Ravensroost Annual Report 2022

Above: Grove of Wild Cherry trees at Ravensroost, 7th Dec. & work in section P, 2nd Feb (both RG)

THE YEAR IN RAVENSROOST

THE WEDNESDAY TEAM

Completing the hedge laying along Pink Lane, 12th January (Kevan Wind)

(Some of) the team - Vanessa, Heather, Trevor, John, Jon, Geoff, Robin, Steve Davies, Maurice Watkins and Helen - Lower Moor Farm, 21st Dec. (Jacqui Cockram)

The first winter period of 2022 started on 5th January with the continuation of coppicing this winter's larger than average coupe in section V south, while a smaller team continued hedge-laying along Pink Lane. On that day a bonus was the sight for the hedge-layers of a Barn Owl quartering Raven's Retreat at the end of the day's work. By the 19th Jan. the hedge-laying was completed - the whole hedge from the car park to the end of Raven's Retreat is now complete. In addition the ditch by the hedge was cleared. On 26th Jan. we all concentrated on the coppicing. The following week, 2nd Feb. the hedgelayers turned their attention to the hedge and entrance adjacent to the new pond in section P beside the bridleway - and also began a dead hedge surrounding the pond itself to deter dogs and their owners from accessing the pond (see photo above right). One of the first signs of spring - singing Marsh Tits - were heard that day and a Pale Brindled Beauty was seen. All this time the coppicing continued and it was finally complete on 9th Feb. The following week we all concentrated on the new pond and adjacent bridleway hedge - we completed the dead hedge, cleared the scrub and removed the floating logs from the pond. Geoff's team started hedgelaying along the edge of the wood in section P where they had left off last season, and the rest of us did hedge repairs along the bridleway. All of this was done before lunch - we finished then due to the threatening high wind. These tasks continued the following week, 23rd Feb. The session on 2nd March was cancelled due to continuous rain. On 9th March bridleway repairs continued, and the hedgelayers turned their attention to the boundary hedge between the reserve and the new "paddock" at the south east corner of the reserve (all completed on 23rd March.) The fence at the entrance of Raven's Retreat was repaired on 16th-23rd March - we all finished on 16th at 11.30 due to heavy rain. On 23rd we cleared brambles around the meadow pond and continued bridleway hedge repairs. Our last day 30th March was a walk around the reserve to give team members the opportunity to make suggestions for future management - which they did! We ended the season with lunch at the Dragonfly Cafe and a walk around Lower Moor Farm.

In all we did 12 sessions in the Jan - Mar period. The attendance averaged 14.2 volunteers per session not including staff, with a max of 17 on 16th Feb. and a min of 7 on 16th March when we worked in continuous rain for a couple of hours! This compares with an average attendance in Jan - Mar 2020 of 15.5 (there was no Jan - Mar season in 2021 due to the lockdown.) Total volunteer hours this period was 716.

On Friday 27th May Ravensroost was awarded Queen's Platinum Jubilee Wood status - one of 70 in the UK. The Lord Lieutenant, Deputy Lord Lieutenant and High Sherriff of Wiltshire all attended with Gary Mantle and team members.

In the second period we started ride scything on 7th Sept. ending at lunchtime due to rain. On 14th scything continued including in the bund between Pink Lane and the car park - much rubbish was disposed of! On the next four Wednesdays the scything continued until the main ride was completed on 12th October. The next week we turned our attention to the Newt Pond - the usual one third of scrub surrounding the pond was cleared apart for a couple of plants containing, respectively, a Brown Hairstreak egg and a Blue-bordered Carpet egg. Also we started clearing elodea weed from the pond - a task completed on 26th Oct,, when the rest of the team started coppicing the northern part of Section X, using material cut here to create a dead hedge in front of the Badger Pond in section U2. A tape was put into the coppice dividing this year's coupe from next's, and also between our section and the Well-being team's. All five sessions in November were devoted to the coppicing, and on 30th we also planted a couple of Wild Service Trees beside the hedge dividing Ravens Retreat and Curlew Meadow. Coppicing continued on 7th and 14th December, in the latter case the session ended at lunchtime due to the extreme cold - though 10 stalwarts had turned up ! Finally on 21st December some of the team coppiced for a couple of hours while some others went for a walk through the wood and made some exciting discoveries - a "new" very large Wild Service Tree and some interesting fungi. Then we finished up at The Dragonfly Cafe for lunch, followed by a walk for some which featured the sight of two Otters.

