Yet more day-flyers

Two local Bucks BBOWT reserves, Lapland Farm Meadows and Bernwood Meadows, both of which are home to Forester Moth, were visited this afternoon but both sites proved to be very dessicated and virtually the only things in flower were Ox-eye Daisies (many mal-formed) and Buttercups.  There was no sign of Forester at either place so hopefully the moth is able to synchronize its appearance with plants it can nectar from and will appear in another week or two.  Lapland Farm did produce more than 30 Burnet Companions as well as a Mother Shipton and a single very early Six-spot Burnet, while at Bernwood Meadows I was lucky enough to notice this female Adela croesella on an Ox-eye Daisy, a moth I don't see all that often.

Adela croesella, Bernwood Meadows 1st June

The third place I checked today was Gavray Drive Meadows on the edge of Bicester in Oxon.  This is an excellent site for wildlife which has been under threat of development for years.  Two of the many priority invertebrates which live there were seen today, Black Hairstreak butterfly and Forester Moth.  Although not as dry as the earlier two sites, there were again few flowering plants apart from Buttercups but at least I managed to find a few spots of Ragged Robin and that produced six Foresters.  A further four were seen in flight across the site to give ten in all but when the Knapweed is in flower I'd expect to find a lot more.  Other species seen here included Zelotherses paleana and Common Heath.

Dave Wilton
Westcott, Bucks