Saffron Summerfield, Aldina Franco (both previously co-opted), David Prince- prospective Wider Countryside Officer and Michelle Walkling – prospective Events Organiser.

If no objections are received prior to the 23^rd, all the above will be elected.

If you would like to join the Committee, please get in touch.

The main business of the afternoon will be

• A brief introduction by Andy Brazil highlighting interesting sightings in the last 2 summers,
• An illustrated presentation by Will Fitch, Warden of Wheatfen Nature Reserve, entitled “Butterflies of Wheatfen, Past, Present and Future” with lots of stories about Large Coppers, Swallowtails, Fritillaries etc,
• An illustrated talk by Mike Gasson about Swallowtail butterflies at Catfield.

There will be an opportunity to ask questions via the “Chat” facility on zoom.

The Photographic Competition, which I know many of you look forward to, will be announced nearer Christmas.

Foxley Wood 27^th - 28^th July 2021

After a drizzly night we once again gathered in the car park at NWT’ s excellent  Foxley Wood reserve, this time at least resisting the temptation to check the tree tops for large purple butterflies!  Some 15 people were in attendance while we opened the 2 actinic and single MV Robinson trap which Mike Gasson had put out the night before.  In total we recorded 98 species from the traps and Stewart Wright later added 19 more from checking for leaf mines and larval cases.

Highlights included several Mere Wainscots and Small Dotted Buffs, Plain Golden Y, a couple of Large Emeralds, 18 Poplar, 6 Elephant and a single Pine Hawkmoth as well as impressive numbers of Minor Shoulder Knots and uncountable numbers of Common and Dingy Footmen., mostly from the MV trap which had been strategically placed at the cross junction of 2 rides.  Probably though the most important sighting was the very recently new for Norfolk Elachista adscitella which mines Tufted Hair Grass.

National Moth Night 8/9^th July 2021

With the focus this year on wetlands and reedbeds the Butterfly Conservation reserve at Catfield fen was an easy choice for an event, which unfortunately had to be limited to 30 people because of current restrictions.

The morning dawned quite fine, despite the unwanted “biblical” deluge which swept across the reserve while Mick A’Cort of the RSPB and Mike Gasson were trying to put the traps out.  Happily they succeeded so we had six traps to open that morning.

Catfield is a wonderful site for moths and although affected by the previous night’s conditions numbers and variety from the traps did not disappoint with 91 species in total.  For most the visually attractive Elephant Hawkmoths (24 recorded), the local Lempkes Gold spot (9) and single Eyed and Privet Hawkmoths and Peach Blossom were the highlights but everyone was also able to admire local specialities like Dotted (31) and Small Dotted (40) Footmen and Reed Leopard (28) as well as a number of very special micro moths such as Acleris lorquinana and Epinotia cruciana.

So despite the earlier torrential downpour and the restrictions on numbers it was a successful morning, for which special thanks are due to Mick (and his mate) and Mike for putting out and retrieving the traps and Andy and Andrew for recording everything on the lists, a copy of which is available on the moth page.

Talk on Grayling Butterfly in the Brecks — in decline or under-recorded? By Sharon Hearle

On Wednesday 5th May we had our second zoom talk on the Marsh Carpet Moth given by Sharon Hearle. If you missed the talk you can see it below. Click the play arrow at the bottom left of the picture to play the video.

Talk on March Carpet by Sharon Hearle

On Wed 3rd March we had our first zoom talk on the Marsh Carpet Moth given by Sharon Hearle. If you missed the talk you can see it below. Click the play arrow at the bottom left of the picture to play the video.

We will be announce further events on our event page.

The branch is looking for a Moth Officer

This position and the time it takes are very much what the holder would like to make it but generally as a minimum it might include: -

• Organising several moth trap opening events in the County.  This can include setting traps the night before, collecting them in and opening them for members.  The branch has a few of its own moth traps and can generally call up others where required and are normally able to help with putting traps out etc and identification if needed.
• Submission of records from these events to the Norfolk Moth recorder and to meeting attendees.<
• Attendance at Group committee meetings and the AGM
• Contribute occasional articles for the Branch newsletter, website, Twitter, and Facebook.
• Occasional liaison with Head Office/Conservation staff regarding moths in the county
• Liaison with Norfolk Moth Survey and the County Moth Recorder with whom we have a good working relationship.

If you would like to help, then please, in the first instance, contact Greg Bond at [email protected] or on 01263 579520

Sad News

It is with deep regret that the Branch announces the death of Roland Rogers who passed away, after a short illness, just before Christmas at the age of 93. Roland had been associated with the Norfolk Branch for 30 years serving as Chairman and Treasurer. An obituary will appear in the Spring Newsletter.

Thank you for your continuing support during the difficult times of 2020