In all we did 16 sessions in the Sep. - Dec. period with no missed weeks. The attendance averaged 11 volunteers per session not including staff, with a max of 13 on 16th Nov. and 7th Dec. and a min of 9 on 14th Sept. and 5th Oct. This compares with an average attendance in Sep - Dec 2021 of 12.5. Total volunteer hours this period was 748 compared to 873.75 last autumn. (NB. The volunteers hours do not presently agree with the total recorded on TeamKinetic as some members are not yet registered on that system.)

As always I am exceedingly grateful to the loyal, enthusiastic and skilful members of the team. Working this year were: joint team leaders Jacqui Cockram, Geoff Whittle and Ken Saunders, first aiders Ken, Maurice Watkins, Jane Deacon, Trevor Simmonds, Steve Davies, Steve Medcraft and Jon Beresford - and to chain sawyers Trevor and Maurice Watkins, the latter two helping the Estates Team in the 25 year rotation area on several occasions. Other hard workers were Heather Berry, Maurice Chandler, Andy Cox, John Durell, Vanessa Goodall, Iain Le Duc, Val McAuley, Andy Shellard, Helen Strike, Kevan Wind, Conrad Young, Emily Best and Harrison Watkins.

WILDLIFE SURVEYS

The usual surveys - two winter bird counts, breeding bird territory survey, butterfly transect, Brown Hairstreak egg searches and regular mothing - ten sessions between 2nd Feb. and 27th Oct. - Jacqui's Wild Service Tree, orchid and fungi surveys and Simon's bird-ringing sessions were carried on in 2022. Results of these are to be seen below. I would be very grateful for results of any other surveys that have taken place on the reserve, so they can be included here - because as far as I know this is the only source combining all wildlife recording in the Ravensroost reserve.

Observers: Jane Deacon (JaneD), John Durell (JohnD), Dave Gilbert, Graham Goodfellow, Jon Mercer, Chris Norwood, Richard Novak, Nick Self, Peter Sketch, Helen Strike (HelenS), Maurice Watkins, Geoff Whittle, Rosie Wilson, Kevan Wind No initials - RG

BIRDS

Classified list followed by breeding bird survey and Simon Tucker's Ringing Report

Spotted Flycatchers, 9th July (Dave Gilbert) & 1st Aug. (RG)

It was a surprisingly good year for birds in Ravensroost with the first ever Green Sandpiper and Merlin, the first Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers since 2016, more obvious Spotted Flycatchers than usual, the discovery of a sizable Snipe flock in March, and an estimated 4 territories of Willow Warblers in the wood. On the downside, Cuckoos went almost un-reported this year. See also breeding bird survey and ringing report below.

LWBC - Late Winter Bird Count, 4th March. EWBC - Early Winter Bird Count, 10th Dec. (divided between wood and meadows) A = all records are given

Pheasant Resident 4, LWBC

Cuckoo Summer visitor, sometimes breeds. Only 2 reports: 1, 18th Apr. (RN) 1, 8th/9th May. Calling till darkness fell, 8th May. Poor year. A

Wood Pigeon Resident. 2, LWBC, 4, wood, EWBC

Lapwing Rare over wood usually escaping cold weather. Bred annually, or tried to (in "Lapwing Meadow") till 2015, not since. 17, over wood to SW in cold weather 10th Dec. c50 in field bordering wood to the north, 16th Dec. (MW) A.

Common Snipe Winter & passage visitor. 13 flushed from Lapwing Meadow during Marsh Fritillary habitat survey, the most ever recorded at Ravensroost, 14th Mar., 2, meadow ponds, 18th Sept. (KW) A.

