Surprise in Bernwood Forest

I ran a couple of MV lights on the eastern side of Bernwood Forest in Bucks last night, my first visit there this year.  There was one stand-out moth amongst more than 900 caught in the traps and that was the Red Sword-grass shown below:

Red Sword-grass, Bernwood 20th March

Red Sword-grass, Bernwood 20th March

Red Sword-grass is rarely seen in our region and past records have generally been considered as wanderers from the west country or Wales where it is resident.  However, its appearances locally do seem to have been on the increase over the past ten or so years.  I've had it twice in the garden at Westcott (2021 & 2023) and Richard Ellis had one a few days ago, albeit just over the border into Hertfordshire, after having had a couple at his previous abode in Chorleywood, Bucks.  Hopefully it is in the process of becoming established hereabouts because it is certainly an interesting looking moth!

As at Finemere Wood the previous week, Small Quaker (443) and Common Quaker (182) provided the highest counts at Bernwood, while the remainder of the macros comprised Yellow Horned (1), Frosted Green (5), Brindled Pug (35), Early Tooth-striped (7), March Moth (3), Small Brindled Beauty (1), Oak Beauty (40), Dotted Border (5), Engrailed (2), Chestnut (13), Pale Pinion (1), Pine Beauty (1), Clouded Drab (9), Blossom Underwing (32), Lead-coloured Drab (1), Hebrew Character (21), Twin-spotted Quaker (11) & Red Chestnut (56).  Just the one Yellow Horned presumably means that I've all but missed its flight season this year, while Frosted Green is just starting out.  It seems to me unusual to see both species together even though their flight seasons do supposedly overlap.   

Yellow Horned & Frosted Green, Bernwood 20th March

Early Tooth-striped, Bernwood 20th March

Pine Beauty, Bernwood 20th March

Micros were again a little bit disappointing with only four species putting in an appearance:  Diurnea fagella (40), Acleris ferrugana/notana (1), Tortricodes alternella (8) & Pammene splendidulana (1).  However, the last mentioned species is uncommon so that was a nice record even though it is already known from Bernwood (and Finemere for that matter).  Like Pammene giganteana, it is associated with oaks, flies early in the season and may be reluctant to come to light.  

Pammene splendidulana, Bernwood 20th March

 

Dave Wilton Westcott, Bucks