Two poor nights on the chalk

Chalk downland isn't really the place to be at this time of year but I have three or four such sites on my list of monthly regulars for 2016 and if they don't get trapped in April then several of the early spring species will be missed.  On Monday night I visited a site not far from Stokenchurch which produced a reasonable 16 species, of which a pair of Dotted Chestnuts were the only real highlights although Acleris literana and Amblyptilia acanthadactyla were nice to see.  The plume is one of the few which over-winter and makes a change from the ubiquitous monodactyla.

Dotted Chestnuts, 4th April

Amblyptilia acanthadactyla, 4th April

Last night the usual three-hour session was spent on a hillside above Princes Risborough where unfortunately it seemed impossible to get out of the very annoying breeze (spectacular views to the west, though, even as far as Didcot power station!).  A mere ten species turned up, of which Early Tooth-striped and Ypsolopha mucronella were the only things of interest.

Early Tooth-striped, 5th April

Ypsolopha mucronella, 5th April

The garden hasn't produced all that much of late either, although Streamer (3rd) and Dotted Chestnut (5th) have been added to the garden list for this year.

Dave Wilton
Westcott, Bucks