wildlife-news-july-2010

July 2010

Saturday 31st

This mated pair of Emerald Damselfly was photographed, on the reserve, today by David Roberts.

Emerald Damselfly mated pair © David Roberts

Tuesday 27th

'A very warm but somewhat overcast morning brought out quite a few invertebrates.

Gatekeeper butterfly were numerous as were Peacock and Green-veined White.

There were very few Common Darter Dragonfly and a single male Emperor patrolled the ponds in Loversall Field together with two Brown Hawker. I sat here for half an hour hoping for to get a photograph but was unlucky. Blue-tailed and Emerald Damselfly were quite numerous.

Soldier Beetles were in profusion and busily mating (see image).

Numbers of tiny Common Toad Bufo bufo were still migrating away from their watery birthplaces (see image).

Seven species of hoverfly were noted. The first grassland species Sphaerophoria scripta have appeared and the image shows a gravid

female.

Another good find was a Forest (Shield) Bug Pentatoma rufipes, with its distinctive shoulder projections and orange tip to the sutellum. Finally, large numbers of Creeping Thistles are demonstrating swollen stems which typically hold the larva or larvae of a Gall Wasp Urophora cardui’ (see image)

Left, Soldier Beetle mated pair and right Common Toad immature © Derek Bateson

Left, Forest (Shield) Bug and right Gall of Gall Wasp Urophora cardui on Creeping Thistle © Derek Bateson

Monday 26th

A very dull and eventually wet day with no reports coming in, so here are a couple of images from yesterday. The Soldier Fly Stratiomys potamida is not common on the reserve and it may be the first time it as been photographed here. The Speckled Wood, on the wing now, are probably from the second brood.

Left, Speckled Wood (2nd brood ?) and right Soldier Fly Stratiomys potamida both images © Allan Parker ARPS

Sunday 25th

Black Carr Field had a minimum of five, possible seven, Purple Hairstreak butterfly (KW) and a single Small Copper (RM).

Purple Hairstreak female © Glyn Hudson

Derek Bateson reports:-

A very warm morning despite the cloud cover and AP,JH and the writer visited Cottage Drain where many species had been tempted out including the first Harvestmen this year. Two species were noted and this one is Leiobundum rotundum (see Image)

Damselfly were much in evidence, mostly Blue-tailed and Emerald in roughly equal numbers. Late in the morning I saw my only
dragonfly a Brown Hawker.

Many Hoverflies were about and six or seven species were seen, with many Episyrphus balteatus.

A Conopid Fly was seen but not photographed.

Lesser Burdock held many attractive yellow flies, but as yet I can't be sure of their name.

Of the butterflies, Peacock were numerous, a single Ringlet, a Speckled Wood, maybe a dozen Gatekeepers, two Green-veined Whites, and four male and four female Brimstone, but of course they rarely open their wings when resting (see image)'

Left, Harvestman Leiobundum rotundum and right Brimstone male both images © Derek Bateson

A late morning walk along Loversall Bank, through Loversall Delph and along to the 'dragonfly pond' now more like 'dragonfly puddles' in Loversall Field was quite productive.

The Broad-leaved Helleborine is in full flower but still manages to look tatty and boring.

Numbers of butterfly along Loversall Bank included numerous Peacock (twenty-six in one 100 yard stretch), several of the following Gatekeeper (both male and female), Speckled Wood, Meadow Brown and two Comma.

A male Brown Hawker was patrolling Loversall Delph never landing once,.

The path past the pond dipping area had a male Black-tailed Skimmer, several Common Darter, at least two male Ruddy Darter and a Southern Hawker.

Peacock butterfly was again common along here and Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown, Ringlet, and Speckled Wood were noted plus a single Small Skipper.

The 'dragonfly ponds' and the immediate surrounding area of Loversall Field was productive.

The ponds had the following dragonfly and damselfly species; Brown Hawker a female was busy egg laying and up four males were patrolling overhead, a single male and a single female Emperor were present along with small numbers of Common and Ruddy Darter. Damselfly noted were Blue-tailed, Azure and Emerald. Many of the damselfly were mated pairs busy egg laying.

Gatekeeper was common, Green-veined, Small and Large White butterfly were noted along with a single male Common Blue and a Small Skipper.

