Sloe Carpet search event.

Here at RSPB Old Hall Marshes we are planning to do some research into sloe carpet. As you are probably aware we have a fair amount of blackthorn, and two years ago a bumper catch of sloe carpets was found. One of our volunteers, Andy Knapp, is leading this project and several of us are willing to assist in his investigations. We are planning to do searches/traps through the whole flight period, but it would be great if we could have a moth group meeting here to assist in our search using light traps and searching with torches. Weather permitting, 18th April looks good for us. Dusk is officially 19:00, so I suggest meeting then. After midnight is supposed to be the best time to find them, so there will be no specified end time for the meeting. It would be helpful if people could let me know if they are coming, even if they tell me at the last minute, so we can get an idea of how many cars to expect; also if we decide to cancel/rearrange due to bad weather I can communicate with people about this.

We also hope to follow up the survey of adults with larvae searches. Similarly it would be good to have a follow up event focussing on this (perhaps best arranged on the night with the first event participants), especially if any of the larva experts could help with this as we do not have a great deal of experience with larvae.

Aside from the events, if anyone is interested in helping with this project at other times, or targeting for other species (e.g. we have some elm saplings so perhaps a white-spotted pinion could be lurking) do get in touch.

Could this be advertised on the website? If the extra information I have provided above could be included, this would be great. However, the essential information would be:

Mon 18/04/11: Sloe Carpet search at RSPB Old Hall Marshes. Meet in the car park (TL 959 122) 19:00 'til late! Please get in contact if you would like to come, even if it is at the last minute: Suzanne Grimwood, Assistant Warden RSPB Old Hall Marshes. Suzanne.Grimwood@rspb.org.uk 07803 187 375. Bring a torch.

Thanks,

Suzanne

Suzanne Grimwood