Ravensroost Annual Report 2021

White Admiral 29th July (RG) & Scarce Umber - first for Ravensroost, 24th November (Jacqui Cockram)

The Year in Ravensroost

Steve, Heather and Helen finishing off the scrub clearing behind the Badger Pond, 27th Oct

Jacqui's Individual Volunteer Contribution award 2021 presented on 22nd September

1. The Wednesday team

Our first session as a team managing the wood since 9th December 2020 was on 1st September - not a single session from our team happened in the first winter period due to Covid19, although two members - Steve Medcraft and Jon Beresford - helped the estates team finish the coppicing then. As usual scything of the main rides was the team's first task and it continued until 6th October thanks to Ken's scythes and a good attendance of team members keen to get back to work after so many months away. On 6th a dead hedge was created to replace the unsightly ribbon fronting the Island Pond. On 13th October the Newt Pond was cleared of one third of its surrounding scrub, and the pond itself was cleared of its annual accumulation of invasive Elodea. Jacqui organised the creation of a "halo" around the large Wild Service Tree in section F, and we also started coppicing this year's coupe in the southern half of section V! Coppicing continued to the end of the season on 15th December. Other tasks included clearing scrub round the back of the Badger Pond on 27th October. On 24th November Geoff and Ken's team began hedge-laying along the final section of the roadside hedge ending at the gate. This also continued to the season's end.

We managed 14 sessions during the second winter period with just one missed - 20th October due to an inclement weather forecast - unduly pessimistic as it turned out! Average attendance at sessions was 12.5, with a max of 16 -on both 1st and 8th December - and a min of 7 on 1st September, the first session of the year. This compares well with 2019, the last full autumn season, when there was an average attendance of 13.6. Total hours spent by the volunteers this season were 823.75. The figures for this season do not include the Trust staff who joined us on three sessions.

As always I am especially grateful to all the volunteers whose many and varied skills make the team the great success that it is: - joint team leaders Jacqui Cockram, Geoff Whittle and Ken Saunders, to first aiders Ken, Maurice Watkin, Jane Deacon, Trevor Simmonds, Steve Davies and Steve Medcraft - and to chain sawyers Trevor and Maurice Watkin, I expect there'll be some chain sawing coming up in 2022! Also to everyone who attended sessions during the year - Helen Strike, John Durell, Kevan Wind, Maurice Chandler, Vanessa Goodall, Heather Berry, Jon Beresford and Val MacAuley. Welcome to Andy Cox, Andy Shellard and Conrad Young who joined us as new recruits. Rosie Wilson and five of her team joined us on 3rd November and two of them - Jesper and Sean - returned to work with us for a couple more sessions. In addition Rosie's team carried out some conservation tasks organised by Michael New and cut some subsidiary rides.

Other activities: Winter bird surveys were carried out on 2nd March and 4th December, also the breeding bird survey accompanied the annual butterfly transect visits after missing last year. This year there were 12 breeding survey visits between 2nd April and 23rd June. The butterfly transect continued until 23rd September. There were 10 mothing sessions during the year, approximately one per month from the end of March to the middle of December. As in previous years. Jacqui Cockram visited regularly throughout the year to monitor and manage Wild Service Trees, orchids and fungi.

Marsh Tit feeding on Wild Service Tree berries during the early winter bird survey, 4th December (Dave Gilbert)

Birds

For the breeding bird survey results see section following the (wierdly changed!) classified list.

LWBS - Late Winter Bird Survey, 2nd March. EWBS - Early Winter Bird Survey, 4th Dec. A = all records are given

Pheasant 3, EWBS

Mallard 1, LWBS

Teal 1, EWBS, flushed from the meadow pond, exactly the same as last year! Though that was the first since one was flushed from the Island Pond on 28th December 2013. A

Stock Dove 2, EWBS

Wood Pigeon 4, LWBS. 2, EWBS

Cuckoo 1, 16th May (Trevor Crompton), 1, 28th May A

Moorhen 1, meadow pond 10th May A

Barn Owl Flying over meadow, 28th Jan (VM), 1, Avis Meadow 11th Aug. (RG)

Sparrowhawk 2, EWBS both male (they may have been two sightings of the same bird)

Red Kite 2, 15th Feb. (Trevor Crompton), 1, 29th Jun. A

Green Woodpecker 1, LWBS, 1,EWBS

Great Spotted Woodpecker 4, LWBS, 3, EWBS including one drumming - the first I've ever heard in December

Jay 3, EWBS

Jackdaw 3, LWBS, 7, EWBS

Raven 1, 6th Apr., & 12th Nov.

