The year 2000 was memorable for two main reasons: there were significantly more species, and individuals, taken in the two permanent traps, and many more migrants than usual put in an appearance.
Numbers of moths taken in January and February were, as expected, unremarkable, but 59 Pale Brindled Beauty were worthy of mention.
March is when numbers usually start to build. Over the last two years, a single Pale Pinion has been recorded, and therefore the four taken in March 2000 was a very welcome increase. Two more were taken in April. On the down side, only 6 Oak Beauty were recorded, compared to 20 in 1999.
In April, the only Marbled Brown of the year was taken and the first new species for the reserve, a Grey Birch, turned up on the 25th. It did not give itself up easily as it flew out of the trap as I arrived, high into the trees but, conveniently, then flew down to settle on a trunk allowing close scrutiny.
May sees a large increase in numbers of species and one of the highlights was another new record for the reserve, a Small Engrailed, the first of two for the year. Only one Streamer was taken this year but this was no surprise as, despite being common, it usually flies at dusk and is not usually attracted to the light.
During the short nights of June, 1860 individual moths, of 97 species, were taken in the traps. There were two new reserve records on consecutive nights: a Treble Lines on the 10th and a Treble Bar on the 11th. The first two migrants, a Vestal and a Gem, were taken in Trap 1 on the 20th.
There was a marked increase in July with 156 species, involving 5343 individuals. New records for the reserve were Green Arches, Wormwood Pug, Pine Hawk-moth and Privet Hawk-moth. The two new Hawk-moths increased the total recorded on the reserve to six.
Numbers peaked in August with 7554 individuals of 129 species taken in the two traps. Many of the commonest species are on the wing during this month. New reserve records were Barred Hook-tip, Blue-bordered Carpet and Dingy Footman.
September proved to be the best month for new records for the reserve, with a total of five. These included an August Thorn on the 5th, a pristine Small Mottled Willow, a migrant, on the 7th and Pinion-streaked Snout (a tiny moth, more like a micro) on the 10th. On the 22nd, National Moth Night, a Dusky Lemon Sallow came to Trap 1. This is a very good moth for the county and, finally, another migrant, a large – but very tatty – Convolvulus Hawk-moth on the 25th brought the reserve Hawk-moth total to seven.
The run of migrants continued into October with a Scarce Bordered Straw on the 2nd. During September 1999, sixteen Streak were taken in the traps and therefore it was of considerable interest when one was taken in Trap 1 on the 15th this year. The larvae of this species feed on Broom Cytisus scoparius and there is a considerable patch growing just south of the Causeway, as well as a single plant near the Lodge. No larvae have been found but it may well breed on, or near, the reserve. The single record of a Grey Shoulder-knot on the 13th was a marked decrease on last year.
November is a much quieter month but there was still a new reserve record with a very fresh Pale November Moth on the 1st. This species is very difficult to separate from the November Moth but, being very fresh and distinctly marked, and helped by an excellent article in the Atropos magazine dealing with identification of the two species, it was possible to verify the record. For the past two years, Scarce Umber has been taken on a couple of occasions. This year eight were taken through the month.
December proved to be the best so far since trapping began. With mild weather early in the month, 111 individuals of 11 species were recorded. Six more Scarce Umber were caught and, on the night of the 20th, seven species were taken, including an early Pale Brindled Beauty. This species can appear early in mild weather, its main flight period being mid-January to March.
With the wide variety of migrants and the other interesting species taken during 2000, it may well be a difficult year to beat in the future.