2010 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 smaller count of hibernating Heralds this year but a reliable 'first moth' for the new year.
21 Jan	Dotted Border 1934 Agriopis marginaria	Status: National - common Marsland - common	Earliest site record.  Previous earliest record was 8 February in 2008.
27 Mar	Oak Beauty 1930 Biston strataria	Status: National - common Marsland - common	Of the 245 recorded between 21 March and 15 April, only one was of the darker form as shown right. The highest number attracted to a single 125MV light was 80 on 27 March.
26 Mar	Emperor Moth 1643 Saturnia pavonia	Status: National - common Marsland - previously recorded	The pupae resulting from last year's science project at St Mark's Primary School (see 2009 highlights) began hatching prematurely.
10 Apr	Emperor Moth 1643 Saturnia pavonia	Status: National - common Marsland - previously recorded	The first wild males were attracted to the reared females in the garden. Over the course of the next few weeks, several reared females attracted wild males suggesting there is a healthy population in the valley.
5 May	Neofaculta ericetella 797	Status: National - common Duckpool - believed to be a first record	Probably a common moth at Duckpool but previously unrecorded.
5 May	Aproaerema anthyllidella 843	Status: National - common Duckpool - believed to be a first record	Probably a common moth at Duckpool but previously unrecorded.
22 May	Butterfly: Wood White 1541 Leptidea sinapsis	Status: National - local	As many as 20 were seen during a visit to the Devon Wildlife Trust reserve at Ash Moor.
24 May	Butterfly: Marsh Fritillary 1610 Euphydryas aurinia	Status: National - local Marsland - uncommon	A single specimen was seen nectaring on Thrift and Common Scurvygrass at Marsland Mouth. This species hadn't been recorded in this part of the valley for several years.  It coincided with several sightings further up the valley.
24 May	Esperia sulphurella 649	Status: National - local Marsland - first record	Recorded at Marsland Mouth during the day in a Blackthorn hedge.
25 May	Opsibotys fuscalis 1386	Status: National - local	One daytime record at Daymer Bay, North Cornwall.
31 May	Small Purple-barred 2470 Phytometra viridaria (f. fusca)	Status: National - local	A single brown form was recorded at Bursdon Moor, North Devon during the daytime.
3 Jun	Pammene germmana 1237	Status: National - common Marsland - first record	First reserve record.
3 Jun	Ancylis mitterbacheriana 1120	Status: National - common Marsland -first record	First reserve record.
4 Jun	Peppered Moth 1931 Biston betularia (f. insularia)	Status: National - common Marsland - common	First garden record of form f. insularia.  Only one other reserve record of this form was made by Adrian Spalding some years ago.
5 Jun	Lobesia reliquana 1106	Status: National - local Marsland - first record	First reserve record.
12 Jun	Birch Mocha 1677 Cyclophora albipunctata	Status: National - local	Trapping carried out on behalf of the Devon Wildlfie Trust at its new reserve at Ash Moor produced many interesting species for the public to see at an Open Day including this Birch Mocha.
14 Jun	Butterfly: Dingy Skipper 1532 Erynnis tages	Status: National - local Marsland - previously recorded	First garden record.
18 Jun	Opsibotys fuscalis 1386	Status: National - local Marsland - first record	First reserve record.
28 Jun	Cream-bordered Green Pea 2418 Earias clorana	Status: National - scarce Marsland - first record	First reserve record.  Rare in VC4.
28 Jun	Butterfly: Dark Green Fritillary 1607 Argynnis aglaja	Status: National - common	As many as 100 recorded within the confines of a large dune slack at Braunton Burrows.  Seen mating and nectaring on a variety of plants including Wild Privet and Viper's-bugloss.
5 Jul	Apomyelois bistriatella 1486	Status: National - scarce Marsland - second record	Second record came to MV light almost a year to the day of the first record. Thanks to Bob Heckford for confirming id.
8 Jul	Silver Hook 2412 Deltote uncula	Status: National - local	Three recorded at Perranporth on the North Cornish coast in a marshy area during the day.  These are thought to be the first records for this site.
8 Jul	Butterfly: Silver-studded Blue 1571 Plebejus argus	Status: National - local	Large numbers recorded at Glanville's (pennans) Field at Penhale, Perranporth on the North Cornish coast.
10 Jul	Gypsonoma sociana 1168	Status: National - local Marsland - first record	First reserve record.
10 Jul	Agriphila inquinatella 1306	Status: National - local Marsland - first record	First reserve record.