Away trapping

Peter Hall visited us from Scotland earlier in the week and we went out trapping for two of the nights.  Bernwood Forest on Tuesday 21st was very successful, with the expected local specialist species all turning up.  Small Black Arches appeared in some numbers, a couple of Common Fan-foot were seen at the end of their flight period and a single Triangle in Hell Coppice was the first to be recorded there for three or four years.  Several Orange Moths also graced the traps, this being one of the few sites in our region where the moth is guaranteed to appear.

Triangle, Bernwood 21st June

Small Black Arches, Bernwood 21st June

On Wednesday 22nd we went to the chalk down-land at Grangelands near Princes Risborough, Bucks where the species total was getting on for 200 between our four lights, so another highly successful three-hour session.  Highlights there included two Lappet (one of them a very fat female), several Royal Mantle and a single Great Oak Beauty at one of the most northerly known sites for it in our area.

Lappet female, Grangelands 22nd June

Royal Mantle, Grangelands 22nd June

Great Oak Beauty, Grangelands 22nd June

Dave Wilton Westcott, Bucks