Another night in the woods

Last night it was the turn of Shabbington Wood at the eastern end of Bernwood Forest to receive a visit.  There, much as expected, the moth catch was more than double that achieved in Finemere Wood the previous night, mostly thanks to even larger numbers of Small Quaker.  Nearly 1,300 moths from 26 species were recorded in the usual three hours:  Ypsolopha ustella (1), Diurnea fagella (8), Acleris ferrugana/notana (3), Acleris literana (1), Tortricodes alternella (175), Pammene giganteana (1), Yellow Horned (57), March Moth (40), Brindled Pug (5), Pale Brindled Beauty (3), Small Brindled Beauty (63), Oak Beauty (65), Spring Usher (3), Dotted Border (9), Engrailed (6), Red Chestnut (35), Pine Beauty (1), Small Quaker (673), Common Quaker (66), Lead-coloured Drab (2), Clouded Drab (5), Twin-spotted Quaker (3), Satellite (8), Chestnut (18), Pale Pinion (1) & Oak Nycteoline (2).

Pammene giganteana, Bernwood 10th March

Brindled Pug, Bernwood 10th March

Pine Beauty, Bernwood 10th March

Twin-spotted Quakers, Bernwood 10th March

The lack of Shoulder Stripe was a bit of a surprise because I'd recorded 15 of them at Finemere the previous night, but Tortricodes alternella was still going strong in Bernwood whereas at Finemere it was almost over with only ten seen.  No sign of Water Carpet, White-marked or Blossom Underwing yet at either site but I suspect it won't be long before they're out and about too. 

As it happens I'd tried the MOL pheromone lure in the garden at Westcott over the previous two days but had no takers, so it was good to see that Pammene giganteana (which comes to that lure but doesn't often appear at light traps) was indeed flying now.  Last year I managed to add several new woodland sites for it locally thanks to pheromone traps hung out during the daytime.  The moths usually appeared within a matter of minutes.  

Dave Wilton Westcott, Bucks