Week 4 – Fine weather over the weekend meant a good number of butterflies were active, with Paul Beard recording Orange-tip (13), Peacock (1), Small Tortoiseshell (2) and Speckled Wood (1). No dragonflies or damselflies seen yet.
This gallery contains 6 photos.
N. Mahadevan 14C 2 Mandarin, Chiffchaff, Whitethroat, Goldfinch, Swallow. Peacock butterfly, Orange Tip, Speckled Wood, Green-veined White, moth Ancylis badiana. Lesser Yellow Underwing caterpillar on nettle. 2 teneral Large Red damselflies below Bottom Pond, a hoverfly (Rhianga Campestris), St Mark’s … Continue reading
In addition to carrying out the transect recording, Dave Clay found an Orange-tip ova on Cuckooflower, Buff-tailed Bumblebee Bombus terrestris and Common Carder Bee (aka Brown Bumblebee) Bombus pascuorum.
Week 3. Dave Clay visited the reserve in what has been largely a cold week. Nevertheless one male Orange-tip was found braving the conditions. Not surprisingly, there were no early dragonflies or damselflies.
Week 2 – John Parlby recorded Comma (1), Orange-tip (15), Peacock (2), Small Tortoiseshell (3), Small White (1), Speckled Wood (1). This was the largest number of butterflies recorded in week 2 since we started the transect in 2013. Despite … Continue reading
The start of the 26 week butterfly transect recording season. This year our volunteer team will also be recording adult dragonflies and damselflies. Week 1 – Nikki Mahadevan saw 3 Peacock and 2 Comma butterflies on the transect, and later … Continue reading
Midday 15C Small Tortoiseshell, a bumblebee, Mandarins and Mallards on Brook, Chiffchaffs, Blue tit, Nuthatch, Wren, Great tit, Wood pigeon. Frogs mating – Bottom pond. Wood Anemone, Dogs Mercury, Coltsfoot in flower.
N. Mahadevan Comma butterfly.
Sightings from today’s work party members. Birds: Blackbird, Blue Tit, Chiffchaff (singing), Goldfinch, Grey Heron, Mandarin (a pair did three flyovers), Nuthatch, Raven (heard calling), Redwing, Robin, Woodpigeon, Wren. Invertebrates: Shoulder Stripe moth Earophila badiata. This is only the second … Continue reading
Four members attended this month’s work party in showery but mild conditions. The west ditch was cleared as planned, Buddleia pruned (all four), and various areas cleared of dead vegetation. See the separate post for the wildlife sightings.
