Day-flyers

On my way back from a meeting in Milton Keynes this afternoon I called at a cross-roads near Steeple Claydon where the verges host my closest Chimney Sweeper colony to home.  Despite the fact that HS2 Ltd have done their level best to destroy the habitat there, one small productive area for wildlife still remains and does contain plenty of pignut.  If they leave this bit alone perhaps the colony stands a chance of surviving.  I saw a dozen Chimney Sweepers altogether and, as usual, they conspired to thwart any attempt at photography.  Most spent their time flying or else hanging upside down from grass stems apart from this example which paused briefly on a clover flower:



Chimney Sweeper, Steeple Claydon 26th May

An even better record there was of a single Forester Moth, the first I've seen this year.  Forester had a brilliant season locally in 2019 and there must have been quite a bit of dispersal.  The closest known colony is just over 2km away at Charndon, to the west of the lakes at Calvert, and I suspect this may have been the progeny of a wanderer from there.  Nice to find it at another new site.

Forester Moth, Steeple Claydon 26th May

Finally, apart from grass moths the only micro on offer was a single example of Dichrorampha sequana.  Its larvae feed on yarrow and it has been found at this site in the past.

Dichrorampha sequana, Steeple Claydon 26th May

Dave Wilton
Westcott, Bucks