A trip to Withington Wood in Gloucestershire last night with the Gloucestershire Branch of Butterfly Conservation was interesting despite the evening looking quite unpromisingly cold and windy at the outset. A good selection of people turned up for this event from all parts of the area, including Devon and Wolverhampton. The main quarry was the Plumed Prominent and we were not disappointed, seeing around a dozen of these super-antennaed beasts. The supporting cast was limited but nice, with Sprawler, Spruce Carpet, Red Green Carpet, Feathered Thorn and several December Moth. Our thanks to Peter Hugo who tried manfully to organise the unruly bunch of immigrants who descended on his patch :-)

It strikes me that if Plumed Prominent is to occur in Somerset it may well occur in the north east. This part of the county is under-recorded and it might be worth scouting out some woodland with a good lot of Field Maple and Ash to try for next year.

Plumed Prominent - a wonder it can fly at all with that lot bashing into its eyes

Sprawler