Numbers on the rise in woodland

Last night I spent the three hours from dusk at Finemere Wood, Bucks, my first away trapping anywhere since December.  This wasn't in the hope of getting anything exciting but mainly to check that the equipment (generators in particular) was working satisfactorily prior to the season ahead.  Well over 1,000 moths of 22 species came to the two MV traps and, much as expected, Small Quaker (354) and Common Quaker (524) were the most numerous, followed by Oak Beauty (54) as the next in line.  The other macro-moths seen were March Moth (12), Shoulder Stripe (1), Water Carpet (2), Brindled Pug (3), Early Thorn (2), Pale Brindled Beauty (1), Small Brindled Beauty (17), Engrailed (1), Early Grey (1), Chestnut (20), Satellite (1), Clouded Drab (23), Lead-coloured Drab (20), Twin-spotted Quaker (7), Hebrew Character (32) & Red Chestnut (33).  The lack of Spring Usher came as no real surprise as it started so early this year and must be over by now, but it seemed odd not to get a single Yellow Horned because they've started to appear elsewhere in oak woodland.  Apart from Diurnea fagella (28) the micros were in very short supply, the only others to turn up being Tortricodes alternella (3, like Spring Usher presumably almost over by now) & Acleris ferrugana/notana (1).

Water Carpet, Finemere Wood 13th March

Brindled Pug, Finemere Wood 13th March

Dave Wilton Westcott, Bucks