded for the first time this year was Tawny-speckled Pug.
  
  

• 9th August: The number of immigrant moths increased slightly today with 61 Silver Y, 4 Nomophila noctuella and 1 Plutella xylostella. While Archer's Dart was recorded for the first time this year.
  
  

• 8th August: Today's highlight was a Vestal caught at Berrow.
  
  

July 2003

• 22nd July: Today's highlights were a Satin Beauty caught at Berrow and Blastobasis decolorella at Burnham, both  new records here. Otherwise just Brown-line Bright-eye, and Garden Tiger were additions for the year.
  
  

  
  
  Satin Beauty, 22nd June 2003.
  
  

• 15th July: There was a new area record today of Pammene aurita which was trapped at Berrow. While at Burnham immigrants included 4 Silver Y, 5 Nomophila noctuella, and 7 Plutella xylostella. New for this year were The Olive, The Rustic, Cochylis roseana, Cydia fagiglandana, Ancylis comptana, Eucosma cana and Agriphila geniculea.
  
  

  
  
  Pammene aurita 14th July 2003
  
  

• 14th July: A slight increase in immigrant moths today with 3 Silver Y, 1 Dark Sword Grass, 9 Plutella xylostella and 1 Udea Ferrugalis. New for this year were Least Yellow Underwing, Dusky Sallow, Small Fan-footed Wave, Small Rufous, Catoptria falsella, Mompha ochraceella, Nemapogon cloacella, Argyresthia bonnetella and Ectoedemia louisella.
  
  

• 13th July: Very hot daytime temperatures meant night time temperatures stayed at 20°C and good numbers were caught. Species new for this year were The Coronet, Iron Prominent, Common Rustic, The Fanfoot, Dingy Footman, Acleris Variegana, Epiblema roborana, Agriphila straminella.
  
  

• 9th July: A warm and humid night meant 70 species were trapped at Burnham alone, the highlight was a Waved Carpet, not previously recorded here and has presumably wandered a fair distance. Additions to the year were Yellowtail, Carcina quercana, Blastobasis lignea, Phycitodes binaevella and Acentria ephemerella.
  
  

  
  
  Waved Carpet 9th July 2003
  
  

• 7th July: A much warmer and calmer night produced a few more moths. The first Single-dotted Wave, True Lovers Knot, Agriphila inquinatella, Agriphila tristella, Catoptria margaritella, Pediasia aridella, Archips xylosteana, Epiblema foenella and Batia lunaris of the year.
  
  

• 3rd, 4th, 5th & 6th July: Very poor windy nights meant numbers were very low for the time of the year with the only interesting moths being a Miller at Berrow, Platyptillia pallidactyla, Marasmarcha lunaedactyla and Bryotropha Terrella new for the year.
  
  

• 2nd July: Immigrant moth numbers have dried up, just 1 Silver Y and 4
  
  

• 1st July: Phtheochroa inopiana was a new site record. Rosy Footman, Rosy Minor and Lackey were the only additions for the year. During the day a Hummingbird Hawk Moth was seen at Berrow.
  
  

  
  
  Phtheochroa inopiana 1st July 2003
  
  

June 2003

• 30th June: Just 5 Silver Y and 5 Plutella xylostella today. Additions for the year were Scarce Footman, Short-cloaked Moth and Lozotaeniodes formosanus.
  
  

• 28th June: One Bordered Straw, 9 Plutella xylostella and a Nomophila noctuella were the only immigrant moths. Whilst Leopard Moth, Dwarf Cream Wave, Small Blood Vein, Dichomeris marginella and Celypha striana were new for the year. 
  

• 27th June: One Bordered Straw and one Plutella xylostella were the only immigrants trapped during a very windy night. The highlight though was a Double Line caught at Berrow. This is the first record for our area of this woodland species.

  
  
  
  
  Double Line trapped by Paul Gay 27th June 2003
  
  

• 26th June: Immigrant moths in the trap this morning were 1 Small Mottled Willow, 7 Silver Y, 1 Nomophila noctuella and 10  Plutella xylostella. Also trapped for the first time this year were Blue-bordered Carpet, Garden Tiger, Barred Straw, Cloaked Minor, Eucosma campoliliana, Epiblema uddmaniana and Pyraustra cespitalis.
  
  

• 25th June: The number of moths trapped was  the greatest so far this year. Immigrants included; 18 Silver Y, 2 Ni Moth, 6 Nomophila noctuella and 13 Plutella xylostella. Other species new for the year were Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing, The Fanfoot, White-line Dart, Bordered Sallow, Crambus Pascuella and Dioryctria abietella. 

  
  
  
  
  Ni Moths 25th June 2003
  
  
  
  White-line Dart 25th June 2003
  
  

• 23rd & 24th June: Lesser Swallow prominent was caught at Berrow on the 23rd. The 24th brought a small arrival of immigrants: Small Mottled Willow, Bordered Straw, 5 Silver Y, Nomophila noctuella and 5 Plutella xylostella. Moths new for the year included Burnished Brass, Latticed Heath, Sycamore, and Lozotaenia Forsterana.
  
