Carlton Marsh - 24th June 2020

Yesterday at the marsh, 2 Garden Warblers singing and a Willow Tit calling south of the wader scrape. A small Jack Pike was seen in the dike with 4 or 5 Chub about 1ft long. The Terrapin was in the main scrape again along with 2 male Emperor dragonflies and a female ovipositing.

The main preoccupation last night though was moths. Harry Beaumont joined Chris Parkin and I for a late night session (always at 2 metres apart). We ran 3 MV light traps in perfect conditions, the minimum, temperature was 17c, but that was at 2am. 45 macro species were identified that included Green Silver Lines, Poplar Grey, Grey Arches, Varied Coronet, Eyed and 3 Elephant Hawk moths, Barred Yellow and lots more. Green Silver Lines, Varied Coronet and Dark Spectacle were all new. The Poplar Grey was only our second record, the first way back in 1994. Grey Arches was our third record and the first since 1992.
While all this was going on a Reed Warbler continued to sing into the night until at least 1.30am and Male and Female Tawny Owl were also calling.

 Green Silver Lines

 Grey Arches

 Poplar Grey

 Eyed hawk Moth

 Varied Coronet

Kingfisher (Juv) from yesterday afternoon (CG)

Dave Smith caught his first ever Small Argent and Sable last night in his moth trap.