2008 Highlights

All records are from our garden unless stated otherwise.

	The red flag indicates a record that appears to be a first for the valley.  However, we continue to research existing records and if a species has already been recorded, this page will be updated.
	Where the record appears to be a first for the county or one of only a few records, a double red flag is shown.

1 Jan	The Herald 2469 Scoliopteryx libatrix	Status: National - common Marsland - common	A winter roost of 14 was still hibernating in the wood store.
28 Jan	Carpatolechia decorella 767	Status: National - local Marsland - first record	First Marsland record.
28 Jan	Euchromius ocellea 1289	Status: National - rare migrant  Marsland - first record	Winds originating over the Sahara brought an unprecedented fall of Euchromius ocellea to the country with 8 recorded in the garden. Conveniently the catch was split evenly between each side of the garden - 4 to an MV lamp in Devon and 4 to a 15W actinic in Cornwall.
28 Jan	The Engrailed 1947 Ectropis bistortata	Status: National - common Marsland - common	An unusually early record. Normal flight period is from March.
30 Mar	White-marked 2140 (Cerastis leucographa)	Status: National - local Marsland - first record	A rare resident in Cornwall though recorded more frequently in Devon. This was a Marsland first that was followed by a second on 27 April.
20 Apr	Pyrausta despicata 1365	Status: National - local Marsland - first record	First recorded on the clifftops and regularly recorded throughout the summer months during daytime clifftop walks. One worn garden record came on 18 July.
26 Apr	Orange Footman 2043 (Eilema sororcula)	Status: National - local Marsland - first recorded 2007	For the second year running this species has been recorded in numbers indicating a healthy population. 32 individuals were attracted to light from the early date of 26 April to a straggler showing as late as 5 August.
28 Apr	Tawny Pinion 2235 (Lithophane semibrunnea)	Status: National - local(s) Marsland - first record	Rare in VC2 but annually recorded in VC4, this was a Marsland first. Two further specimens were recorded on 2 and 3 May.
2 May	Speckled Yellow 1909 (Pseudopanthera macularia)	Status: National - common  Marsland - common	The only garden record of the year but seen frequently during the day on the more open ground further down the valley.
8 May	Square Spot 1949 (Paradarisa consonaria)	Status: National - local Marsland - previously recorded	Not recorded in the garden on 2007.  This male was followed by a late female on 10 July.
11 May	Marbled Coronet 2171 (Hadena confusa)	Status: National - local  Marsland - previously recorded	Not recorded in the garden in 2007. 3 recorded on 11 May and a further individual on 13 May.
13 May	Chocolate-tip 2019 (Clostera curtula)	Status: National - local Marsland - first record	First record for VC2 but recorded annually in small numbers in VC4.
15 May	Ash Bud Moth 449 Prays fraxinella	Status: National - common Marsland - first record	More of a disappointment than a highlight.  Hopes of this being Pseudatemelia flavifrontella were dashed by Mike Bailey's expert genital examination.
15 May	White-spotted Pug 1835 (Eupithecia tripunctaria)	Status: National - local  Marsland - first record	Surprisingly this seems to be only the first record for Marsland.  It was attracted to light on 15 May and a second was recorded on 22 May.
21 May	Plutella porrectella 465	Status: National - fairly common Marsland - first record	A first Marsland record and it seems to be uncommon in both VC2 and VC4.
21 May	Elachista atricomella 597	Status: National - common Marsland - first record	More disapointment.  Not the hoped for Elachista apicipunctella.  Thanks again to Mike Bailey for his help.
21 May	Maiden's Blush 1680 (Cyclophora punctaria)	Status: National - local Marsland - first record	A first for the valley.
25 May	Dingy Shell 1874 (Euchoeca nebulata)	Status: National - local Marsland - first record	As many as 10 seen flying in the early evening around an alder tree. Apart from a very worn specimen that was attracted to light on 29 July these were the only recordings.
27 May	Waved Carpet 1877 (Hydrelia sylvata)	Status: National - nationally notable Marsland - previously recorded	25 records from 27 May to 1 August suggest there is a healthy population of this nationally notable species in the valley.
29 May	Red-necked Footman 2039 (Atolmis rubricollis)	Status: National - local Marsland - previously recorded	A garden first, found during the day on the outside of a greenhouse. A second was attracted to light on 4 June.
29 May	Blomer's Rivulet 1872 (Discoloxia blomeri)	Status: National - nationally notable Marsland - first record	This first specimen was followed on 10 July by a second attracted to a 15W actinic lamp.