Crow 4, LWBS, 3, EWBS

Coal Tit 3, LWBS, 1, EWBS

Marsh Tit 2, LWBS, 1, singing along the by-way between Ravensroost Wood and Minety, 19th Mar., family, 2nd July, 1 in full song, 10th Nov. - the first I've ever heard outside the period Feb - June! 5, EWBS including one feeding on Wild Service berries.

Blue Tit 22, LWBS, 7 EWBS

Great Tit 14, LWBS, 3, EWBS including one in song

Swallow 2 flying S., 4th Oct.

Willow Warbler 2, 6th Apr., the first for the year.

Long-tailed Tit 1, by Meadow Pond, 20th Apr., 8, EWBS

Lesser Whitethroat 1, meadow, 26th Apr. , also 10th May, 9th Jun, ad + juv 23rd Jun. A

Common Whitethroat 1, meadow, 20th Apr., the first for the year.

Treecreeper 1, EWBS

Nuthatch 7, LWBS, 3, EWBS

Wren 7, LWBS, 6, EWBS

Mistle Thrush 1, LWBS

Song Thrush 2, LWBS, 1, EWBS

Redwing 38, LWBS, c50, 8th Nov., c200, 12th Nov., 23, EWBS

Blackbird 13, LWBS, 13, EWBS

Fieldfare 100, 8th Nov., c25, 12th Nov., 5, EWBS

Spotted Flycatcher 2, 8th June and subsequently, feeding young at nest (Chris Snook), 1, 16th Aug. A

Robin 12, LWBS, 4, EWBS

Goldcrest 1, EWBS

Meadow Pipit 2, 8th Nov., c20, 12th Nov. A

Chaffinch 3, LWBS, 8, EWBS

(Lesser) Redpoll 2, LWBS, 6, 23rd Oct., c20, 28th Oct., 2+, 8th Nov., c5, 10th/12th Nov., 1st Dec. (one in song), 2, EWBS A

Goldfinch 1, LWBS, 13, EWBS

Siskin 1, 19th Mar., 2, 6th Apr., 2+ 8th Nov., c5 10th /12thNov., c2 1st Dec., 2, EWBS A

Reed Bunting 1, meadow pond, 26th Apr., 10th May, 15th/23rd Jun. A

Ravensroost breeding bird survey 2021

I have analysed the bird surveys and produced estimates of territories - the area is not the whole of the wood, just the area walked through during the butterfly transect walk. This is the same as every year since 2011, apart from 2020 when of course the reserve couldn't be visited in April or the first half of May when most resident birds are at their most obvious. As usual there were twelve weekly surveys from April until midsummer.

Breeding survey results - estimated number of territories (2019 estimate in brackets):

Robin 13 (10), BLUE TIT 11 (9), Wren 9 (9), Chiffchaff 8 (8), Blackcap 8 (8), Blackbird 8 (9), Great Tit 5 (5), Nuthatch 3 (3), Coal Tit 3 (3), Willow Warbler 3 (3), Song Thrush 3 (3), Wood Pigeon 3 (4), Chaffinch 3 (4), Garden Warbler 3 (4), Marsh Tit 2 (2), Great Spotted Woodpecker 2 (3) - includes occupied nest, north of site, Carrion Crow 2 (2), Mistle Thrush 2 (1), BUZZARD 2 (1), Jay 2 (2), Pheasant 1 (2), Green Woodpecker 1 ( P), Sparrowhawk 1 (P), Bullfinch 1 (1), Dunnock 1 (1).

Underlined means increase over recent years, capitals means increase over most or all previous years. Italics means decrease from recent years, no sign means no significant change. "P" means birds present and breeding possible but territory not established.

The big winner here would seem to be Blue Tits with more estimated territories than in any of the previous 9 surveys - however very few juveniles were seen (actually only one definite!) so the season would appear to have been poor. Really pleased about Willow Warblers - they seem to have had a good year everywhere.