(all above AP)

Left, Brown Hawker female egg Laying © David Roberts and right Peacock © Allan Parker ARPS

John Hancox reports:-

"On a sunny and warm morning there was plenty of butterfly activity. The most numerous were the Peacock with a total of 74 recorded in the western part of the Reserve. Another notable sighting was the first of the second brood of Common Blue butterfly, with a male in Loversall Field and KW reported at least 5 Purple Hairstreaks in the oaks around Black Carr Field. A total of four male and four female Brimstones were along Cottage Drain where there were also a few rather faded Meadow Browns and Ringlets.

The most interesting dragonfly sighting was of a female Brown Hawker ovipositing in one of the ponds in Loversall Field with a further three patrolling above and seeing off a male Emperor. A number of male Ruddy Darters were seen and a single male Black-tailed Skimmer. The most numerous damselfly was probably the Emerald but there were also Azure, Blue-tailed and Common Blue about. Large Red Damselflies now seem to have finished!

The long dry spell means that many of the water bodies on the reserve are getting very low as witness the two small ponds and Square Pond in Loversall Field. Whilst there is always plenty of water in Mother Drain, and there is an agreement with the Environment Agency through an abstraction licence to pump from that source, this is restricted to the period from October to March so there is no means of replenishing the water bodies from there. It is many years since the water bodies were under such stress - in the early 1990s, Square Pond dried out a number of years in a row but eventually recovered. Whilst there is some rain forecast in the coming week, this will not be sufficient and it will need continuous rain for many days to effect any change to the situation - this is not likely now until the onset of the autumn storms."

Saturday 24th

John Hancox reports:-

"After a barren week due to weather, the sunshine on Saturday morning enabled a transect walk to be completed. The number of butterflies on the transect was 125 (2009: 129) and the most common butterfly was Peacock with 34 counted closely followed by Gatekeeper at 22, Green-veined White at 21 and Comma 17. Loversall Field produced a similar mix of butterflies.

Dragonflies included Emperor, Brown Hawker, Common Darter, Ruddy Darter and a female Black Darter. Damselflies included Azure, Blue-tailed and Emerald. On Loversall Bank there was a single immature female Southern Hawker."

Black Darter female © John Hancox

The above shot shows the diagnostic 3 yellow spots on the black mark on the side of the thorax and the black triangle on the top of the thorax.

Comma underwing showing white comma mark © Dale Bentham

Friday 23rd

The Buddleia plants next to the 'lighted crossing', near the Old Eaa hide, had the following butterfly:- seventeen Peacock, three Comma, one Painted Lady, one Small Tortoiseshell and a Holly Blue on the nearby thistles.

A single Purple Hairstreak was on an Oak in Black Carr Field (all SB)

More butterfly sightings included one Comma, two Peacock and a Green-veined White along Loversall Bank plus a Speckled Wood at LBA3 (all RB)

Left, Painted Lady © Derek Bateson and right Holly Blue © John Hancox

Two images taken recently on the reserve show a Scarce Footman Eilema complana (see report on Monday night's moth trapping session) and a mated pair of Bumble Bee.

Left, Scarce Footman Eilema complana © Derek Bateson and right Bumble Bee Bombus terrestris, mated pair © Helen Womack

Thursday 22nd

POTTERIC CARR MOTH TRAPPING REPORT
MONDAY, 19 JULY, 2010

The very warm, humid weather on Monday night was ideal for 'mothing' and the trap was literally heaving with moths on Tuesday morning. A total of 144 species were identified, breaking all previous records for a single night’s moth trapping on the reserve. Some 5 species new to the reserve were identified, bringing the total number of new species added to the reserve list in 2010 to 22. The running total of moth species recorded at Potteric Carr since the reserve was established now stands at 712.
Of the ‘newcomers’, the most exciting was undoubtedly Caloptilia populetorum, with only 2 previous Yorkshire records, both in 2006. This birch-feeding Gracillariid appears to have two main areas of distribution, in southern England and north-west Scotland, with few records in between. Nowhere does it appear plentiful, so this is an excellent find.
The other ‘new’ species include a couple of ‘macros’, Slender Brindle Apamea scolopacina and Buff Footman Eilema depressa. The Slender Brindle is a fairly widespread species, with plenty of Yorkshire records. Buff Footman is, like most of its compatriots, a lichen feeder and has benefitted from the improvements to air quality over the last 30 years. It is now recorded regularly across Yorkshire.
The remaining ‘newcomers’ are both fairly common and widespread ‘micros’: Epiblema foenella, whose larvae feed in the roots of Mugwort.and Cedestis gysseleniella, a pine- feeding Yponomeutid.
Apart from the ‘new’ species, the most significant record was probably that of the Scarce Footman Eilema complana, a species which is common in Yorkshire only at Spurn Point. Potteric Carr is one of a tiny handful of other Yorkshire localities, most are in the Doncaster area.
Ian Heppenstall, Moth Recorder.

