& BUTTERFLY GROUP

NEWSLETTER No 61 August 2009.

A monthly newsletter covering and Monmouthshire Vice County 35

Editor: Martin Anthoney

Moth Trapping at ’s Church

On Tuesday 4th August, as part of Gwent Wildlife Trust’s Living Churchyards project, we held a moth trapping evening at St Illtyd’s Church (SO218018), , . This deconsecrated church is reputed to be the oldest building in NW Gwent.

The weather really didn’t help as rain throughout the day probably put some people off attending, but luckily the rain cleared and a pleasing number arrived.

Species seemed to be a bit limited, but everyone enjoyed (some more than others!) Large Yellow Underwings whizzing past, or occasionally colliding with, their heads. Large Yellow Underwing was by far the most numerous species but Ruby Tiger was in good supply with at least 6 coming in early in the night.

Other good species were Scarce Footman and Antler Moth, which everyone loved. With more time I am sure we would have got additional interesting species, as the habitat is quite mixed with good moorland not too far away. Hopefully we can hold another event next year.

Luke Phillips

[Edito r’s note. Sadly Luke is leaving the area in September to take up a post with the RSPB at Radipole Lake, Dorset. Thanks to Luke for all his work and good luck with the new job.]

Antler Moth

1

Provisional Distribution Maps

Finally, the long-awaited online provisional distribution maps of macro-moth species from the new National Moth Recording Scheme are available to view on the Count website (www.mothscount.org). The maps are provisional and will be updated regularly as and when additional datasets are submitted to the National Moth Recording Scheme. At the moment the database holds 6.1 million moth records from 86 vice-counties.

Two examples are shown below. The map for the ubiquitous Large Yellow Underwing effectively shows the areas for which records have so far been entered. The second map shows a Gwent speciality, the Satin Lutestring, a species which, being widespread and reasonably common in the county, I feel we tend to take for granted. The national map shows how localized it is and how Gwent is one of its strongholds.

Large Yellow Underwing (Noctua pronuba) Satin Lutestring (Tetheella fluctuosa) (black square = post 2000 record red square = pre 2000 records only)

Newport Report

Butterflies About seven years ago I was in consultation with Newport City Council about the mowing regime at Glasllwch public open space. This runs from Newport cemetery to Western Avenue and is bisected by the Nant Coch stream which is partially culverted. I advised that, although areas used by the public should be cut regularly, other areas (especially on sunny banks) should be allowed to develop. At first there were the usual objections from the public about “untidiness”. By the simple expedient of placing notices in these areas stating they were set aside for conservation the objections thankfully ceased and an interesting flora has developed including lots of bird’s-foot trefoil and black knapweed.

I have recently walked a transect of this area (about 3km) and discovered that it is a haven for butterflies. On 5th August I counted a total of 234 individuals of ten species, including 43 Common Blue. On 17th August I recorded 177 individuals of eleven species. Thus, by doing less work and incidentally saving money from the public purse, the biodiversity of the area has increased. A by-product of my recording was the discovery of broad-leaved helleborine in a remote area of Coed Melyn which is

2 adjacent to St Woolos’ Cemetery. My thanks to Newport City Council Grounds Maintenance (especially Nick Fisher) for their cooperation in this matter.

The Uskmouth Transect. Numbers were down slightly on 30th July with 439 individuals recorded of twelve species, the majority of which were Green-veined White. On 2nd August we recorded 541 butterflies of thirteen species swelled by an increase in Gatekeeper numbers to 139. The highlight of the year occurred on 9th August with a staggering 964 individuals of fifteen species. The majority were Gatekeeper (179), Green- veined White (358) or Meadow Brown (175). Most pleasing, however, was the count of 115 Common Blue which seem to be having a good year.

On 18th August recording was less frenetic but with a still respectable total of 564 from twelve species; Common Blue numbers held up with 89 individuals. The last records to hand were for 27th August, when numbers were well down with only 281 recorded from ten species. As usual on this site, Gatekeeper numbers suddenly dived with only 3 recorded. Although we have had a relatively good year in terms of numbers, we have been frustrated by a lack of Clouded Yellows. We had hoped that the massive influx of Painted Lady wou ld presage a similar number of Clouded Yellows. Our transect recording is entering its final stage for 2009, but though we live in hope the immediate weather forecasts do not promise a final flourish!