Woodcock Scarce but regular winter visitor. 1, 17th Jan, over car park at 5.15pm (JM), a probable, LWBS. In autumn, singles flushed, 25th/30th Nov. (RW,RG), singles flushed, 15th/16th Dec. (NS,MW) A.

Green Sandpiper Scarce visitor. 1 heard calling loudly over the wood on the evening of 20th Aug. during a mothing session. The first for Ravensroost. A.

Red Kite Resident. 1, LWBC, 1, 14th/30th Mar., 2, 21st Apr., 2, 16th July A. A.

Buzzard Resident. 1, LWBC

Barn Owl Resident. 1, 5th Jan. see above, The Wednesday team, 1, 20th Jun. (JM) A

Tawny Owl Resident, calling frequently at night. Calling at midday, 9th Mar.,7th Sept. (RG,GW,HelenS)

Great Spotted Woodpecker Resident. 4, LWBS

Lesser Spotted Woodpecker Rare resident(?), formerly scarce breeder but much decreased now. 1, 18th Jan. (ST), a probable, 1st May (NP) These are the first reports since February 2016, suggesting Ravensroost is perhaps once again part of a local pair's huge territory! (There have also been reports of the species in nearby Somerford Common in summer 2020 and 2021) A

Merlin Scarce winter visitor. One over the wood to the SE, 19th Oct. - the first ever here. A

Jay Resident. 1, LWBC, 1, wood, EWBC

Magpie Resident. 1, wood, EWBC

Jackdaw Resident. 3+.LWBC, 4, wood, EWBC

Crow Resident. 3, LWBC, 7, wood, 1, meadow EWBC

Raven Scarce resident. 17th Jan (JM) 1, 16th/17th July (RG,JohnD,JM) 1, 1st Aug. A

Coal Tit Resident. 1, LWBC

Marsh Tit Nationally decreasing resident, the subject of a long term colour-ringing project by Simon Tucker. Singing, 23rd Feb., 3, singing, LWBC, singing, 9th Mar., 11th Apr., 1, 15th Apr. (RG),was ringed - ACJ5804, ringed in Ravensroost on the 12th November 2019 - and not seen between the two dates. (ST) Singing, 2nd June, 3, 16th July, 3, 1st Aug., 1, wood, EWBC

Blue Tit Resident. 25, LWBC, a great number! By contrast - 1,wood, 1, meadow EWBC

Great Tit Resident. 5, LWBC, 3, wood, 1, meadows EWBC

Swallow Summer visitor especially to the meadow ponds for food and drink. First for the year, 1, 21st Apr.

Long-tailed Tit Resident. Forms flocks from late summer to late winter which are the focus for other small birds too. 1, LWBC, 4+, wood, EWBC, 12, 21st Dec.

Willow Warbler Summer resident. First for the year, 1, 5th Apr., c10, 21st Apr.

Chiffchaff Summer resident, also very rare winter visitor. First for the year 1, singing, 9th March, 3, 14th Mar.

Blackcap Summer resident and rare winter visitor. First for the year, 7, 5th Apr.

Garden Warbler Summer resident. First for year, 2, 30th April

Lesser Whitethroat Summer resident in the meadows. First for the year, 1 singing, 21st Apr.

Common Whitethroat Summer resident in the meadows. First for the year, 1, 15th Apr., 2, 21st Apr.

Goldcrest Resident in sharply fluctuating numbers. 3+, wood, during cold weather, EWBC

Wren Resident.14, LWBC, 2, wood, 1, meadows EWBC

Nuthatch Resident. 2, LWBC, 2,wood, EWBC

Treecreeper Resident. 1, wood, EWBC

Blackbird Resident. 9, LWBC, 9, wood, 2, meadows EWBC,

Fieldfare Winter visitor. 1, wood, 1, meadow EWBC

Redwing Winter visitor. c30, over wood to the SE, 19th Oct., 21, wood, 9, meadows EWBC

Song Thrush Resident. 5, LWBC

Spotted Flycatcher Summer visitor, probably stays to breed in very small numbers (<2 pairs) most years. 1, 8th/15th June (JaneD, JohnD,RG), 1, 9th/12th Jul. (DG, JohnD) 1, 1st Aug., 2, 24th Aug. A

Robin Resident. 15, LWBC, 7,wood, 2, meadows EWBC,

Dunnock Resident. 2, LWBC

Meadow Pipit Winter & passage visitor. 3, meadows, EWBC A.