  

  
  
  Bordered Straw and Small Mottled Willow  24th June 2003
  
  
  
  Sycamore 24th June 2003 and Lesser Swallow Prominent 23rd June
  
  

• 22nd June: A visitor (Pete Saunders) to the area trapped a Cypress Carpet at a caravan park in Berrow.
  
  

• 21st June: 72 species today. Immigrants included 6 Silver Y, 1 Dark Sword Grass and 1 Nomophila noctuella. Moths new for the year were Barred Yellow, Cinnabar, Lesser Yellow Underwing, Light Arches, Clay, Bloodvein, Swallowtail, Spilonota laricana, Anerastia lotella, Bactra furfurana and  Ancylis achatana.
  
  

  
  
  Anerastia lotella 21st June 2003
  
  

• 20th June: 43 species were recorded today including Common Footman, Foxglove  Pug, Treble Brown Spot, Common Emerald, Orthopygia gluacinalis, Eulamprotes wilkiella and Trachycera marmorea which were new for the year.
  
  

  
  
  Trachycera marmorea and Eulamprotes wilkiella 20th June 2003
  
  

• 14th, 15th & 16th June: The number species recorded, in all three local moth traps, has increased quite substantially over the last couple of nights. Many species were recorded for the first time this year: Green Pug, Sand Dart, Plain Golden Y, Magpie, Shore Wainscot, Silky Wainscot, Obscure Wainscot, Cinnabar, Buff Arches, Silver Ground Carpet, Grass Rivulet, Swallowtail and Beautiful Hooktip.
  
  

  
  
  Obscure Wainscot 16th June and Silky Wainscot 15th June 2003
  
  
  
  Shore Wainscot 16th June 2003
  

• 12th June: Light Feathered Rustic was a surprise after a very poor night, this is the first record for here.
  
  

  
  
  Light Feathered Rustic 12th June 2003
  
  

• 6th June: Today's highlights were Cream Spot Tiger, The Shears, Peach Blossom, Eyed Hawk, Goldspot and 6 Silver Y.
  
  

  
  
  Peach Blossom 6th June 2003
  

• 2nd June: 3 Nomophilla noctuella were the only interest today
  
  

• 1st June: Several new moths for the year included Common Lutestring, The Shark, Common Swift, Common W and Freyer's Pug.
  
  

  
  
   Reddish Light Arches 1st June 2003
  
  

May 2003

A predominantly wet and windy May determined that there were very few nights that the moth traps were set in Burnham and Berrow, although a warmer spell towards the end of the month did finally produce a few rewards. 

• 27th - 31st May: A total of 18 species trapped on the 27th included the 1st Green Carpet, Pale Tussock and Yellow Belle of the year and 1 Plutella xylostella. The 28th produced 28 species, the highlights being the arrival of the first Sand Dart, Figure of 80, Light Brocade and Purple Bar of the year. 37 species recorded on the 29th included Grey Pug, Common Swift, Small Elephant Hawk, Bactra lancealana and Ephestia parasitella. Of the 48 species trapped on the 30th, immigrants included Silver Y and Plutella xylostella. Other moths were Common Pug, May Highflyer, Galium Carpet, Riband Wave, Light Emerald, Peppered Moth and an out-of-season Cypress Pug. Micros included Alabonia geoffella, Tachystola acroxantha and Epiblema cynosbetella. The final night of the month produced 41 species which included Rustic Shoulder-Knot, The Shears, Shoulder-Striped Wainscot, Eyed Hawk, Buff Ermine, Cinnabar and Yellow-Barred Brindle.
  
  

  
  
  Shoulder-striped Wainscot and Cypress Pug, May 2003
  
  

• 6th - 24th May: The first Poplar Hawk of the year on the 6th. A poor total of 33  moths were recorded between the 6th -24th, these being the expected moths for this time of year.
  
  

April 2003

• 21st - 30th April: A week interspersed with showers reduced the number of moths trapped. New species for this year included Purple Thorn, Swallow Prominent, Powdered Quaker and Shuttle-shaped Dart. Also, the first Brindled Beauty in 10 years was trapped on the 24th with 2 Lime Hawk Moths. 
  
  

• 15- 20th April: A new record for this site was a White-spotted Pug, trapped on the 16th along with Grey Shoulder-knot and Red Chestnut. An average of 24 species per night throughout the week included several immigrant moths - Dark Sword-grass, Silver Y and Plutella xylostella. Another new site record this week was a Maiden's Blush, trapped on the 17th. Species recorded for the first time this year were Ash Pug, Chinese Character, Pale Prominent, Least Black Arches, Knot Grass, Sallow Kitten, Waved Umber and V-Pug.
  
  

  
  
  Chinese Character and Maiden's Blush at Berrow 2003
  
  

• 7- 14th April: After the prolonged spell of cold nights, the first night of warm weather on the 14th brought Coxcomb Prominent (1st record for this site). Firsts for the year included Chocolate-tip, Red Twin-spot Carpet, Sharp-Angled Peacock, Muslin Moth and Cochlis atricapitana.
  
  

• 1- 6th April: Cold, clear nights produced only common species including Early Grey, Common Quaker, Early Thorn, Hebrew Character, March Moth, Dotted Border, Clouded Drab, Double-Striped Pug and Emmelina monodactyla on the 4th, 5th & 6th.