Moths The end of July was marked with a Dusky Sallow at Haisboro Avenue and Beautiful Golden Y, Wormwood Pug, Black Arches, Plain Wave, Dotted Clay and Sharp-angled Carpet at Melbourne Way. The last species is a first Newport record. On 30th July Kevin discovered Copper Underwings in bat boxes at Uskmouth and later came back to investigate further (see Recent Highlights, below). On the same date, also at Uskmouth, he had Small Wainscot. I rounded off the month with Flounced Rustic at Melbourne Way.

On 2nd August Sheila had a remarkably early Autumnal Rustic and 3 Sallow Kitten at Haisboro Avenue. On the same night, Diana and John trapped a Crescent at St Brides whilst I saw Canary- shouldered Thorn at my garden on 3rd August. On 6th, Kevin caught Eggar at Goldcliff. On 7th August Kevin found Small Ranunculus larvae on prickly lettuce at Newport Railway Station. It has been suggested, tongue-in-cheek, that this explains how they got to Newport and why they took so long! The same date produced Saltern Ear at Melbourne Way and Small Scallop, only the second Newport record for this species, at Diana and John’s St Brides site together with Satin Wave, Oak Hook-tip and Magpie. The Magpie moth was one of the commonest species when I was young but, sadly, has diminished to the point of being a very infrequent visitor to light.

On 12th August I took Dusky Thorn and Cypress Pug, Mouse moth and Small Waved Umber on 13th. The same night produced Twin-spotted Wainscot in the St Brides trap. The following night I had a Pearly Underwing immigrant, Lesser Treble Bar and Golden-rod Pug, a first for Newport. On 18th August Diana and John caught Rosy Rustic whilst I had August Thorn on 19th. On 21st August I recorded Mullein Wave with Purple Bar on 23rd. A Centre-barred Sallow in my garden on 26th August had the distinction of being the 300th macro species recorded in Newport this year.

A Barred Rivulet arrived in my trap on 28th August, only the fourth county record and the second Newport record. The first Newport occurrence was 2003 in Upton Road, less than half a mile from my site, and its foodplant, red bartsia, is present in the neighbourhood. The last record I have for August is from Chris Jones’ site in Caerleon, a Red Underwing. My thanks, as always, to my fellow recorders for their timely records, a nd sp ec ial th anks to newcomers Diana and John at St Brides for their enthusiasm and dedication. Their records are adding to our knowledge of an area of Newport little investigated previously. Roger James

3

Recent Highlights August has been another poor month, with too much rain and wind, and not enough warmth or sunshine. Among the butterflies, it was good to see a few immigrant Clouded Yellows make it to the Gwent coast and as predicted last issue there has been a surge in the numbers of Painted Ladies. Common Blue seems to have had a good year, but Holly Blue has had a very poor second generation, with only two sightings reported. A few immigrant moths have turned up (White-speck, Pearly Underwing, Humming- bird Hawk), but in general species numbers have been well down with very high counts of common species such as Lesser and Large Yellow Underwings being of little compensation.

2nd August. An immigrant White-speck to light at Rassau. (Rodney Morris)

5th August. At least 40 Svensson's Copper Underwing / Copper Underwing found by day in bat boxes on the Newport Wetlands Reserve. Kevin potted every one he could - 20 in total- and all were Svensson's, though “ It is quite hard trying to pot moths in a bat box whilst 12' up a ladder!” It is common for these two species to be found in or bird boxes: later, on 21st August, Ian Smith reported six in dormouse boxes at Wet Meadow Wood (near Croes Robert). (Kevin Dupé)

7th August. Beautiful Yellow Underwing, Purple Hairstreak (new site), Dark Green Fritillary and 20+ Grayling at Blaenserchan. (Rupert Perkins)

Saltern Ear at Melbourne Way, Newport. (Roger James)

