Disused railway

I paid another visit to the disused railway cutting close to home this afternoon to check on the priority butterfly populations there (Dingy Skipper, Grizzled Skipper and Green Hairstreak all present and correct).  Moths seen included Aethes piercei, Dichrorampha plumbagana, Grapholita jungiella, Pyrausta purpuralis, Lesser Treble-bar, Cinnabar and Common Heath.  Aethes piercei is decidedly uncommon in our region but, until the site eventually scrubs over, the cutting remains one of the few strongholds for this large day-flying tortricid whose larvae feed on devil's-bit scabious.  The identity of the rather anonymous-looking Dichrorampha plumbagana was assumed from whereabouts it was seen coupled with the flight time but one was retained for later confirmation.  The similarly anonymous Dichrorampha plumbana is also found at the site but it doesn't have the costal fold visible in the picture below and is not usually seen there until the beginning of June. 

Aethes piercei, Westcott 13th May

Dichrorampha plumbagana, Westcott 13th May

Common Heath (female), Westcott 13th May

Dave Wilton
Westcott, Bucks