Left, Clouded Border Lomaspilis marginata © Allan Parker ARPS and right Yponomeuta evonymella © Derek Bateson.

Left, Yellow-tail Moth Euproctis similis © Derek Bateson and right Common White Wave Cabera pusaria © Allan Parker ARPS

Left, Drinker Moth Euthrix potatoria male and right Dingy Footman Eilema griseola both images © Allan Parker ARPS

Two other insects found in the moth trap, along with several Caddis Fly, were Green Lacewing and a tiny but very pretty Mayfly species, unfortunately the extremely long tail streamers don't show up in the this small image.

Green Lacewing © Derek Bateson

Mayfly species © Allan Parker ARPS

Wednesday 21st

A Brown Hare was present on the Grassy Knoll in the evening (SB)

Tuesday 20th

Ian Heppenstall ran his moth trap last night and this morning the trap was 'heaving' with moths. A full report and images will follow shortly but here are a couple of images to be going on with. Five Poplar Hawkmoth were present in the trap but only one Buff-tip Moth.

Poplar Hawkmoth Laothoe populi © Allan Parker ARPS

Buff-tip Moth Phalera bucephala © Allan Parker ARPS

Also photographed on the reserve today was this male Ruddy Darter.

Ruddy Darter male © David Roberts

Monday 19th

A couple of things to look out for on the reserve this week are male Emperor Dragonfly patrolling over the ponds on Loversall Field and elsewhere. Also at various sites (e,g, Loversall and Willow Banks) Marsh Woundwort, compare it with the more common Hedge Woundwort.

Emperor male © Allan Parker ARPS

Marsh Woundwort © Allan Parker ARPS

Sunday 18th

Derek Bateson reports:-

‘ Although dull, the day proved to be quite interesting, and the first thing that caught my eye was a spike of Common Centaury, Centaurium erythraea, with tightly closed buds (see image).

Hoverflies were numerous and five species were represented together with many Soldier Beetles Rhagonycha fulva (see image).

Last week GH found a Mirid Bug which he asked me to identify. This was Deraecoris ruber which varies considerably in colour. The darker of the two images was taken today and the orange specimen last year (see images for comparison).

As some of you may know, JLS discovered an embryo Hornet nest a month or so ago. Although populated then, it was later deserted, maybe because of cold weather. The image shows the larger comb size and the typical orange coloured appearance compared to the greyish colour of wasp nests.

Butterflies were reasonably numerous but low down in the undergrowth. Ringlet, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown and Green-veined White were all noted.

On the dragonfly ponds and elsewhere Blue-tailed Damselfly were all perched low down, along with three Emerald Damselfly. No Dragonfly were seen.

I then turned my attention to the surfaces of the above ponds, plus the Loversall Delph pond and managed images of Pondskater, family Gerridae (maybe two species). I also managed a shot of the usually very active Whirligig Beetle, probable Gyrinus substriatus, (see image) which was a first for me’.

Pond Skater, family Gerridae © Derek Bateson

Left, Whirligig Beetle and right Soldier Beetle © Derek Bateson

Mirid Beetle Deraecoris ruber showing colour variations © Derek Bateson

Left, Incomplete Hornet nest and right Common Centaury © Derek Bateson

Friday 16th

Two small butterfly to look out for, on the wing around the reserve at the moment, are Common Blue and Small Skipper. The ground adjacent to the 'over-spill' car park is a good place to look. There should be good numbers of 6-spot Burnet in this area as well. This colourful day flying moth can be fairly commonly seen on the reserve.

Small Skipper male © Allan Parker ARPS

Common Blue male © Allan Parker ARPS

Thursday 15th

Fox seem to be currently more noticeable on the reserve, with adults having to find food to feed their cubs they are scavenging during the day. This one was photographed recently on Piper Marsh by Phil Jones.

Fox © Phil Jones

Wednesday 14th

Emperor Dragonfly females are still egg laying at suitable sites throughout the reserve but the image below is slightly unusual as it shows the least common of the three 'blue' damselfly on the reserve, a male Common Blue Damselfly in attendance as this female Emperor lays her eggs.

Emperor female egg laying with attendant male Common Blue Damselfly © Glyn Hudson

Tuesday 13th

Derek Bateson reports:-

'A dull day meant not many butterflies were about. The warm southerly winds of last week had brought out many of the Hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus, plus two smaller species as yet unidentified.