Small S c allop to light a t St B rides. Only the second county record. (Diana Westmoreland and John Morgan per Kevin Dupé)

9th & 11th August. Silver-washed Fritillary at Blaenserchan. A new site. (Rupert Perkins)

12th August. Saltern Ear to light at St Brides. (Diana Westmoreland and John Morgan per Kevin Dupé)

13th August. Several Clouded Yellows flying along the sea wall at Sudbrook. (Mike Sayce)

14th August. An immigrant Pearly Underwing to light at Melbourne Way, Newport. (Roger James)

17th August. Anothe r Cloud e d Yel lo w on th e coa st , this time by th e ligh th ouse at Uskmouth. (Mike Matthews)

23rd August. The uncommon micro, Pamm e ne au ra na, observed in daytime on hogweed on the track next to Trelleck Bog. (Jon Baker)

3 Grey Chi to light at Rassau. The first records in the county for eight years. (Rodney Morris)

28th August. Barred Rivulet at Melbourne Way, Newport. Only the fourth county record. (Roger James)

29th August. Hummingbird Hawk moth in a Portskewett garden . (Mike Sayce)

4

Barred Rivulet Three Grey Chi

(Rodney Morris)

Dates for your Diary 2009

Sat 26th September Butterfly Conservation South Moth Recorders’ Gathering A moth recorders gathering has been organised for Saturday 26th September 2009 at Kenfig National Nature Reserve, Bridgend. This event is free (including buffet lunch and refreshments), however, places must be booked in advance. To book a place please contact Laura Wiffen ([email protected] or 01929 406009). The programme for the day is as follows: 10.00 am Arrival and coffee 10.30 am Welcome by David Slade (BC South Wales Branch and Glamorgan Moth Group) 10.40 am Moths Count and the National Moth Recording Scheme Update and Discussion. Zoë Randle, Butterfly Conservation 11.30 am Nights with a moth trap. Tony Lewis, Pembrokeshire moth recorder 11:50 pm Putting Moth Records to Work. David Slade, SEWBReC 12.10 pm A net full of moths - a guide to websites, e-groups and forums. Martin Harvey, Berkshire County Moth Recorder 12.30 p m L unch 2.00 pm T he New Wales Biodiversity Action Plan Russel Hobson, BC (Wales) 2.20 pm P riorities for 2010 and beyond Clare Williams, BC (Wales) 2.40 pm Climatic and other changes in Monmouthshire Martin Anthoney, Monmouthshire County Moth Recorder 3.00 pm Tea 3.30 pm Identifying and recording difficult moth species. Norman Lowe, Breconshire County Moth Recorder 4.00 pm Closing remarks 4.15 pm Close of meeting

5

National Moth Night 2009 NMN0 9 , the e l eventh such event, wil l take place on th e nights of Friday 18th and Saturday 19th September 2009. Two nights are included because of the eccentricities of the weather at this time of year. The theme of NMN09 will be migration and there will not be any specific target species or habitats. Friday 18th Sept. We have organised one event so far at Silent Valley LNR, Cwm, on Friday, 18th September, start at 8pm. Meet in the car park at the top of Cendl Terrace, (SO187062).

Saturday 24th October Butterfly Conservation (South Wales Branch) hold their Annual Members’ Day of talks at Kenfig Visitors’ Centre. Despite the name, non-members are welcome.

MMBG – Contact Names and Addresses. Secretary: Kevin Dupé Chairman: Roger James 44 Gaer Park Lan e 44 Melbourne Way Newport Newport NP20 3NE NP20 3RF

Phone 01633 216599 Phone 01633 263374 e-mail [email protected] k e-mail [email protected] or in case of problems [email protected]

Treasurer: Sheila Dupé 18 Haisbro Avenue Newport NP19 7HY Phone 01633 256475

Newsletter Editor & Recorder for Recorder for Micro Moths Butterflies & Macro Moths Martin Anthoney Sam Bosanquet 23 Malvern Close Dingestow Court Risca Monmouth Newport Monmouthshire NP11 6QY NP25 4DY Phone 01633 612272 e-mail [email protected] e-mail [email protected]

6