New Species - Brown Argus

The meadow is really paying off now. I have a new butterfly species - the Brown Argus. I have been agonising over whether it is a Common Blue female or a Brown Argus and after much checking of google images which were not conclusive I eventually found an excellent leaflet to help make the ID. It is by Stephen Cheshire and can be found on www.britishbutterflies.co.uk. The clinching ID was subtle differences on the markings of the undersides of the wings. I had one picture of the undersides and that proved enough. I am also able to ID it as a male brown argus from the guide based on the extent of the orange markings and the length of the abdomen.

At last - a Red Admiral

I have been surprised by the lack of them this year but saw my first one today. In fact it has been a very good butterfly day - more posts to come.

Butterflies in the meadow

The meadow is certainly starting to deliver in terms of butterflies. I recorded twelve species in one sunny day last week. For the record they were Peacock, Tortoiseshell, Small Copper, Meadow Brown, Speckled Wood, Large White, Small White, Ringlet, Gatekeeper, Comma,, Small Skipper and a Common Blue. Still no Red Admirals this year. Pictured is the Common Blue as it my first picture of one this year.

Southern Hawker

For the first time this year I have spotted the Southern Hawker dragonfly and it is certainly the best year yet for dragonflies here on the moat with several new species and all of the old ones that would be expected by now.

Tortoiseshell caterpillars

Following the Peacock butterfly nurseries that I found on a couple of patches of nettles, there are now quite a few Tortoiseshell nurseries on nettles. They seem to have chosen the young nettles that had grown up where I strimmed them rather than the full-height nettles. That's two caterpillars I recognise now.

Moorhen chicks

Some new moorhen chicks have hatched. There is usually a second brood which is interesting as the juveniles from the first brood get roped into assisting with the upbringing. The first broods seemed to be about eight chicks from two sets of parents of which maybe four are still there. The second lot is at least four chicks. I was woken up by the heron this morning. I hope he doesn't get at the chicks.

New Species - Small Magpie moth

The meadow is yielding a few moths that I can actually photograph and this is in daylight without the need for moth traps. This is another micro moth apparently although it looks normal size to me.

Small Copper

Another day, another butterfly. This time the small copper which is perhaps the prettiest butterfly on the site. Today I saw the first one seen here this year.

Butterfly update

Another good butterfly day with seven confirmed species and that is not counting the Small Skipper or the Small White that I was not sure about. The only species that I had not already spotted this year was the gatekeeper (pictured).

New Species - Silver Y Moth

I disturbed a moth while walking in the meadow and once it had settled again I took a quick photo. It seems it is a Silver Y moth.

Pheasant chicks

I reported before on the pair of pheasants that seemed to have taken up residence. Yesterday I disturbed two pheasant chicks on the path in the meadow. They took off in opposite directions when they spotted me and though they had only gone a few feet into the long grass I couldn't see them at all - so no photograph yet.

Butterfly update

The last week has been a good one for butterflies. There are heaps of Meadow Browns and Tortoiseshells around and also some Speckled Woods and Large Whites. Today I saw the first Small Skipper of the year (and I didn't see one last year) and also the first Ringlet of the year (pictured). The only thing I would have expected to have seen by now which has not been observed is a Red Admiral.

Moorhen juveniles

There were around eight moorhen chicks around and then they all seemed to disappear and we suspect that was because of the presence of the heron or worst case was the result of the heron eating them. However the heron has been around less in the last few days and some at least of the moorhen chicks seemed to have re-emerged. I think there are four at least and of course they are juveniles now and look quite different to the colouring they have as a small chick. They have raided my gooseberries and raided my strawberries and now those are both netted they are waiting for the plums to ripen so they can steal a few of those as well.

Peacock butterfly nursery

The day after I arranged to get some of the meadow cut - those bits dominated by big stands of nettles, docks or thistles - I found one section of nettles covered in Peacock caterpillars. There are hundreds of them. I shall of course spare this particular patch of nettles.