Little Hadham Birding: Mothing in Hackney

On Wednesday 03.06.15, Graeme and I set off for East Bank West Bank Nature Reserve in Stamford Hill, Hackney. Upon arrival at about 8.45 we were given a quick tour round both sites, dissected by the Liverpool Street - Enfield railway line. Basically, a very narrow strip of land, about 3 yards wide and 0.33km long on both sides of the railway. Undergrowth was dense and very tricky carting 6 traps and 2 generators into the site. It became immediately apparent that head torches and netting would be virtually impossible within the reserve, so, once set up, we spent time attracting moths out on to the street where they were netted. This seemed a successful ploy and we quickly had several micros potted.
Due to the proximity of the houses we had lots of interested fol coming over to see what was going on and to see the potted moths. As usual, the macros: light emerald, willow beauty, garden carpet, marbledcarpet were of more interest until we passed over a micro and a hand lens.
Two police cars arrived to inquire as to what we were up too and, whilst not being over friendly, went away satisfied with our genuine reasons.
By midnight the prospect of hauling all the kit out meant we stopped the jennies and checked the contents. Not too much on offer and less in the battery driven actinics but a haul of, in total, 36 moths of 21 species.
Of particular note were for me Ash pug, Nemapogon cloacella and Swammerdamia pyrella which were all new for me with the latter also being new for Graeme.