Chaffinch Resident. 4, LWBC, 1, meadow EWBC

Bullfinch Resident. 1, wood, 1, meadow, EWBC

Greenfinch Scarce resident(?) 1, meadow EWBC (a rare bird at Ravensroost) A

Lesser Redpoll Winter visitor, and occasionally at other times of year. Has bred (2016, locally, if not actually on the reserve). 1, 26th Jan., singing, 23rd Feb., 3, meadow, LWBC, 1, 9th/22nd Nov.,2, 30th Nov. A

Goldfinch Resident, sometimes in the wood. 1, LWBC, 3, meadows, EWBC

Siskin Winter & passage visitor. 4, 26th Jan., 1, 12th Oct., 4, 22nd Nov., c25, 30th Nov. A

Reed Bunting Resident at the meadow ponds most years. 1, Meadow Pond, 11th/15th Apr., 15th Jun. A

Below: Lesser Redpoll in Ravens Retreat, 4th March (Dave Gilbert)

Ravensroost breeding bird survey 2022

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. This year there were eleven weekly surveys from April until midsummer, one fewer than usual but this is not likely to have skewed results in any way.

Breeding survey results - estimated number of territories 2022 (2019/21 estimates in brackets - no survey was carried out in 2020):

Robin 12 (10,13) ,Blackbird 9 (9,8), Blue Tit 8 (9,11), Wren 8 (9,9), Chiffchaff 8 (8,8), Blackcap 7 (8,8), Willow Warbler 4 (3,3), Great Tit 3 (5,5), Nuthatch 3 (3,3), Song Thrush 3 (3,3), Wood Pigeon 3 (4,3), Chaffinch 3 (4,3), Marsh Tit 3 (2,2), Coal Tit 2 (3,3), Garden Warbler 2 (4,3), Great Spotted Woodpecker 2 (3,2) - Carrion Crow 2 (2,2), Mistle Thrush 2 (1,2), Pheasant 2 (2,1), Buzzard 1 (1,2), Jay 1 (2,2), Dunnock 1 (1,1), Goldfinch 1 (1,P), Stock Dove 1 (-,P), Goldcrest 1 (1,P), Treecreeper 1 (P,P), Long-tailed Tit 1 (1,P), Green Woodpecker P ( P,1), Sparrowhawk P (P,1), Bullfinch P (1,1), Cuckoo P (-,P), Spotted Flycatcher P (-,P) - NB, It is likely from subsequent observations that the Spotted Flycatcher bred somewhere in the wood this year, like last.

Underlined means increase over recent years. "P" means birds present and breeding possible but territory not established.

Really pleasing about Willow Warblers - they seem to be on the increase at the moment - hopefully this is permanent!

Tawny Owls are always present but not recorded in the survey this year.

Ravensroost Complex Ringing Report 2022 by Simon Tucker

Ravensroost Wood:

The years started well but finished badly. Early catches, no doubt boosted by the provision of supplementary feeding during January and February, were as expected in the wood. In fact, catches were as expected until a good catch on the 9^th June. Of the next eight sessions only one produced more than 20 birds: we had sessions with catches of 3, 1, 3, 27, 14, 1, 14, 9. It was very disappointing. The catch this year was as follows:

Ravensroost Pond:

We carried out only three visits to the pond area this year, as I wanted to get more done in the woodland, having been kept out for most of the breeding season of 2021. They were reasonable sessions, but with no absolute highlights. There was a good spread of the expected summer warblers but, although I saw plenty flying over the nets, we didn’t catch a single Swallow or House Martin. I think that the growth of rushes / reeds in front of the causeway across the pond has stopped their previous flight path when coming in to drink or hawk insects so they are simply missing the net. I did try some alternative net positions but without success for those species:

Ravensroost & Avis Meadows:

We monitored the owl boxes in both Avis and Ravensroost Meadows this year. For once, and horribly disappointingly, the box in the condemned barn failed to produce a successful brood. When checked on the 30^th May there were two naked young and two warm eggs in the box. On the second check three weeks later the box was empty. Clearly something had made a meal of them and the adults had decided against trying again in that box. The new box at the back of Avis Meadows was, once again, unoccupied this year.