Along Loversall bank I found a nest of tiny (2mm) spiderlings and if you look closely at the image you will see their food store of several beetles, a wasp, three or four flies and a Shield-bug, left by the parent spider.

Spear Thistle, Cirsium vulgare were in full bloom, largely populated by leaf or pollen beetles (see image).

At the entrance car park I counted forty-four chrysalis cases (some empty, some still full) of the Six-spot Burnet Moth. The images show one newly vacated with the pupal skin at the top and a newly emerged adult. The moth had just emerged and is also shown. I counted some thirty-five or so adults which all looked newly emerged, and this has proved a very good area for this species. Also numerous here are Common Field Grasshopper (see image).’

Left, 6-spot Burnet Moth adult and right empty pupae case © Derek Bateson

Left, Spiderlings with food store and right Common Field Grasshopper © Derek Bateson

Spear Thistle Cirsium vulgare © Derek Bateson

Monday 12th

Fox cubs have been showing well at Loversall Pool in front of the hide, below is a series of images taken recently by Neil Young.

All above Fox cub images © Neil Young

Sunday 11th

Derek Bateson reports:-

' Windy weather made photography less than easy and most subjects kept down in the herbage.

A pair of Brimstone butterflies were seen, but kept dropping down the bank of Mother Drain. Ringlet, Meadow Brown and Gatekeeper were the most numerous butterflies but Large and Small White were also seen.

Some seven species of hoverfly were noted and more of the 'Marmalade Fly' Episyrphus balteatus had appeared (see image).

In Black Carr Field, Common Darter dragonfly were in some numbers, mostly mature females (see image).

On the way back to the Field Centre, my eye was caught by a good specimen of Bulrush (Reedmace), or Cattail Typha latifolia (see image), showing the male and female flower heads’.

Hoverfly ('Marmalade Fly') Episyrphus balteatus © Derek Bateson

Left, Bulrush (Reedmace or Cattail) Typha latifolia and right Common Darter female © Derek Bateson

Cottage Drain proved to be fairly productive despite the strong wind.

Damselfly included Blue-tailed, Azure, Common Blue and Emerald (see image) with good numbers of the latter, the least common being Common Blue.

Dragonfly noted were three Brown Hawker, one immature female Southern Hawker (see image), several Common Darter and at least one Black-tailed Skimmer.

Ringlet, Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper, Small White, Large White, Green-veined White and Comma (hutchinsoni).

There were several different hoverfly species and the same went for bees. (AP GH JH)

The 'dragonfly ponds' in Loversall Field had at least two different male Emperor along with two egg laying females (see image). A Brown Hawker was patrolling the area along with three or four now rather 'tatty' Four-spotted Chaser and a least one male Black-tailed Skimmer. Common Darter and Ruddy Darter (see image) numbers are slowly increasing and several species of damselfly were noted which included good numbers of Emerald, Blue-tailed and Azure. There are still a few Large Red Damselfly about also.

Butterfly included Comma, Small Tortoiseshell (on the Nettle beds), Ringlet, Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper (see image), Small Skipper and Green-veined White.

Both Common and Great-crested Newt were seen surfacing for air along with numerous water beetle of several species.

The Water Shrew was not seen today but was very active yesterday.

Cinnabar Moth caterpillars were noted on Ragwort in several places along Loversall Bank. (AP GH)

Southern Hawker immature female © Allan Parker ARPS

Ruddy Darter male © Allan Parker ARPS

Emperor female egg laying with 'attendant' Azure Damselfly © Glyn Hudson

Left, Emerald Damselfly mated pair © Glyn Hudson and right Gatekeeper male © Allan Parker ARPS

The following is John Hancox's report for Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th:-

Saturday:-

On a very warm day the butterfly transect yielded a lower count (69) than the week previously (109) largely due to a decline in the numbers of Ringlet, though there was a small increase in Gatekeeper. In general there were more 'whites' about, indicating a hatch and small numbers of Meadow Brown, Small Skipper and two Small Tortoiseshell.

The ponds in Loversall Field yielded an Emperor, two Four-spotted Chaser, two Brown Hawker and Southern Hawker along with an increasing number of Common Darter and a few Ruddy Darter. Damselflies included lots of Blue-tailed, a few Common Blue and an increasing number of Emerald.

