[Norm Winte]

I heard of one being caught at Dunge at the weekend and was stunned to find one in my trap this morning (NW Kent/London). I was wondering if anybody else has had this species or if this is part of an influx of other rare moth species from the continent.

Norm

[tom tams]

Originally Posted by Norm Winte

I heard of one being caught at Dunge at the weekend and was stunned to find one in my trap this morning (NW Kent/London). I was wondering if anybody else has had this species or if this is part of an influx of other rare moth species from the continent.

Norm

Hi Norm

Do you have anymore images of this moth ? a long shot but have you seen images of Black-spot Chestnut (Conistra rubiginosa)

Tom

[Paul Chapman]

The moth looks like the specimen of rubiginosa in Robineau and a number of the photos on the European Butterflies and Moths website:-

http://www.lepidoptera.pl/SpecieGallery.php?ID=974

All the best

[James Hunter]

Originally Posted by tom tams

Hi Norm

Do you have anymore images of this moth ? a long shot but have you seen images of Black-spot Chestnut (Conistra rubiginosa)

Tom

Here is another shot of the same individual - unfortunately the weather has been poor today so results not great.

Cheers

James

[Paul Chapman]

Yep - first for Britain. Nice.

All the best

[tom tams]

Originally Posted by James Hunter

Here is another shot of the same individual - unfortunately the weather has been poor today so results not great.

Cheers

James

Norm / James

As Paul says this will represent the first British record, do you still have the specimen?

Tom

[James Hunter]

PM sent

cheers

James

[billsbirding]

Your best off emailing the details to Ian Ferguson (county recorder for Kent). Find his email address here. The black markings inside the oval would certainly favour Conistra rubiginosa- can you share any more info on the catch?

[Norm Winte]

Typical the first time I post something and I bugger-up the ID.

I was out when it all went mental so I'll try to answer as many questions as poss while not knowing what is going on.

I've never even heard of Black-spot before. I spent ages trying to Id it and came up with a well marked Red-head (not even seen that and all the Id guides say spots inside kidney are indicative). Who ever thinks they may have a 1st without prior experience of the sp?

As for trapping. We were out at a Kent Trust reserve that we've been working at this year. I'd forgotten to turn the trap on before leaving but remembered when I got home at 9pm. In the morning there were 4 moths: Nov Moth Agg (I don't do Gen Det but Skinner etc suggests it is Nov), Turnip, Barred Sallow and the beast. Trap is a homemade 125W mv and I've been attempting sugaring nearby with the total of 1 R-g Carpet. The site is typical urban sprawl.

James has tried emailling the local recorder about our records for the Kent Trust reserve and our gardens as we have had some pretty good stuff this year (I thought Striped Hawk-moth would be the best moth I'd ever have in my garden) but are yet to have a response.

No arrangements have been made for viewing as yet. Hopefully things can be organised tomorrow.

[James Hunter]

I'm in the process of compiling my trapping results for this year so the record will be duly submitted. Can't wait to see Norm's face.....

[tom tams]

Originally Posted by James Hunter

I'm in the process of compiling my trapping results for this year so the record will be duly submitted. Can't wait to see Norm's face.....

Wish I could see Norm's face and the moth, but living miles away in Northumberland it's out of the question unfortunately

Tom

[tittletattler]

Originally Posted by Norm Winte

Typical the first time I post something and I bugger-up the ID.

I was out when it all went mental so I'll try to answer as many questions as poss while not knowing what is going on.

I've never even heard of Black-spot before. I spent ages trying to Id it and came up with a well marked Red-head (not even seen that and all the Id guides say spots inside kidney are indicative). Who ever thinks they may have a 1st without prior experience of the sp?

As for trapping. We were out at a Kent Trust reserve that we've been working at this year. I'd forgotten to turn the trap on before leaving but remembered when I got home at 9pm. In the morning there were 4 moths: Nov Moth Agg (I don't do Gen Det but Skinner etc suggests it is Nov), Turnip, Barred Sallow and the beast. Trap is a homemade 125W mv and I've been attempting sugaring nearby with the total of 1 R-g Carpet. The site is typical urban sprawl.

James has tried emailling the local recorder about our records for the Kent Trust reserve and our gardens as we have had some pretty good stuff this year (I thought Striped Hawk-moth would be the best moth I'd ever have in my garden) but are yet to have a response.

No arrangements have been made for viewing as yet. Hopefully things can be organised tomorrow.

Well done Norm!

Drinks on me in the the Wat.

[Norm Winte]

Thanks

I'll hold you to that!

[tittletattler]

A 2nd individual flew in tonight whilst we were chatting and photographing the 1st moth!

[Bazzer66]

top night out, better than birding. Thanks to Norm X2, James and a certain Mr Chapmans 'moth magnet finger' !!

[James Hunter]

Originally Posted by Bazzer66

top night out, better than birding. Thanks to Norm X2, James and a certain Mr Chapmans 'moth magnet finger' !!

Awesome night - big thanks to the behaviour of the 20 visitors and a huge thanks to Paul when he screamed 'get a pot!!' when the UK's second landed on my kids playhouse. Norm - nice grip back!!!

.... as an aside, when I told my wife a second had been trapped she replied ' hope that's nice'

[Norm Winte]

Don't bother me in the slightest. I've just caught Rusty-dot Pearl and I'll have an Oleander by morning!

Enjoy your surfing! It doesn't last long.

[burwin]

Having travelled up to Kent to see and hopefully photograph this nice looking first for Britain I was absolutely staggered when Paul Chapman saw a moth land on the shed in the garden, poked his finger out to coax the moth out of a corner and it walked onto his finger. We were watching out of the window and heard his frantic voice saying Get a pot!! Get a pot!! Matthew Deans jokingly said, "What, have you got another one?" Yes he did have - absolutely amazing. This suggests that rather than a migrant, there may well be a small colony from an earlier migrant. The trees round Dartford Lakes would seem a good place to start looking.

I'm now just waiting for the rumour to start about a bloke standing outside Dartford railway station a week ago shouting "Get your Chestnuts here".

http://www.flickr.com/photos/oldbill...in/photostream

[Brian Stone]

Originally Posted by burwin

I'm now just waiting for the rumour to start about a bloke standing outside Dartford railway station a week ago shouting "Get your Chestnuts here".

That got an involuntary splutter and giggle from me.

Could someone either get this thread renamed or start a new one pointing to it with a better title please? Such an amazing story deserves a higher profile.

[tom tams]

Originally Posted by Brian Stone

That got an involuntary splutter and giggle from me.

Could someone either get this thread renamed or start a new one pointing to it with a better title please? Such an amazing story deserves a higher profile.

Hi Brian

I have started a new thread, see: http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=215776

Tom