This article first appeared in the October edition of Birdwatching magazine
Seventeen lifers in two days in August! No, I’ve not gone back to twitching and there’s not been an unreported fall of exotics to rival the Hastings Rarities. What’s more, this total has been achieved without leaving home? No, it wasn’t an overnight fantasy, a birder’s wish-filled dream, although the total was recorded overnight. You’ve guessed it, I’ve been mothing!
July and August can be pretty barren months for the birder. If you’re in the right place you may get non-breeding waders returning. But this year that’s been badly affected by lots of local hotspots drying out. Of course, some summer visitors clear out and southern birders may pick up on species that breed further north as they wend their way back to Africa.
But in my case, my usual indolence coupled with the madness of climate change has taken off the agenda wandering about a sunburnt reserve without a pith helmet. Although the warm weather has no doubt made it a good year for butterflies. And, where there’s water, I’m sure there have been plenty of dragonflies and damsels to ease your birdless distress. If you’ve been lucky, like me I dare say you’ve seen more butterflies in your garden than for years.
What sparked my interest was regular visitations from the few day-flying moths I’m used to seeing Mint Moths abound, and then Light Brown Apple Moths are also very much in evidence when the sun starts to go down. But the sheer number of Hummingbird Hawkmoths and Jersey Tigers being reported locally to me and turning up in my backyard has been legion. We have always had a few visit in the height of summer, but this year the visits have been almost daily and sometimes we have had two or three hovering around our monster lavender bush.
Moths have always seemed pretty scarce here. In the past, I’ve not been aware of very many moths, flitting around our outside lights in the dark. I guess the urban location, particularly in an area where more than half of the gardens have been turned into car parking spaces and a significant number of backyards are now covered in astro turf, mitigates against insect profusion. But lately when I’ve tried to cool off outside after dark, I’ve noticed many more than previously. I’m hoping it’s the effect of introducing more and more weeds and wildflowers to our yard, and ensuring that there are food plants like stinging nettles and plenty of places for insects to hide. Of course it might just be the change in our climate.
However, I also remember when my son got into mothing and tried his trap in my garden. He had very little luck. Given that, I was reluctant to shell out several hundred pounds on a Professional moth trap. Then a friend offered to put one together very affordably, as he had built several for other people. So, thanks to Jonny Bull, the volunteer Assistant Warden at my local bird observatory, I now have a splendid Do-It-Yourself (or in my case Jonny-Did-It-For-Me) trap.
Two days (not consecutive) in an August week proved exciting. Although, my ineptitude and inexperience saw half my captives break out and head for the shrubbery before I could take terrible photos of them. What stayed put on the egg cartons were identified via a terrific free app and the back-up of an expert friend willing to be asked for help – turns out moth’ers are just like birders, happy to share their knowledge with newbies. I‘ve also been instructed in the etiquette of mothing and given invaluable tips. Mothing is never going to replace birding for me, but it’s a terrific addition.