These birds were recorded but no territories were established apparently. The three underlined had not been recorded on the survey before.: Goldcrest (1), Goldfinch (1), Stock Dove (-), Jackdaw (1), Long-tailed Tit (1), Treecreeper (P), Common Whitethroat (-), Raven (P), Red Kite (-).

Cuckoos were heard this year on occasion but not on survey visits. A report of a breeding pair of Spotted Flycatchers away from the survey area is great news - thanks to Chris Snook. Tawny Owls are always present but not recorded in the survey this year.

Silver-washed Fritillary 8th July & Brown Hairstreak 12th Aug.

Butterflies

Ravensroost Transect 2021

Although 2021 was mainly a disappointing year everywhere for butterflies, for various reasons including the poor spring weather, in Ravensroost they seem to have done much better – especially attractive woodland species such as the colourful Orange Tip and gorgeous White Admiral. The latter is especially gratifying as it has been struggling to keep up its numbers in recent years. This year’s result was the best for seven years – for no known reason, although we have a policy of preserving Honeysuckle plants where possible when coppicing.

No Brown or White-letter Hairstreaks were seen during transect visits this year, but although this suggested they were doing poorly, the number of sightings of Brown Hairstreaks off the transect by our team and other observers - and the record egg search results in the autumn - suggests otherwise for that species. However only one White-letter Hairstreak was seen to my knowledge so maybe that species is doing poorly at the moment. Also recorded was the first ever Small Blue for Ravensroost - a lost vagrant surely - there is no Kidney Vetch here!

For long-term trends see below.

Underlining indicates a UK or Wilts BAP Species.

Large Skipper From 17/6 – 29/7, max 4, 17/6 & 29/7, IoA 17

Brimstone From 15/4 – 23/9.max 9, 22/7, IoA 36 Also 6, 24th Mar. (MW), 1, 17th Nov. Large White From 22/4 – 9/9, max 3, 29/7, IoA 8 Small White From 15/4 – 9/9, max 7, 2/9, IoA 22 Green-veined White From 8/4 – 16/9, max 11, 29/7, IoA 79 Orange Tip From 8/4 – 20/5, max 19, 22/4, IoA 64 – despite the lack of spring visits in 2020, almost entirely deleting this species from the transect results, this year’s increase seems genuine and significant (Brown Hairstreak None on the transect, though individuals on 6^th and 12^th August and again on 24^th September, were just yards away from it. Also 3, 3rd Aug., same area (Darren Tonge), 3, 9th Aug.(Bob Philpott) 1, 11th Aug. (Doug & Judy Helsby). Two egg searches in November 2021 produced a total of 244 eggs, compared to only 76 last year, this year's tally being the highest number ever found at Ravensroost!) Purple Hairstreak From 8/7 – 19/8, max 2, 8/7,15/7 & 29/7, IoA 8 Also max 10, 3rd Aug. picnic bench area (Darren Tonge, Bob Philpott) (White-letter Hairstreak None on the transect again, just a single at the eastern edge of the wood on 4^th August (John Durell). I know of no other reports.) (Small Copper 1, 17th July (JaneD), 1, 3rd Aug. (Bob Philpott) - never recorded on a transect visit!) Common Blue From 5/8 – 12/8, max 4, 12/8, IoA 7 – these were all in the same place at the edge of last year’s coppice coupe, and I’m pretty sure they wouldn’t have been there otherwise. Holly Blue From 13/5 – 19/8, max 3, 19/8, IoA 6 (Small Blue 1, 11th Aug. (Doug & Judy Helsby) - the first ever at Ravensroost - where is the food plant?) White Admiral From 1/7 – 5/8, max 15, 15/7, IoA 46 – the best showing since 2014 when the IoA was 54! By contrast the result for this species in nearby Somerford Common was quite poor this year, inexplicably. Red Admiral From 1/7 – 16/9, max 2, 29/7 & 19/8, IoA 10 (Painted Lady None this year on transect, but one on 30th May when conditions were considered not suitable for a transect - it was the only butterfly seen Small Tortoiseshell A single on 17/6, IoA 1 Also 1, Meadow Pond 20th Apr., 1, wood, 3rd Aug. (Bob Philpott) Peacock From 1/4 - 19/8, max 8, 1/4, IoA 35 Comma From 1/4 – 23/9, max 9, 29/7, IoA 44 – a much better year than we thought with individuals scattered through the season. Also 4, 24th Mar. (MW) Silver-washed Fritillary From 8/7 to 26/8, max 34, 15/7, IoA 100 – no valesina females were reported from Ravensroost this year. Speckled Wood From 22/4 – 23/9, max 35, 19/8, IoA 203 – as with Comma, a better year than it felt, in this case because of a strong third brood. Marbled White A single on 15/7, IoA 1 Gatekeeper From 15/7 – 26/8, max 13, 5/8, IoA 47 Meadow Brown From 10/6 – 26/8, max 41, 29/7, IoA 187 – an amazing reduction in this abundant species, as elsewhere Ringlet From 24/6 – 12/8, max 46, 15/7, IoA 118