29 May	Ash Pug 1848 (Eupithecia innotata f.fraxinata)	Status: National - common Marsland - first record	Two records of this species were recorded on 29 May and 1 June.
18 Jun	Double Line 2191 (Mythimna turca)	Status: National - nationally notable Marsland - previously recorded	Four records of this nationally notable species from 18 June to 18 July.
23 Jun	Nettle-tap Moth 385 (Anthophila fabriciana)	Status: National - common Marsland - previously recorded	Numbers of this common daytime-flying micro peaked on 23 June when c.20 were seen feeding on ox-eye daisies.
24 Jun	Peach Blossom (larva) 1652 (Thyatira batis)	Status: National - common  Marsland - previously recorded	Larva found on raspberry canes.
28 Jun	Broom Moth 2163 (Ceramica pisi)	Status: National - common Marsland - previously recorded	A garden first.
29 Jun	Pretty Chalk Carpet 1784 (Melanthia procellata)	Status: National - common Marsland - first record	Surprisingly there appear to be no previous records in the valley.
1 Jul	Silver Y 2441 (Autographa gamma)	Status: National - common migrant  Marsland - previously recorded	First garden record of the year on a surprisingly late date.
7 Jul	Figure of Eighty 1654 (Tethea ocularis)	Status: National - common Marsland - first record	First Marsland record and the only record of 2008.
9 Jul	Scarce Silver-lines 2421 (Bena bicolorana)	Status: National - local Marsland - first record	First Marsland record and the only record of 2008.
9 Jul	Slender Brindle 2335 (Apamea scolopacina)	Status: National - common Marsland - common	41 attracted to lights between 9 July and 5 August. Notable only 3 came to an actinic light and on several nghts buddleia and hebes attracted higher numbers than MV and actinic lights.
11 Jul	Devonshire Wainscot 2206 (Mythimna putrescens)	Status: National - nationally notable Marsland - previously recorded	This very worn specimen was a surprise arrival in the garden as it is normally found on the more open ground nearer Marsland Mouth.
12 Jul	Bordered Beauty 1907 (Epione repandaria)	Status: National - common Marsland - previously recorded	The only record of the year of this beautiful moth.
14 Jul	Barred Yellow 1765 (Cidaria fulvata)	Status: National - common Marsland - first record	A first for the valley.
14 Jul	Sallow Kitten 1997 (Furcula furcula)	Status: National - common  Marsland - previously recorded	A garden first and the only record of 2008.
14 Jul	Garden Tiger 2057 (Arctia caja)	Status: National - common  Marsland - previously recorded	Good to see 12 records between 17 July and 1 August of this nationally fast-declining species.  Double the number recorded in 2007. Numbers peaked at 6 on 25 July.
14 Jul	Leopard Moth 161 (Zeuzera pyrina)	Status: National - common  Marsland - first record	Although considered common in some parts of the country, this moth is rare in VC2.  However, it is more frequently recorded in VC4.
20 Jul	Pebble Prominent (larva) 2003 (Eligmodonta ziczac)	Status: National - common  Marsland - common	Eggs found in light trap successfully reared to show they'd been laid by a Pebble Prominent.
21 Jul	Four-spotted Footman 2051 (Lithosia quadra)	Status: National - migrant/resident Marsland - first recorded in 2007	Thought to be a healthy resident population, 74, including 8 females, being recorded between 21 July and 9 September. Numbers peaked at 24 on 1 August.
22 Jul	Crescent Dart 2090 (Agrotis trux)	Status: National - local  Marsland - previously recorded	A garden first. Another example of the unexpected arrival in the garden of a species previously recorded in the more open habitat further down the valley, nearer the sea.
25 Jul	Limnaecia phragmitella 898	Status: National - generally distributed but restricted to marshy habitat Marsland - first record	A first record for Marsland and possibly for VC2. This specimen was caught dusking along the stream.  Thanks to Phil Boggis for determining the identification.
31 Jul	White-line Snout 2482 (Schrankia taenialis)	Status: National - nationally notable Marsland - first recorded in 2007	As in 2007, dusking with a net was the most successful method accounting for 4 individuals with another one attracted to light on 8 August.
1 Aug	Oak Hook-tip 1646 (Drepana binaria)	Status: National - common Marsland - first record	Surprisingly the first and only record of this species in 2 years trapping in the garden.
15 Aug	Hoary Footman 2045 (Eilema caniola)	Status: National - nationally notable Marsland - first record	5 between 15 and 29 August. Another example of a predominantly coastal species turning up in the garden.  Not recorded in 2007.