The box in Ravensroost Meadow between Avis and the pond was checked initially on the 30^th May and had two warm eggs. However, on the same day that we found that the Avis box had been predated, we found that those eggs were now cold and infertile but there was one warm egg in the box. I removed the cold eggs. I revisited on the 5^th July and ringed the pullus that was in the box and, I am pleased to say, that it fledged successfully.

The second Ravensroost Meadow box, on the edge of the pond enclosure, was checked on the 30^th May and had two pulli in the box, which we ringed. When I checked the box again on the 5^th July both birds had fledged.

VERTEBRATES

Toad One found while coppicing, 26th Oct (KW - see photo below)

Weasel 1, LWBC

Hare 1, 30th Mar..1, 30th Apr.

REPORT ON RAVENSROOST ORCHIDS BY JACQUI COCKRAM

It has been an amazing year for Orchids. Our Birdsnest Orchids went from a count of 4 to 19 an increase of 15. Of the 19 Birdsnest Orchids, 9 showed no growth and 10 Flowered. For the Violet Helleborines it was an amazing year. We started with a count of 30 and added 11 New Plants. We now have a Total of 41 Violet Helleborines. Regrettably the weather was against us and only 6 Plants Flowered. All New Violet Helleborines have GPS Positions and Protectors. All Protectors have been removed from Birdsnest Orchids (only 1 remains it is in our Scything area) small Sticks are in place so we know the position of the Orchids. Thanks to Jane for all her help. Here's hoping for a wet 2023.

Below: White-letter Hairstreak, 17th July (Jon Mercer) and White Admiral, 26th June (RG)

BUTTERFLIES

Butterfly Transect 2022

A strange situation at Ravensroost where most butterflies had a pretty good year, with the major exceptions of the Hairstreaks (always remembering that they are not a group well monitored by transecting) and the Peacock and Comma, all of which had a poor one. Particularly pleasing that the "iconic" big woodland butterflies the Silver Washed Fritillary and White Admiral are doing very well at the moment, and also that the Brimstone, the Orange Tip, the closely related Green-veined White and the recent invader the Common Blue, had good years.

All dates relating to transect visits below are for the "week beginning" not the actual date. Casual records not on transect visits are accurately dated.

IoA = Index of Abundance (sum of all totals)

Comments are comparing totals with numbers in the previous 8 years, while plus and minus signs indicate short term trends.( = indicates no particular trend.)

Underlined species are species of conservation importance.

+ Small Skipper From 1st -22 Jul, max 2, 22nd Jul. IoA 5 The best IoA since 2015! Has been very rare in the intervening years, but one shouldn't read too much into this result!

+ Large Skipper From 10th Jun - 15th Jul, max 6, 17th Jun. IoA 27 Above average and more than last year, but does not alter the run of very consistent results for this species.

(Clouded Yellow None on transect - one was in the meadow on 6th August - Helen Llewellyn)

+ Brimstone From 8th Apr - 16th Sept, max 21, 15th Apr. IoA 68. First report 6, 14th March. The best IoA since 2016, hopefully reversing the trend downwards in recent years. Buckthorns have been planted in Ravens Retreat.

= Large White From 15 Apr - 26 Aug, max 5, 29 Jul. IoA 17 Typical result, up from last year, but an erratic migrant so no particular significance

= Small White From 6th May - 23 Sept., max 4, 12 Aug. IoA 26 Again, up from last year, but a typical result.

+ Green-veined White From 8th Apr - 9th Sep., max 16, 29 Jul. IoA 126 The highest total of the nine years, so a very good result.

+ Orange Tip From 8th Apr - 27 May, max 16, 15 Apr., IoA 55. First report, 1, 9th Apr., (David Garwood) A very gratifying result, especially compared to that at Blakehill! The best IoA of the last nine years.