Ringlet (Jacqui Cockram)

Butterfly transect long term trends

The fortunes of each species over the last 8 years is covered below (with some entries for earlier years.)

- Essex Skipper One transect occurrence in 2015. Previous to that, singles in the meadows in 2013 and 2014 but no reports on or off transect since 2015.

- Small Skipper Indices of abundance (IoA) 2014-2021: 17, 11, 1, 0, 2, 2, 1, 0 Average 2014-2017: 7.25, Ave. 2018-2021: 1.25 - very rare after 2015.

+ Large Skipper IoA: 28, 11, 15, 11, 15, 19, 31, 17 Ave. 2014-17: 16.25, Ave. 2018-21: 20.5 - as elsewhere with this species, a fairly consistent story.

- Brimstone IoA: 65, 69, 100, 57, 61, 42, 25, 34 Ave. 2014-17: 72.75. Ave. 2018-21: 40.5 NB. This species would have been under-counted to an unknown extent in 2020. However IoAs for 2019 and 2021 show there has been a real decline.

+ Large White IoA: 7, 29, 28, 14, 97, 26, 21, 6 Ave. 2014-17: 19.5. Ave 2018-21: 37.5 - A migrant so numbers likely to fluctuate naturally.

+ Small White IoA: Not separated from Green-veined White till 2016: 25, 9, 43, 12, 53, 22 Ave. 2016-17: 17, Ave. 2018-21: 32.5. These figures probably represent a genuine increase as few were identified previous to 2016.

+? Green-veined White IoA: Same comment as for Small White. 55, 66, 120, 42, 73, 65 Ave. 2016-17: 60.5, Ave 2018-21: 75 Despite apparent increase, helped by good result in 2018, the trend is doubtful in this species partly because of its similarity to Small White especially in flight.

+ Orange Tip IoA: 19, 24, 32, 39, 27, 41, 1, 45 Ave. 2014-17: 28.5 Ave. 2018-21: 28.5 - In fact the trend is upwards as effectively the transect didn't happen for this species in 2020!

+ Brown Hairstreak IoA: 0, 1, 2, 0, 1, 0, 2, 0 In my opinion no conclusions can be drawn from transect results, or from the number of adult sightings off transect (usually around 6 to 10 each year) of this notoriously elusive species, but egg search results are more relevant: 73, 79, 15, 191, 213, 69, 76, 244 Ave. 2014-17: 89.5 Ave. 2018-21: 150.5. No explanation can be given for the outstandingly poor egg search result in 2016 which skews the figures - but I still feel the trend is slightly upwards.

+ Purple Hairstreak IoA: 1, 7, 2, 25, 60, 18, 13, 8 Ave: 2014-17: 8.75 Ave 2018-21: 24.75 - the IoA in 2018, when many were seen low down, unusually for this species, accentuates the trend, though it is still probably upward in the long term.

+? White-letter Hairstreak IoA: 0, 1, 0, 0, 5, 2, 0, 0 Apart from the transect figures, over the longer term no adults were seen at Ravensroost (at least for a long time) until one was seen in 2011. Since then there were none till 2015 when there were two sightings (one on the transect), a single in 2016 off transect, 5 or 6 off transect in 2017, five on transect and about 9 off transect in 2018, two on transect in 2019 and 6 off transect, about 4 or 5 off transect in 2020, then just the one I know of off transect for 2021. Whether the increase over the period represents a genuine increase or just greater observer effort it is impossible to know.

