Bernwood Forest

I ran a couple of MV traps in Bernwood last night at opposite ends of the forest, one in Oakley Wood (which managed a poor 60 species) and the other in Shabbington Wood (which managed a more acceptable 88 species), the combined total being just over 100 species split roughly 50-50 between macros and micros.  The stand-out moth of the session was this Dark Crimson Underwing:

Dark Crimson Underwing, Bernwood 14th August

Dark Crimson Underwing is a Red Data Book moth which until recently was confined as a breeding species in the UK to parts of the New Forest.  However, in the last few years it has undergone quite a rapid expansion and, following a record by Russell Ness in Cippenham during 2018 (the first in Bucks since 1844), it has subsequently appeared at four or five other locations across the county and there has been a similar pattern of sightings in Berks and Oxon.  Large tracts of oak woodland such as Bernwood would appear to be ideal territory for it so let us hope that it now has a permanent foothold there.  

  

Moths around in large numbers last night included Pandemis corylana (30+), Phycita roborella (50+) and Black Arches (60+) but few others got into double figures.  Amongst the micros it was good to see Epermenia falciformis, Hypatima rhomboidella & Cryptoblabes bistriga, while the macros included Scalloped Hook-tip, Plain Wave, Large Emerald (seemed rather late), Peacock Moth (13 between the two lights), Rosy Footman, Vapourer & Small Wainscot.

Cryptoblabes bistriga, Bernwood 14th August

Dave Wilton Westcott, Bucks