Day 13 - 30 Days Wild project at WWT Caerlaverock Bioblitz

Very early start for us. At 6.30 we were getting up and ready for heading to Caerlaverock WWT

 

 

for their Bioblitz and emptying the moth traps we set last night.

 

 

 

We had put 8 traps around the site so these were gathered up ready for emptying so that the recorders and general public would have something to look at as well as our Butterfly Conservation display.

Some traps were a bit disappointing with few moths but they were quite spectacular. Like this Puss Moth

Others had a lot of moths but less spectacular. In all we recorded over 60 different species.

The local birdlife soon worked out that we were releasing potential food and started hanging around.

When the moths were released we tried to put them in long grass with plenty of cover.

As we got to the final trap we were treated to a display of Elephant Hawk Moths who sat themselves in this formation while everything else was emptied out. Everyone who saw them HAD to take a photo including the reporter from the Galloway News !!

We finally finished emptying the traps in time for an afternoon cuppa. All the moths which had been difficult to identify were now revisited. This also gave us time to wander and see what other activities had been enjoyed by the many visitors.

All results were sent through to recording central, they were processed to give the totals shown - these were not the final totals.

The final overall total was 440 and even this will increase when other lists of sightings and identifying of problematic specimens are processed.

Such a busy day deserves to be followed by a quieter 'Wild' day.