? Brown Argus Just the one occurrence on the transect in 2018. Otherwise one in the meadows in 2014, the first for four years, the transect record and another in the meadows in 2018, when the species occurred in very large numbers all over the place, finally several in the meadows in 2020. These are all I know of.

+? Common Blue IoA: 4, 2, 0, 8, 9, 2, 0, 7 Ave. 2014-17: 3.5 Ave 2018-21: 4.5 - there are indications that it can make an appearance in newly coppiced areas, doubtless recruited from the meadows.

+ Holly Blue IoA: 2, 6, 4, 6, 7, 7, 5, 5 Ave 2014-7: 4.5 Ave 2018-21: 6 - really surprisingly scarce here, considering the amount of foodplants, both Holly and Ivy, in the wood. But it is not easy to monitor by transecting.

- White Admiral IoA: 54, 32, 15, 22, 23, 19, 24, 46 Ave 2014-17: 30.75 Ave 2018-21: 28 - hopefully 2021 result is more than just a blip!

- Red Admiral IoA 8, 4, 8, 26, 4, 11, 14, 10 Ave 2014-17: 11.5 Ave 2018-21: 9.75 - typical random results for a migrant species.

+ Painted Lady IoA 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 3, 0, 0 Ave 2014 - `17: 0.25 Ave 2018-21: 0.75 - " "

- Small Tortoiseshell IoA 2, 5, 0, 1, 2, 0, 1, 1 Ave 2014-17: 2 Ave 2018-21: 1 - not a suitable site for this species though seen sometimes in the meadows (and car park!)

- Peacock IoA 129, 75, 28, 15, 18, 50, 38, 33 Ave 2014-17: 61.75 Ave 2018-21: 34.75 - Even though the result for 2020 is doubtless falsely low due to the late start to the season the trend would still seem to be downwards.

-? Comma IoA 27, 37, 29, 39, 25, 25, 23, 43 Ave 2014-17: 33 Ave 2018-21: 29 - Probably no change in this species as some will almost certainly have been missed in Spring 2020.

- Silver-washed Fritillary IoA 153, 126, 90, 127, 142, 140, 92, 100 Ave 2014-17: 124 Ave 2018-21: 118.5 - numbers holding up well for this woodland specialist

(Pearl-bordered Fritillary Only seen once on the transect, back in 2011, doubtless a vagrant from the then-flourishing colony at Hailey Wood, 10 km north.)

(Marsh Fritillary One in the meadow on 22^nd May 2020 was the first here for many years - at the time Marsh Fritillaries were turning up in both likely and unlikely places far from their normal haunts.. The new WWT reserve at Upper Minety Meadows and the more widespread management of reserves in the Forest for this species provides hope there will soon be more records!)

+ Speckled Wood IoA 159, 134, 226, 238, 228, 178, 150, 201 Ave 2014-17: 189.25 Ave 2018-21: 189.25 - although amazingly the average for both periods is identical(!) in fact there will have been a small increase as the 2020 season did not start till after the first brood had appeared.

+ Marbled White IoA 0, 2, 0, 2, 3, 3, 1, 1 Ave 2014-17: 1 Ave 2018-21: 2 - probably vagrants from the meadows where there are a lot, although it is possible they may breed along the rides in the wood in tiny numbers.

+ Gatekeeper IoA 41, 43, 20, 32, 33, 77, 50, 47 Ave 2014-17: 34 Ave 2018-21: 51.75 - hard to know whether this is a long term increase or just a long term cycle and numbers will revert to a lower average again.

- Meadow Brown IoA 342, 360, 239, 970, 370, 478, 689, 187 Ave: 2014-17: 477.75 Ave 2018-21: 431 - amazing fluctuations in this species, but it is so common normally that they would not be noticed without the transect survey

+ Ringlet IoA 86, 89, 72, 253, 200, 188, 172, 118 Ave 2014-17: 125 Ave 2018-21: 169.5 - maybe a genuine increase for this species

In addition- Small Copper is present in the meadows but never actually recorded on the transect. Also the occasional Clouded Yellow in the meadows, and a single Wall Brown in the meadow in 2018 and a vagrant (from where?) Small Blue reported there this year.

