[Andrew S]

In the trap last night - what I reckon must be False Mocha (although now waiting to be shot down in flames). Waring and Townsend say:

"considered probably extinct in the London area"

Nearly didn't get it as it scarpered for the bushes as soon as I opened the trap - luckily it chose one in my garden...

And to cap a good haul, another nationally scarce species, Buttoned Snout.

[Surreybirder]

Nice one! (or two, in fact)

[harry eales]

Originally Posted by Andrew S

In the trap last night - what I reckon must be False Mocha (although now waiting to be shot down in flames). Waring and Townsend say:

"considered probably extinct in the London area"

Back of the net! Nearly didn't get it as it scarpered for the bushes as soon as I opened the trap - luckily it chose one in my garden...

And to cap a good haul, another nationally scarce species, Buttoned Snout.

I agree with your ident's Andrew, both nice catches. I am reminded of one of Arthur C. Clarke's Laws, i.e. When an eminent person in any field makes a definitive statement, he is invariably wrong. lol.

You should have learned a lesson there Andrew. Never examine the contents of a moth trap in the open, you will inevitably loose some of your catch. Do it indoors, or in the greenhouse or garden shed. The next one you loose could be a new county record or even something new to the British List, unlikely I know, but then again........

Harry

[Screech]

Hey Andrew, congrats on those two beauties!

[Angus T]

Originally Posted by harry eales

I agree with your ident's Andrew, both nice catches. I am reminded of one of Arthur C. Clarke's Laws, i.e. When an eminent person in any field makes a definitive statement, he is invariably wrong. lol.

You should have learned a lesson there Andrew. Never examine the contents of a moth trap in the open, you will inevitably loose some of your catch. Do it indoors, or in the greenhouse or garden shed. The next one you loose could be a new county record or even something new to the British List, unlikely I know, but then again........

Harry

I check my trap in a tent!

[harry eales]

Originally Posted by Angus T

I check my trap in a tent!

Heh, heh Angus,
That adds a whole new meaning to the phrase 'Loitering with intent'. LOL.

Harry

[Andrew S]

Originally Posted by harry eales

You should have learned a lesson there Andrew. Never examine the contents of a moth trap in the open, you will inevitably loose some of your catch. Do it indoors, or in the greenhouse or garden shed. The next one you loose could be a new county record or even something new to the British List, unlikely I know, but then again........

Harry

Noted, Harry, but I have a Skinner trap with no bottom, so you can't really move it without everything falling out. Have missed one or two new flighty species, and am going to get some of these cardboard collecting boxes with the clear lids. Hopefully I will be able to get the less settled and more interesting things into one of those before they are able to head for the hills.

Am also considering something more like a Robinson trap though (possibly one of those based on a rectangular plastic box). Don't have a greenhouse or shed though.

So, new house with big garden (preferably near some nice woods), greenhouse/moth shed, new trap and some cardboard boxes. Can get quite expensive this mothing lark... And haven't even got the Skinner book yet.

Thanks Ken and Screech. I have been envious of your catches Ken from not too far away, but my catches have been picking up recently, and it fascinates me the variety you can get in a big city.

[Angus T]

Originally Posted by Andrew S

Noted, Harry, but I have a Skinner trap with no bottom, so you can't really move it without everything falling out. .

When I started with the Skinner I just used a board underneath. An issue in rain I know. I've made my Skinner trap rigid and have used a weed suppresent net over the bottom. Allows water out, but retains the moths. And a cheap tent will do!!

[Surreybirder]

Originally Posted by Andrew S

I have been envious of your catches Ken from not too far away, but my catches have been picking up recently, and it fascinates me the variety you can get in a big city.

I've not had anything as rare as a false mocha, Andrew!
Do you belong to the Surrey moths email newsletter, BTW? I see there's to be a mothing event in Richmond Park next month (surveying for Double lines). If you are not aware of this, send me a PM with your email address and I'll send you the info.
Ken

[harry eales]

Originally Posted by Andrew S

Noted, Harry, but I have a Skinner trap with no bottom, so you can't really move it without everything falling out.

I cannot understand why a trap should be designed without a base, unless, as Angus has pointed out, it is for drainage. Whilst designed for economy of construction, the Skinner Trap does seem to have serious drawbacks.

The length and width of the access 'slot' which allows moths to enter the trap also provides a large escape area, the same slot allows quite a lot of water to enter the trap during inclement weather. It seems to me that this basic design fault, at least as far as drainage is concerned, can be overcome simply by fitting a base which has a drain fitted. This would take the form of a piece of marine plywood with a slot in it running the width of the trap, directly beneath the access slot. If the base slot is covered with fine wire mesh it will permit drainage and prevent loss of specimens.

At present, the current (baseless) design of the Skinner Trap can only be used with success if it it used on very flat ground, i.e. a lawn or path, if the loss of captures through the base of the trap is to be prevented. This precludes it's easy use in many areas where many interesting species of moths can be found.

The other fault and it is a major one, is that the catch has to examined 'in situe', not an easy thing to do if working miles away from home in the middle of the night.

The problems in identifying some specimens is all too obvious at times judging by the pleas for ID help in 'posts' to this section of Birdforum. How much more difficult it must be outdoors in the middle of the night?

To those who have baseless Skinner Traps, I would suggest you spend just a little time and money fitting a base. It's a very simple DIY job, and will cost very little indeed, and will certainly improve your catch in that no specimens will be able to escape through the bottom of the trap.

Harry

[Surreybirder]

Andrew, presumably you'll submit the record to the CR?

[Andrew S]

Have done, although it took me a long time to work out I was part of Surrey!

[Surreybirder]

Sorry, I could have told you that! Moth recording uses the traditional vice-county system (still used in the Surrey Bird Report, too) which I think is called the Watsonian system. Surrey went right up to the Thames but didn't include the 'Spelthorne' area which includes Staines (thus excluding many rare birds from the Surrey list). Just to confuse matters the new, long-awaited county avifauna will include Spelthorne!

[Richard H]

Great man Andrew S. Good advice from Harry though, hope you have learned your lesson.

[Andrew S]

Now reported to county recorder, and apparently it's the first record for Surrey since 1996 and only the fourth in the last 20 years.

[Surreybirder]

Originally Posted by Andrew S

Now reported to county recorder, and apparently it's the first record for Surrey since 1996 and only the fourth in the last 20 years.

Brilliant! I'll look out for a mention in the next Surrey mothgroup newsletter (email). I've just posted off a CD for Graham to ID/verify all my recent catches--poor man