Nipstone Rock Moth Night

What a splendid place to spend a night! The time of year added to the charm with heather in full bloom not just at SWT's Nipstone Rock Nature Reserve but the whole of the Stiperstones range was awash with purple. The magnificent work that teams of mostly volunteers have been doing over recent years is certainly paying off with the 60's conifer plantations now destroyed allowing the hill's natural vegetation to return to its magnificent beginnings and bringing with it all of its once lost fauna.

It was Les's idea that led to a group of Wrekin Forest Volunteers spending the night here for the purpose of trapping moths so we could see at first-hand what species are now enjoying this rather special habitat.

So, on Saturday September 5th 2009, Les and I along with County Moth Recorder Tony Jacques arrived to set up our 3 moth traps. Accompanying us were Penny, Graham and Keith. Penny had taken up our invitation for a 'night on the mound' but I rather feel she happily responded in the affirmative due only to a misunderstanding when she thought I said 'night on the town'! An email duly followed from Penny suggesting that if we wanted to keep it as a stag night we only had to say. Confusion possibly reigned even greater when I then explained she would be quite safe as it wasn't yet the rutting season!

Enough of this frivolity and nonsense! Get on with it!

Tony treated us to a few of his larvae-catch that he'd discovered on the edges of the reserve before we all arrived;-

Pebble Prominent Larva

Sallow Kitten Larva

In fact there were scores of Sallow Kitten larva, feeding as you would expect, on sallow that Tony pointed out to us the next morning. Mind you... you can't always assume that the name of a moth indicates its larval foodplant for the Oak Eggar larvae for example, feed nowhere near an oak tree - it's the acorn-looking pupa in this case that gives the adult or imago the name.

I also found a Fox Moth larva at camp which had just ditched its final skin. It was so fresh that it was some 2 weeks later before Tony correctly identified it from my photo, the tell-tale orange marking behind its head not visible on emergence.

A couple of weeks earlier when checking the site for specific trap location I came across dozens of these larvae:-

Couldn't ID them at the time but Tony came to the rescue once more with a positive ID of Light Knot Grass. So that's another species to focus on late May-June next year as they emerge from their pupa and start the reproduction process all over.

We set up traps and tents in the lee of the rocks just as dusk was falling. Well most did. Tony and I otherwise engaged with cables, generator and mindless chatter had left tent erection a tad late so we ended up putting our two shelters up in the dark. Having done mine in similar circumstances many times it presented no problem to me but Tony... well Tony had somehow managed to put his brand new and unopened tent, instructions left unread, upside down with the door facing the floor. Interesting concept thought I, but would he not be falling out all night?

The normally strong winds that prevail in this often bleak area kept at bay for the whole night, blessed as we we were with just the slightest and occasional breeze. Cloud cover was around 80% keeping the temperature higher than it otherwise would have been on a clear night (lowest recorded through the night was 8 deg C) and not a hint of rain. Almost perfect conditions for the frolicking moths.

This vista has to be one of the best campsites I've ever stayed at and I've backpacked many a hill, mountain and valley over the years. The view east across the valley to the massive Long Mynd range is just fabulous.
We sat and chatted whilst we waited for the moths to come out to play. Penny kept us amused with her many humorous, witty comments and anecdotes whilst Graham treated us to some of the many amazing facts and figures he manages to store in his head. Tony gave an insight into the life of a county recorder and then Keith fell asleep. Followed by Les. Nothing to do with the lack of scintillating conversation you understand. It was just way passed their bedtimes. Bless!

But then... was that... could it be... yes... it's a moth! Duly potted up and instantly and impressively identified by Tony as a Chevron which was followed by another Chevron and another. In fact the Chevron achieved the highest species count of the night with a total of 16 individuals.

There was a slight interlude as we watched in awe Graham being 'beamed up' to a higher source some place way above the rocks.

I always said he should try to keep his feet firmly on the ground but some folk just don't listen!

A beautiful Antler Moth then arrived much to everyone's delight. So called, of course, because of the wing markings that do look remarkably like deer antlers.

So perhaps it is the rutting season after all. As darkness fell on this quite spot full of dubious legend and devilry tales two mysterious lights appeared over the hill from the north making a startled Tony run for cover!

I jest, of course, they're lights from 2 traps as seen from the third.

A few more Cherons arrived, along with a few Large Yellow Underwing, Flounced Rustic and the immigrant Silver Y. An Autumnal Rustic also put in an appearance along with a lone Small Wainscot. Surprisingly only one singleton micro-moth appeared.

Small Wainscot

Flounced Rustic

Autumnal Rustic

We said cheerio to Keith and Penny a little before midnight as they left for their respective homes and then the remaining 4 of us retired to tents about 45 minutes later. The generator ran till 4am and we rose around 6am to check the traps, carefully ID everything and then we packed up and left Nipstone Rock and its flora and fauna to itself.

Although the moths were not great in number, some interesting species arrived and a couple of 'firsts' for me. All-in-all a successful and enjoyable night out and one that I'm sure we'll repeat again. I'm particularly keen to run another in the same area next May to hopefully trap the magnificent Emperor Moth and judging by the number of Fox Moth larvae we found they should also be in abundance that month too.

The full species count has gone through to the County Recorder - in fact thanks go to Tony for correlating the data. A copy has also gone through to Shropshire Wildlife Trust who own and manage Nipstone Rock Nature Reserve and to whom big thanks must go to Pete Lambert and Carl Pickup for their help in allowing us access to a truly wonderful part of this fabulous county we call Shropshire - a hidden gem.

And then we leave, as we always do; taking nothing but photographs and leaving nothing but footprints.

A copy of the full species list is also in the 'Files' section of the Wrekin Forest Volunteers forum

Catch you all soon and looking forward to this Friday's moth night on The Wrekin.

Click collage below for more pics from the Nipstone gallery

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