Purple Hairstreak, 17th July

Three moths new to Ravensroost: Gold Spot (15th July), Metalampra italica (5th Sept.) and Beautiful China-mark (17th June)

Moths

16 new species of moth for the reserve were recorded at Ravensroost in 2021 (underlined in the list below) - down from the remarkable 43 new species in 2020. This may have been partly due to the fact there were 3 fewer trapping sessions than last year. Rather few new macros were recorded - only 5 - and this number is likely to be the norm from now on as we gradually catch up with the common species previously overlooked (or ignored?) by earlier moth-ers. Some other important species are listed below, and also some day-flying species ("DF"), but the vast majority of moths seen are not listed, a full species list together with first dates of recording can be seen at Ravensroost Wood - Lepidoptera (google.com)

7.001 Nemophora degeerella 1, 15th Jun. "DF"

7.006 Adela reaumurella 4, 26th May "DF"

7.012 Nematopogon schwarziellus (27/05/21) - a dead leaf feeder

16.002/3 Orchard,Apple or Spindle Ermine (11/8/21) - one of these three species - only doubtfully identified visually - all of them have gregarious larvae that sometimes swarm over bushes for many metres!

17.006 Ypsolopha horridella (11/8/21) - a local moth that feeds on rubus species.

28.008 Metalampra italica (5/9/21) - a new colonist only found in the UK in the last 18 years - has spread rapidly and now found widely in southern England. Otherwise only known from Italy! Feeds on trees below the bark.

32.002 Semioscopis steinkellneriana (30/3/21) - another local species feeding on rubus species.

32.009 Agonopterix purpurea (5/9/21) - a local species that feeds on umbellifers

49.083/4 Acleris ferrugana/notana - two species can't be separated visually (30/3/2021) - former feeds on oaks, latter on birches. Another was seen in the day, 4th December.

49.240 Epinotia immundana (5/9/21) - feeds on alders and birches

49.260 Zeiraphera isertana (11/8/21) - feeds on oaks

54.002 The Forester 2, in meadow, 9th June "DF"

63.102 Catoptria falsella (5/9/21) - feeds on mosses

63.118 Beautiful China-mark Nymphula nitidulata (17/06/21) - a local aquatic species that feeds on bur-reed and water lilies below the water surface. Probably came from the Badger Pond.

65.001 Scalloped Hook-tip 2, 11th Aug. the first here since 2017, so very welcome

65.008 Peach Blossom 1, 17th June, 3, 15th July

65.014 Oak Lutestring c50(!) 5th Sept. - astonishing numbers - a nationally endangered species that is on a rapid decline and shrinking range (by 53% in 20 years). Probably Ravensroost's most important invertebrate from the conservation point of view.

65.015 Frosted Green 8 trapped on 30th March, 2 on 2nd May - a near-threatened species nationally so another important moth here

65.016 Yellow Horned 1 on 30th March

66.001 December Moth c30 or more, 12th December - easily the most recorded here ever.

70.031 Mocha 11th Aug. - a formerly declining species that is now apparently increasing again.

70.036 Maiden's Blush 1, 23rd June during daytime transect visit

70.104 Devon Carpet 11th Aug. - good to see this spreading species is still present at the reserve. Now known also from Somerford Common but not elsewhere in north Wilts as far as I know. Rapidly spreading and increasing from its former west country stronghold.

70.106 Winter Moth Hundreds of this abundant species seen on 12th December, mainly males swarming around Oaks where a few females were pumping out pheromones. A vital species for the well-being of the Tit family, providing hordes of caterpillars when they need them for their newly hatched chicks. See Jacqui's photo below.

70.159 Cypress Pug Eupithecia phoeniceata (5/9/21) - feeds on non-native cypresses and has been present in UK for about 60 years. Not known why it occurred here as we don't have any non-native cypresses!

70.160 White-spotted Pug 11th Aug.- good to see this species again as it is rapidly declining - by 71% in the last 35 years. Only seen once before here, in 2017. Interestingly complex lifestyle as the spring generation feed on Elder flowers, the late summer generation on a wide variety of herbaceous plants including umbellifers and ragworts. Nationally near-threatened.