= Brown Hairstreak Single, 5th Aug. (on hedge in car park) IoA 1 ( Also several seen by other observers mainly in early August.) As usual, the few adult sightings bear no relationship to egg search results - that in 2021/2 was the best ever at Ravensroost. The result in November 2022, however, was back to normal for the reserve. Results over the last 4 winters have been: 2019/20-69; 20/21 - 76; 21/22 - 247; 22/23 - 87.

- Purple Hairstreak From 15th Jul - 12 Aug, 3 singles, IoA 3 The poorest result since 2016, but this species (like the other two hairstreaks) isn't well monitored by transecting. But it does not seem to have been a good season generally.

- White-letter Hairstreak Single on 24th June, IoA 1. Only two other sightings known to me were one, 17th July (Jon Mercer) and one by Chris Tracey that may have been the same day and place as mine. There was only one sighting last year (off the transect in that case) so there seems perhaps to have been a decline since the latter half of last decade when the species was being seen regularly in season.

(Small Copper None on transect or in the wood, but seen in meadow, 21st April, and on various other dates.)

(Brown Argus None on transect or in the wood, but 1 seen in the meadow on 23rd July.)

+ Common Blue From 22 July - 12 Aug, max 9, 5th Aug. IoA 23. After signs of a slight increase from tiny numbers in the last few years, the species seems to have really colonised the wood this year, adjacent to the Newt Pond and, in particular, to the 8 year rotation coppice - both cleared areas open to the sun. Very gratifying and not really expected. The best ever IoA, obviously.

(Chalkhill Blue A vagrant in the meadow, 23rd July, the first ever seen at Ravensroost, unsurprisingly! Possibly dispersed from its downland site during the extreme heat of mid July.)

+ Holly Blue From 15 Apr - 26 Aug, max 2, 5th Aug. IoA 8 The best ever IoA - just - but unlike the Common Blue, not significant.

= White Admiral From 17 Jun - 15 Jul, max 17, 24 Jun. IoA 43 Again a much improved result compared with the lean years 2015 -20, just three fewer than in 2021. Then, I hoped the improved IoA wasn't just a blip - this year's result shows it wasn't - let's hope with our improved, official rules re preserving the Honeysuckle plants this improvement will be permanent.

+ Red Admiral From 17 Jun- 9 Sept, max 2 on 3 occasions, IoA 12 Slightly above average showing but not significant.

(Painted Lady None on transect this year. One, in meadow, 20th July - Bob Philpott)

= Small Tortoiseshell Single on 10th Jun. IoA 1 A typical result - the IoA has stuck at 1 for the last three years! (Not Small Tortoiseshell habitat.) First report 2, 14th March, in the meadows.

- Peacock From 1 Apr - 5 Aug, max 5, 8 & 15 Apr. IoA 20 This is typical Peacock habitat*, so an IoA of just 20 is poor - the lowest for four years, and only 2017 and 2018 were poorer than this. Seems to be on short and also long-term decline. *Though there isn't much foodplant

- Comma From 8th Apr - 16 Sep., max, 5, 9th Sep., IoA 24 . First report, 1, 23rd March. Similar decline as Peacock. Only 2020 (when the spring hibernators went largely uncounted due to Covid) had a worse result than this. The reasons are hard to find (lack of nettles?) especially as some other woodland butterflies are doing well (see next three species.)

+ Silver-washed Fritillary From 17 Jun - 12 Aug, max 34, 15 Jul, IoA 143. Two valesina females were seen on 23rd July. The highest IoA since 2014 - a species very much on the long-term increase it seems, a rare situation for a fritillary.

+ Speckled Wood From 22 Apr - 23 Sept, max 45, 19 Aug. IoA 253 A species on the rise with the best IoA of all the last nine years. Our creation of scallops in the wood has been beneficial for this species - and the last? - and maybe the White Admiral too.

(Wall Brown A singleton was seen at the picnic table in Ravens Retreat on 25th September by David Garwood, very close to the site of one in August 2017. On 5th August 2022 one was seen at Somerford Common just a mile away, this suggesting there is a tiny local colony rather than their being vagrants from elsewhere.)

