Monthly meeting 8 January 2009

Monthly meetings start at 19.30Hrs (7.30pm) in the Interpretation Centre, unless otherwise advised. Tea/Coffee and nibbles are available.

A moth trap is run at all monthly meetings weather permitting.

An excellent turn out of 14 members for what was to be a very cold evening with a large bright moon and very little cloud, the trap was run as usual but with little expectation of catching anything, we were not disappointed there was not even any gnats about when the trap was eventually switched off.

Round the table discussion was not very encouraging either with very few sightings throughout the month.

Grahame reminded members of the English Moth Recorders Conference which is on 31st January 2009 at Birmingham and Midland Institute.

An e-mail from Martin Harvey sending his apologies and giving information about the Garden Moth Scheme was read out. If anyone requires further information on this scheme they can either contact Dave Grundy via the above website.

Mark had seen Mottled Umber and Winter moths on the walls of his works building

Norman had recorded Winter Moth on his window at home. He had also seen others on a trip to the Canary Islands.

Richard and Les had both recorded Winter Moths and Les had also recorded Spring Usher amongst others taken at the end of November.

Les had produced some reports on the species recorded in the area where he mainly traps. Two of the reports are now filed in the book cupboard the other is still being worked on and will be available at a later date.

Nick gave an update on the latest Micro Moth project and there were copies of the latest stage available for members to give comments on.

The latter half of the evening was spent confirming sites, dates and times for the moth trips throughout the coming year. Stuart will be providing a list shortly.

There was no presentation this month but the possible species to be found in January would be the same as shown in last year's presentation. These consisted of the following