Sunday:-

On a somewhat cooler day with a fresh to strong SW wind at times, Cottage Drain was sheltered and yielded a good number of Ringlet (54) but very few Gatekeeper, a number of Meadow Brown and an increase in all three 'whites', with Green-veined White predominating.

Dragonflies seen included three Brown Hawker and a number of Common Darter with an immature female Southern Hawker which obligingly posed for photos. Damselfly numbers were dominated by Emeralds glinting in the strong sunlight and smaller numbers of Blue-tailed and Common Blue and just the occasional Azure.

A brilliant yellow Brimstone Moth Opisthograptis luteolata was also seen in St. Catherine's Copse.

Saturday 10th

A young Fox was seen on Huxter Well swimming from island to island on Cell 1A disturbing the birds but was not seen to catch anything. A Brown Hare was on feeding on the Grassy Knoll. (SB).

Huxter Well is a good place to see Black-tailed Skimmer at this time, they can be often be found settled on the paths.

Black-tailed Skimmer mated pair © David Roberts

Friday 9th

Lookout for the striking and colourful caterpillar of the Mullein Moth on the reserve. We have only small numbers of Mullein plants so look for them on Figwort which is another food plant for the caterpillar. Small Skipper is about in much better numbers than the previous year look for them on the grassland areas.

Mullein Moth caterpillar on a Mullein leaf © Allan Parker ARPS

Small Skipper male © Allan Parker ARPS

Thursday 8th

Two recent, interesting, images are of a female Emperor egg laying with two attendant Azure Damselfly and a Comma on a dead Mole probably attracted by the smell from the dead flesh. Several of the larger butterfly species are known to visit carrion from which they can suck mineral salts and nutrients.

Wednesday 7th

Two more images from yesterday, Emerald Damselfly numbers are increasing as more hatch off and the Longhorn Beetle Rutpela (Strangalia) maculata which is present in numbers, look for them on umbellifer flower heads.

Tuesday 6th

John Hancox reports:_

The number of Ringlet appears to have declined a little since Sunday but there were still plenty about along with quite a few more Gatekeeper, which were all males, and plenty of Small Skipper. Once again active Small Tortoiseshell and Comma were seen.

Three immature Common Hawker were disturbed in Loversall Field where there was a pristine female Ruddy Darter - both first of the season - and a number of Black-tailed Skimmer. Male Emperor were patrolling the small ponds and there were a number of Four-spotted Chaser including females ovipositing. There is an increasing number of Emerald Damselfly along with Azure, Blue-tail and Common Blue and there was still a Large Red Damselfly male, unusual for it to still to be about in July. (A second was noted in Loversall Delph by KW and AP)

A Water Shrew was seen in one of the ponds.

Derek Bateson reports:-

‘Today I took a new route down to St Catherine’s Field. On the way, by Mother Drain was a cooperative Plume Moth (see image) which I could not identify but maybe IH will be able to? ( Now ID'd by Ian as Emmelina monodactyla)

Along Hawthorn Bank, Longhorn Beetles Rutpela Strangalia) maculata and Leptura quadrifasciata were both noted’ in possibly a new area? Later a Comma appeared plus six Meadow Brown, sixteen Ringlet and a single Large White. Interestingly the most numerous butterfly in this area today was Small Skipper, (see image) several of which were nectaring on Tufted Vetch (?) in St Catherine’s Field and along the path

Black-tailed Skimmer also put in an appearance. There had been a large emergence of Common Darter (see image of teneral male), probably from the drains in this field, and a Four-spotted Chaser was also patrolling over what little water was left.

Only three species of hoverfly were noted today’

Fox cubs were photographed along with Roe Deer in front of the Loversall Pool Hide, Several Longhorn Beetle Rutpela (Strangalia) maculata were noted including a mated pair. A female Emperor was egg laying in the smaller of the two 'dragonfly ponds'.

Two newt species were noted coming to the surface for air on the same ponds along with numerous different water beetles.

Monday 5th

Two more images from yesterday at the 'dragonfly ponds' on Loversall Field. One showing a male Emerald Damselfly coming to grief in spider's web (possible Crab Spider) and the second showing a male Emperor dragonfly at rest.

Two Mink were noted swimming across Willow Pool during the afternoon. This is bad news for the reserve and its breeding water birds and small mammals including the endangered Water Vole. Lets hope they move on or are caught quickly.

Sunday 4th

Today's damselflies and dragonflies included Emerald, Blue-tailed and Azure Damselfly with the latter being by far the most numerous.