70.203 Orange Underwing 1 on 2nd & 26th April. Still no confirmation that the rarer Light Orange Underwing, an Aspen feeder, occurs, despite several suspected sightings over the years. Both are day-flying moths, liking warm sunny spring days. "DF"

70.230 Orange Moth 1, 17th June - we need to find this local species every year as it is almost entirely known from only here and Somerford Common in the north, or indeed anywhere, in the county. Nationally its distribution has shrunk rapidly - by 77% just in the last 30 years.

70.231 Lilac Beauty 15th July - another rapidly declining species - by 76% in 50 years nationally

70.24 Scalloped Hazel 1, 17th June

70.254 Scarce Umber Agriopis aurantiairia (17/11/21) - joined the coppicing team and luckily got photographed and identified by Jacqui so it was confirmed as the first for the reserve! Another was trapped on 12th Dec. Rapidly declining nationally - by 76% in abundance and 37% in distribution.

70.268 Pale Oak Beauty, 2, 17th June - the second year running for this local species on the NW edge of its range here.

70.273 Brindled White Spot, 2, 17th June - another species for which Ravensroost seems to be a local stronghold. Distribution nationally patchy and shrinking.

70.300 Blotched Emerald 1, 17th June - good to see again - yet another declining oakwood species - declining by 69% nationally

71.003 Puss Moth Cerura vinula (2/5/21) - surprisingly a first for the reserve, a beautiful species associated with willows, aspen and poplars.

71.009 Lobster Moth 7, 17th June - a woodland species that also occurs in gardens in small numbers, it is only likely in this quantity in old established woodland. Nationally has increased its range by 27% in 50 years.

71.016 Great Prominent 1 on 2nd May - yet another declining woodland species - by 50% in distribution in 50 years.

72.061 Pinion-streaked Snout Schrankia costaestrigalis (3/10/21) - surprisingly the first for here - it is regularly trapped at Somerford Common. Apparently its foodplant is unknown! Rapidly increasing, by 493% in distribution in 50 years.

72.063 Blackneck, 15th July - a near-threatened species nationally, its abundance having declined by 91% in 50 years.

72.083 Burnet Companion 1, meadow, 23rd June "DF"

72.084 Mother Shipton 1, meadows, 23rd June "DF"

73.022 Gold Spot Plusia festucae (15/7/21) - a surprise that this beautiful noctuid hasn't been seen before here - it seems to need woodland rides so perhaps our increased scything has helped. Distribution expanding - by 27% nationally in 50 years.

73.033 Figure of 8 3, 3rd Oct., 6, 27th Oct. - another Ravensroost speciality, a nationally endangered species that has declined in abundance by 56% in 20 years and by 70% in distribution in 50.

73.04 Miller 5th September - an exceptionally late date, normally not seen after early August. Distribution has increased by 130% in 50 years.

73.065 Sprawler 27th Oct. A nationally vulnerable species that has declined by 85% in abundance and 34% in distribution in 50 years.

73.220 Minor Shoulder-knot 17th July - another near-threatened species that has declined in abundance by 54% in 20 years and 43% in distribution in 50.

73.246 Lead-coloured Drab 2 on 30th March. A local moth that has declined by 78% in distribution nationally.

73.253 Feathered Gothic 10, 5th Sept. - unusual numbers. Another declining species by 40% in abundance in just 20 years and by 37% in distribution in 50.

73.332 Purple Clay 15th July - has declined in abundance by 38% in 50 years.

74.008 Green Silver-lines 1, 27th May - has increased nationally by 48% in abundance and by 52% in distribution in 50 years.

Below - Lackey larva (26th May) & Scalloped Hook-tip (11th August)

Above: Puss Moth, 2nd May & mating Winter Moths, 12th December (both by Jacqui Cockram)

Below, from left: Orange Moth (17th June) , Figures of 8 (27th Oct.), Oak Lutestring (5th Sept.), & Shoulder Stripe (30th March.)

Beautiful Demoiselle, 15th June (RG) and Black-tailed Skimmer, 1st July ( Jacqui Cockram)

Below: Violet Helleborine in its protector & Wild Service Tree, 13th August (both by Jacqui Cockram)