15 Aug	Bulrush Wainscot 2369 (Nonagria typhae)	Status: National - common Marsland - first record	First record for the valley.
24 Aug	Convolvulous Hawk-moth 1972 (Agrius convolvuli)	Status: National - migrant Marsland - previously recorded	Particularly pleasing to find the garden's first Convolvulous Hawk-moth nectaring at night on nicotiana we had grown specifically to attract this migrant species.
24 Aug	Amblyptilia acanthadactyla 1497	Status: National - common Marsland - first record	This plume appears to be less common than the similar species 1498 Amblyptilia punctidactyla
27 Aug	Skin Moth 227 (Monopis laevigella)	Status: National - common Marsland - first record	The first of two attracted to the porch light.
5 Sep	Brown Long-eared Bat feeding station	An inspection of a neighbour's Brown Long-eared Bat feeding station resulted in the following meals identified: 9 Large Yellow Underwing 2107 (Noctua pronuba) 5 The Herald 2469 (Scoliopteryx libatrix) 2 Copper Underwing 2297 (Amphipyra pyramidea) 2 Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing 2110 (Noctua fimbriata) 1 Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing 2111 (Noctua janthe) 1 Six-striped Rustic 2133 (Xestia sexstrigata) 1 Heart & Dart 2089 (Agrotis exclamationis) 1 Angle Shades 2306 (Phlogophora meticulosa) 1 Dark Arches 2321 (Apamea monoglypha) 2 unidentified hind wings No remnants were found of Black Arches - the most obvious and abundant species flying at this time.  Is this one of those moths that give off ultrasonic clicks to ward off echo-locating bats?
8 Sep	Black-banded 2253 (Polymixis xanthomista)	Status: National - nationally notable Marsland - previously recorded	A short session on the cliffs at Duckpool produced 3 Black-banded.  The results are shown on the Out & About page.
9 Sep	Orange Sallow 2271 (Xanthia citrago)	Status: National - common Marsland - first record	Three records between 9 and 24 September. Although considered common nationally, there appear to be few records of this species in either VC2 or VC4.
9 Sep	White-speck 2203 (Mythimna unipuncta)	Status: National - migrant Marsland - previously recorded	First garden record of this migrant.
9 Sep	Palpita vitrealis 1408	Status: National - migrant Marsland - first record	First record for the valley of this migrant pyralid.
9 Sep	Zelleria hepariella 435	Status: National - local Marsland - first record	First record for the valley of this smart micro.
14 Sep	Ochsenheimeria taurella 251	Status: National - common Marsland - unrecorded	This species was also recorded during our successful search for Yellow Belle along the clifftops north from Duckpool - see below.
14 Sep	Yellow Belle 1968 (Semiaspilates ochrearia)	Status: National - local Marsland - unrecorded	An afternoon walk along the clifftops north from Duckpool in search of Yellow Belle proved fruitful with 9 recorded.  Interestingly these were all found in one 30m stretch of a 2 mile walk. A similar walk on 18 September heading south from Marsland Mouth towards Duckpool drew a blank on this species.
24 Sep	Scalloped Hazel 1920 (Odontopera bidentata)	Status: National - common Marsland - common	Commonly recorded during the months of May and June, this species normally only has one generation but this late record suggests a second.
8 Oct	Fox Moth (larva) 1630 (Macrothylacia rubi)	Status: National - common Marsland - common	On an afternoon walk along the clifftops north from Duckpool 65 Fox Moth larva were recorded on the coastal path feeding in the sunshine on a variety of plants, including bramble, thrift and birdsfoot trefoil.
10 Oct	Scrobipalpa costella 819	Status: National - common Marsland - first record	A first for the valley.
13 Oct	Dark Spectacle 2449 (Abrostola triplasia)	Status: National - common Marsland - previously recorded in 2007	The 2 records last year came from a first generation in June/July. The only record this year was probably part of a late second generation.
13 Nov	The V-Pug 1858 (Chloroclystis v-ata)	Status: National - common Marsland - previously recorded	Late record.
16 Nov	Feathered Thorn 1923 (Colotois pennaria)	Status: National - common Marsland - common	Unusually dark form of this common species.
19 Nov	Eudonia angustea 1342	Status: National - common Marsland - first record	Surprisingly, the first record of this nationally common species.
22 Nov	Brindled Ochre 2229 (Dasypolia templi)	Status: National - local Marsland - previously recorded	The ony record of the year following 3 in 2007.
29 Nov	Frosty Leaves		2008 came to a premature end with a protracted spell of cold weather.
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