At least three male and a single, egg laying female, Emperor were counted at the 'dragonfly ponds' in Loversall Field. The ponds and the area around them held three Four-spotted Chaser including a pair mating on the wing. A minimum of six Common Darter were also here and included a single male, at least four female and a single teneral, this species was also noted at several other sites around the reserve. Black-tailed Skimmer included three or four males and a single female. Two Southern Hawker were seen here and elsewhere one was near the Old Eea hide and another one was on Black Carr Field. A single Brown Hawker was also noted by GH on Loversall Field

Butterflies noted included numerous Ringlet, several Meadow Brown, three Small Tortoiseshell, six Comma (hutchinsoni), three Red Admiral, good numbers of Small Skipper, a single Gatekeeper, two Speckled Wood a single Green-veined White and a single Large White.

The green-eyed horsefly Chrysops relictus was present in good numbers and biting at every chance. Several different species of hoverfly including Volucella pellucens and Volucella bombylans were either resting or feeding on bramble patches.

A single Longhorn Beetle Rutpela (Strangalia) maculata was on the brambles and large numbers of Common Green Grasshopper were in the long grass.

A single small Common Frog was reported along with numerous tiny Toad.

(all above AP KW GH SL)

Report from John Hancox covering his sighting from Saturday and Sunday.

"Over the two days, a total of over 320 Ringlet were counted on the Reserve along with over 80 Meadow Brown. There was something of a resurgence of Small Skipper with 50 being counted on Saturday, though still far from the over 420 recorded a few years ago, having suffered from the ravages of the weather just at the peak of their breeding time in the intervening years.

Just a few records of Gatekeeper which should start to appear in increasing numbers in the next few days. There were a number of very active Comma and Small Tortoiseshell on both days and one or two Red Admiral were reported.

On Saturday, Emperor and Four-spot Chaser were in action on the ponds in Loversall Field.

Sunday brought the first Brown Hawker of the season along Cottage Drain. A few Common Darters were about and these will increase in number over the next few weeks.

On Cottage Drain, there were many newly emerged Emerald Damselfly, but interestingly all but one were females!

It was rather worrying that there were lots of Harlequin Ladybird, of at least four forms, in various locations but none of the indigenous species were reported."

Saturday 3rd

Derek Bateson reports:-

'Allan and Susan Parker, Ken Woolley and the writer took three groups from the Yorkshire Branch of the Society of Biology round the Reserve today, in quite warm sunshine.

Along with thousands of tiny toads, the following butterflies were noted:- many Ringlet are now on the wing along with Speckled Wood, several Small Skipper, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown, Large and Small White and a single Small Tortoiseshell. The Peacock caterpillars in Loversall Field were inspected.

Here we saw Emerald, Blue-tailed and Azure damselfly, plus Emperor Dragonfly over the ponds.

I took my sweep net and found hundreds of Leaf Beetle, Mirid and Capsid Bug, four different species of hoverfly plus four differently coloured Harlequin Ladybirds.

Various Orchid species were pointed out to the group, plus Fox and Cubs (Orange Hawkweed), and several other flowering plants.

At the Field Centre, some interest was aroused when one of the female kitchen staff discovered a two feet six inch long Grass Snake which had squeezed under the locked mesh outer door and into the kitchen. It was soon evicted and gave good views to several visitors as it was persuaded to leave it's hiding place in the bread trays, eventually disappearing across the track and into nearby vegetation.

On leaving the Reserve, I took time to explore the over-spill car park area, at the reserve entrance, which held at least three female egg-laying Six-spot Burnet Moth (see image). I looked for caterpillars, of this species, but they all seemed to have pupated and numerous cocoons were found on tall grasses and other plants. (see image).

There were many grasshoppers, one was certainly Common Green Grasshopper Omocestus viridulus, (see image) others I was uncertain of, and one was a possible immature (see image).

There was also a very iridescent hoverfly, species unknown but probably a Cheilosia species.

Michael Bird reports:-

Plenty of butterflies were seen today around the reserve with Ringlet the most common. several Meadow Brown, Small and Large Skipper, two Comma, two Small Tortoiseshell, and a male Brimstone were also noted.

Female Emperor dragonflies were ovipositing in Willow Pool and the Ring Main Drain.

A young Newt was seen in the 'dragonfly pond' near the seat in Loversall Field.

A vixen with 3 young cubs was along the edge of Loversall Pool and a another Fox there was chasing gulls.

(all above BGAB and MAB)

Thursday 1st

Look out for both Large and Small Skipper butterflies which are on the wing now, being small and brown they can be easily overlooked.