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

2005 RECORDS:

September:

• 14th September: There were several Comma butterflies at Apex this afternoon.
  
  

  
  
  Comma, Apex, 14th September 2005.
  
  

• 12th September: A bit more of interest today with a Scarce Bordered Straw caught at Berrow and a Delicate at Burnham.
  
  

• 11th September: There has been very little to report on the moth front in recent weeks. There was however a new moth last night in the form of a Barred Hook-tip. Otherwise though there were just 4 Silver Y, and a Large Ranunculus of note.
  
  

  
  
  Barred Hook-tip, 11th September 2005.
  
  
  
  
  Large Ranunculus, 11th September 2005.

August:

• 10th August: The recent weather has not been particularly good for moths, hence the lack of reports. Only the usual species for our area are being caught. A local species which is now on the wing is Webb's Wainscot.
  
  

  
  
  Webb's Wainscot, Burnham, 10th August 2005.
  
  

July:

• 17th July: Another new moth for the area, Dingy Shell, was caught at Burnham. The only immigrant was a single Silver Y.
  
  

  
  
  Dingy Shell, 17th June 2005.
  
  

• 12th-16th July: Despite the hot weather the number of moths being caught is not great. Highlights of the period are Synaphe punctalis and Sophronia semicostella, which are both new for here. Recent emergences include Brussels lace, Privet Hawk, Archer's Dart, Tawny-barred angle and Bordered Sallow. We are also catching a lot more Browntails than normal.
  
  

  
  
  Synaphe punctalis, Burnham, 15th July 2005.
  
  

• 11th July: We are experiencing very hot weather at the moment. Good numbers of moths are being caught but really much out of the ordinary. The exception being a Pelochrista caecimaculana, caught at Berrow.
  
  

  
  
  Pelochrista caecimaculana, Berrow 11th July.
  
  

• 8th July: Highlights today were a European Corn Borer and a Bordered White.
  
  

• 7th July: After some wet and windy nights the weather has started to settle down a bit. Of interest at Burnham was a Crescent Dart.
  

June:

• 28th June: Heavy thunder storms in the evening died away at dusk, leaving the night dry and humid. The Burnham moth trap was overflowing with moths, with 114 species caught. The only first for Burnham was a Scarlet Tiger. Other selected highlights included Lilac Beauty, another Cypress Carpet (this is the third here this year, with at least two at each of the three Berrow traps), Narrow-winged Pug, 2 Plutella xylostella, 1 Dark Sword Grass and 5 Silver Y.
  
  

  
  
  Scarlet Tiger, 28th June 2005.
  
  

• 27th June : A very warm night saw the number of species at Burnham rise to 93. The highlights being Peach Blossom, Obscure Wainscot and 2 Plutella xylostella.
  
  

• 25th June: In the Burnham moth trap today there were 61 species trapped. Immigrants included 9 Silver Y and 5 Plutella xylostella.
  
  

• 18th June: Highlight of the day was a Red-necked Footman.
  
  

  
  
  Red-necked Footman, Berrow, 18th June 2005. © P. Gay
  
  
• 10th June: Another warm and overcast night produced a new moth for Burnham and Berrow in the form of a Marbled Coronet. Otherwise there were a few Silver Y, 1 Pearly Underwing and a  Ephestia parasitella of note.
  
  
  
  Marbled Coronet, 11th June 2005.
  
  

• 9th June: Overcast at night and hot during the day meant that at last good numbers of moths were caught. Species now on the wing include: Shore Wainscot, Reddish Light Arches, Galium Carpet, Flame Carpet, Pale Tussock, Sand Dart, Straw Dot and Cochylis atricapitana, to name just a few. Late news: a Bordered Straw at Berrow.
  
  

• 4th June: The first Hummingbird Hawk Moth of the year was in a Berrow Garden.
  
  

• 1st June: A great start to a new month with the capture of a Small Marbled at Berrow. Also at Berrow was another Delicate. Moths on the wing also include White Colon.
  
  

  
  
  Small Marbled, Berrow, 1st June 2005.

May:

• The rest of May has been very poor for moths.
  
  

• 10th May: Another Delicate was caught at Berrow.
  
  

• 4th May: Despite the wind swinging round to the north a Silver Y and a Delicate were caught at Burnham. Species now on the wing include Oak-tree Pug, Ash Pug, Common Pug, V Pug, Pale Prominent, Muslin, Waved Umber, Small Waved Umber, Red Twin-spot Carpet, Grey Dagger, Knot Grass and Bright-line Brown-eye.
  
   

  
  
  Delicate, 4th May 2005
  
  

• 1st May: Chamomile Shark was a  new moth for the area, caught at Berrow. A few first of the years were caught including Iron Prominent, Figure of 80 and Chocolate-tip.
  
  

  
  
  Chamomile Shark, Berrow, 1st May 2005.

April: Generally a very poor month, with very little to report.

March:

• 20th March: Today's highlight was the capture of two Small Eggars at Berrow.
  
  

  
  
  Small Eggar, Berrow and Agonopterix curvipunctosa, Burnham, 20th March 2005.
  
  

• 19th March: A much better selection today. These included Oak Beauty, Clouded Drab, Brimstone, Agonopterix curvipunctosa, Depressaria daucella, Diurnia fagella and Ypsolopha mucronella.
  
  

  
  
  Diurnea fagella and Ypsolopha mucronella, 19th March 2005.
  
  

• 17th March: The only interesting moth was a Small Quaker.
  
  

• 8th March: The first Dotted Border, March Moth, Common Quaker and Hebrew Character of the year were caught.
  
  

• 7th March: Pale Pinion, Common Quaker and Grey-shoulder-knot were the only species caught.
  
  

  
  
  Grey-shoulder-knot, Berrow, 7th March 2005. ©P. Gay