Field Event Reports

Leader: Tony Rayner

A group of 11 AbNats members plus two local adults and three children arrived at Red Cow Cottage, Cholsey, where we were met by our host, Tony Rayner. We disappeared into one one the numerous hedged areas of his garden, where Richard Lewington was already preparing to open one of the two moth traps set the night before. While we all started by sitting around the garden table, soon we were variously standing around the egg boxes as they were taken from the traps to reveal the moths hiding inside. The expertise of Tony and Richard (and others) soon had a plentiful variety of named moths being passed around (at least those that did not take to flight immediately!). Ursula White admirably took down the names, not an easy task for us lay 'mothers' for whom the somewhat strange names of many were bemusing (from Scarce Footman to Dingy Shears etc and Brightline Browneye and Brownline Brighteye really got us confused). As best they could Tony and Richard tried to explain the reasons for such weird names, although some seem to have been lost in past history. Stars in terms of size and beauty were several Elephant Hawkmoths and a single Poplar Hawkmoth. In all some 52 species were identified, including two micro-moths, although we did not bother with several other micros. Tony was a little disappointed that no Stag Beetles were caught that night, as they had been previously.

As is always the case when visiting Red Cow Cottage, once all the moths had been removed from the traps, the group then went for a walk around Tony's meadows, which were a treat to the eye as still full of blooming wild flowers. A bonus, particularly for the children, were the Reptile mats that were variously scattered around the edges of the fields. While no Grass Snakes were found, several had quite large congregations of Slow Worms.

With midday approaching, thanks were conveyed to Tony for hosting the visit, and the attendees dispersed, some homeward others retiring to the Red Lion pub for lunch.

Graham Bateman

Species Identified (in sequence of identification)

Scarlet Tiger; Swallowtail; Common Emerald; Elephant Hawkmoth; Coronet; Scarce Footman; Burnished Brass; Beautiful Hooktip; Clay; Fanfoot; Dark Arches; Heart & Dart; The Uncertain; Goldspot (micro); Common Footman; Small Fanfooted Wave; Brimstone; Buff Arches; Short Cloaked; Double Square Spot; Common White Wave; Clouded Border; Rustic; Spectacle; Plain Golden Y; Clouded Silver; Common Wainscott; Mottled Beauty; Brownline Brighteye; Flame; Waved Black; Large Yellow Underwing; Small Fanfoot; Dingy Shears; Gold Triangle (micro); Large Twinspot Carpet; Tawny Marbled Minor; Green Pug; Lesser Swallow; Prominent; Brightline Browneye; Setaceous Hebrew Character; Grey Dagger; Buff Ermine; Marble Beauty; Silver Y; Common Marble Carpet; Sycamore; Barred Straw; Poplar Hawkmoth; Cinnabar; Shaded Broadbar;
52 Species.

Attendees included:

Gillian and Mike Taylor; James and Ursula White; Chris Perrins; Mike Wilkins; Caroline Jackson-Houls; Richard Lewington; Graham Bateman, 2 Visitors; 3 Children.