Answer: Moths, they only eat holes!*groan*
OK, bad jokes aside, I'd just like to take a little time to talk about a really under-rated group of creatures, the moths. Lots of love out there for butterflies, but as soon as you mention moths everyone suggests they just want to eat your clothes (which 99.99% don't) and say they are stupid things that fly into your face. Unfair! Moths can be lovely, and just as attractive as their day-flying cousins. Indeed, there are such things as day-flying moths too, such as the cinnabar and the burnett moths.
The best way to really appreciate moths is with a spot of moth trapping, such as we hope to do on Saturday night (weather permitting). A bright light draws the moths in and allows us to get up close and personal. The moths can then go off later about their mothy business. On other nights we catch them in a wooden box and show them off the following day, before releasing them that evening, unharmed.
The great thing about moth trapping is it allows you to get really hand-on with the moths. Butterflies will just skitter away if you get close, whilst moths are a lot more relaxed. See this picture of conservation intern Dan with a Poplar Hawkmoth.
What other wildlife can you do that with?
The bat and moth evening starts at 9pm on Saturday. Places need to be booked by calling 01205 724678 or by emailing lincolnshirewashreserves@rspb.org.uk.
At other times watch out for an aquarium in the visitor centre, as I put moths in there to show off if I have been trapping the previous night.
Reedbed, freshwater scrapes, saltmarsh and wet meadow. Frampton Marsh has it all! Come and pay us a visit soon.