Away trapping (1)

Making use of the reasonable conditions, I took traps out on three consecutive nights (Thursday to Saturday), so today I've been in zombie mode trying to catch up with records, answering queries on the blog, writing these posts and waiting for a good night's sleep!

On Thursday I was joined by Martin Albertini at Littleworth Common which is a mixed woodland and heathland site near Burnham in Bucks.  It got quite chilly there but between us we managed to see nearly 90 species.  Heather-feeding Gelechid Neofaculta ericetella was the most abundant moth but it is early yet for interesting heathland species and the only other habitat specialist recorded was True Lover's Knot (four seen).  Amongst the macros recorded there were a few nice species like Birch Mocha, Mocha, Phoenix, Foxglove Pug, Small Seraphim, Peacock, Grey Birch, Maple Prominent, Alder Moth and Green Silver-lines, but mostly they were species which could turn up anywhere (even a very late Common Quaker!).   

True Lover's Knot, Littleworth Common 23rd May

Green Silver-lines, Littleworth Common 23rd May

Amongst the micros, despite my attempts to turn it into something more interesting the Argyresthia below is probably just an odd form of brockeella.  Cochylis nana was good to see, as was the smart Ptycholoma lecheana which was plentiful in the traps.

Argyresthia species, Littleworth Common 23rd May

Ptycholoma lecheana, Littleworth Common 23rd May

Dave Wilton
Westcott, Bucks