+ Gatekeeper From 1 Jul - 5 Aug, max 28, 15 Jul. IoA 87 Another higher than ever IoA for this very common brown.

- Meadow Brown From 10 Jun - 19 Aug, max 40, 17 Jun. IoA 211 By comparison with the Gatekeeper, the Meadow Brown is not doing so well - given that it isn't normally thought of as a woodland species - with only last year's IoA being worse than this year's.

(Small Heath The first ever for Ravensroost was 1 in meadow, 17th May)

+ Ringlet From 10 Jun - 5 Aug, max 108, 8 Jul, IoA 251. In the last nine years only 2017's IoA was higher than this, so whatever is affecting the Meadow Brown is not hurting the Ringlet. An amazing count in the week beginning 8th July!

Below: Wall Brown at the picnic table, 25th Sept. (David Garwood), two species new for the reserve: Small Heath, 17th May (Trevor Simmonds) and Chalkhill Blue, 23rd July (RG), & Blotched Emerald, 20th Jun. (RG)

Below: Marbled Brown, 19th May, Small Brindled Beauty, 10th March and Clouded Brindle, 20th June (All RG)

MOTHS

Day-flying moths seen in wood and meadows were as follows:

Nemaphora degeerella 1, 26th May

Alabonia geoffrella 2, 26th May

Barred Fruit Tree Tortrix 1, 12th Jul.

Forester 2, meadow, 2nd June

Endotricha flammealis 1, 23rd July

Treble Brown Spot 1, 12th Jul.

Mocha 1, 24th Apr.

Silver Ground Carpet 1, 17th May

Orange Underwing 1, 24th Mar. (CN), 5, 11th Apr., 1, 15th Apr.

Common White Wave 1, 12th Jul.

Straw Dot 1, 15th June

Vapourer 1, 23rd July, 1, 14th Aug.

Scarlet Tiger 1, 26th Jun., 2, 12th/16th Jul.

Mother Shipton 1, meadow, 2nd June

Burnet Companion 2, meadows, 2nd June

Silver Y 1, 21st Jun.

Small Yellow Underwing 1, Meadow, 2nd June

Pink-barred Sallow 1, 21st Sept.

Below: Alabonia geoffrella & Nemaphora degeerella, both 26th May (both RG)

Below: Dyseriocrania subpurpurella, 14th Apr., White Line Snout, 24th July, & Diurnia lipsiella, 27th Oct. (All RG)

Selected moths from trapping sessions.

A total of 23 new species were trapped in the wood this year (underlined in the list) compared to 16 last year and 43 in 2020. As usual, most of these, 15, were "micros" ie. mainly smaller species less fancied by some moth-ers. They have all now been given English names which for the first time I have included below. In addition to the new species for the reserve I have included a dozen significant, local or rare species that featured this year. As before, the vast majority of moths trapped are not included in the list. The total moth species list for Ravensroost at the end of 2022 is now 471, 211 species of which have been added to the list since we started regular mothing in 2016. The list can be seen at Ravensroost Wood 2022 - Lepidoptera (google.com)

I thank particularly Jacqui, who also has a trap, Helen and Jane - the regulars, plus a few others who have helped on occasion.

2.001 Early Purple Dyseriocrania subpurpurella (14/4/22)

8.004 Strawberry Bright Incurvaria praelatella - 1,19th May, local and uncommon

28.019 Sulphur Tubic Esperia sulphurella (14/4/22)

29.002 November Tubic Diurnea lipsiella (27/10/22) - a local species that has only been seen once before in north Wilts!

35.047 Dark Groundling Bryotropha affinis (24/7/22)

40.004 Marbled Cosmet Mompha propinquella (20/8/22)

40.008 Garden Cosmet Mompha subbistrigella (20/8/22)

45.043 Hemp Agrimony Plume Adaina microdactyla (24/7/22)

49.016 Rose Tortrix Archips rosana (20/6/22)

49.127 Thistle Conch Aethes cnicana (24/7/22)

49.144 Diamond-back Marble Eudemis profundana (20/8/22)

49.194 Rush Marble Bactra lancealana (20/8/22)

62.032 Spindle Knot-horn Nephopterix angustella (20/8/22)

63.018 Elder Pearl Anania coronata (24/7/22)

63.052 Rush Veneer Nomophila noctuella (20/8/22) - like most migrants, this species did very well this year.

63.116 Small China-mark Cataclysta lemnata (20/8/22 ) - with this species we have now found all four UK China-marks at Ravensroost - all aquatic pond dwellers at all stages except the adult.

