Caterpillars at Holtspur Bottom

Conservation work at Holtspur Bottom this morning was hard graft (although alleviated by pleasant surroundings and good company!). But in the course of digging and shifting earth from one place to another we found several caterpillars in the soil. At the time I was confidently telling people that they must be one of the root-feeding noctuid moths, but I was wrong - having had a closer look they are swift moths, most likely Common Swift.

For more on Butterfly Conservation's reserve near Beaconsfield see the new Holtspur Bottom website. Martin Harvey