65.013 Common Lutestring Ochropacha duplaris - large numbers (too many to count) on 20th June, a species that is described in Wiltshire as local, probably decreasing.

65.014 Oak Lutestring Cymatophorina diluta - 4 on 20th Aug., 1 on 25th Sept., a rare species locally and in severe decline nationally - probably the most important moth in Ravensroost from the conservation point of view.

69.002 Eyed Hawk-moth Smerinthus ocellata (18/5/22 - ST) - Surprisingly this Hawk-moth found by Simon Tucker perched on his car in the car park (!) was not only the first Eyed Hawk for Ravensroost, it was also only the 5th species of Hawk-moth yet found in the reserve! The others being Poplar, Privet, Hummingbird and Elephant.

70.038 Vestal Rhodometra sacraria - 1 on 27th Oct. a migrant found in good numbers in 2022

70.160 White-spotted Pug Eupithecia tripunctaria - 1 on 8th May, an uncommon species that has undergone a steep decline in the last 35 years.

70.182 Currant Pug Eupithecia assimilata (24/7/22)

70.246 Small Brindled Beauty Apocheima hispidaria - 3 on 10th March, a local species rapidly declining in its fairly small, southerly range

70.264 Satin Beauty Deileptenia ribeata - 1 on 20th June, rare in North Wilts but nationally increasing in exotic conifer plantations - a surprise at Ravensroost, though found in Somerford Common!

70.300 Blotched Emerald Comibaena bajularia - 3 on 20th June, a local, rapidly declining species

71.010 Marbled Brown Drymonia dodonea - 1 on 19th May, the first record here since the last century! Another species in decline.

72.020 White Ermine Spilosoma lubricipeda (19/5/22)

72.062 White Line Snout Schrankia taenialis (2, 24/7/22) - a southern species not found before in Wilts nearer than the Salisbury area. The find of the year. Its rarity, however, may have been exaggerated by some observers dismissing it as a "micro" - it could well have been overlooked in the UK as well as in Wilts.

72.076 Clifden Nonpareil Catocala fraxini - 1 on 25th Sept. the second record for Ravensroost, the other one being in Sept 2017. A huge, charismatic species, formerly a rare migrant, that is now - in the last 10 years or so only - colonising Britain.

73.033 Figure of 8 Diloba caeruleocephala - 8 on 27th Oct. - a very local species severely declining throughout Britain, another Ravensroost speciality.

73.107 Old Lady Mormo maura (20/8/22) - 1 on 20th August, a local species but one that is actually increasing nationally. Named for its strikingly broad, dark brown wings, said to resemble a Victorian widow's dress.

73.155 Clouded Brindle Apamea epomidion (20/6/22) - not a rare woodland moth but one of the wood's secret inhabitants that has been overlooked for years - how many more such species are there?

73.225 Brindled Green Dryobotodes eremita - 2 on 25th Sept. 1 on 27th Oct. - a locally rare species though increasing its range through Britain

73.233 Black Rustic Aporophyla nigra (27/10/22)

73.297 White-point Mythimna albipuncta (20/8/22) - 1 on 20th Aug., a local species formerly an immigrant that is now established and expanding northwards, presumably a beneficiary of climate change.

Above: Old Lady & White-point, both 20th Aug., Brindled Green, 25th Sept. Below: Rose Tortrix, 20th June, Vestal, 27th Oct. & White-spotted Pug, 8th May (All RG)

Below: Downy Emerald, 17th May - the first for Ravensroost (Trevor Simmonds) & Common Emerald Damselflies, 2nd Aug. - the male attempting to mate unsuccessfully with the female (Peter Sketch)