My Garden: Interesting Moths, Bees etc

Great to see the Currant Clearwing back in the garden this year - I like the way the sheen on its tail plumes echoes the Anchusa flowers. It was joined by another relatively scarce moth the Orange Conch ,which was climbing up its foodplant, Ragwort, in the front lawn/meadow. Several new bees were also observed this last week - the Blue Mason Bee my favourite. Both Southern hawkers and Broad-bodied Chasers around the pond during the week.

Dragons and Damsels at Paxton Pits

Paxton Pits was alive with Damselflies (Variable and Banded Demoiselles) and Dragons (Scarce Chaser, Norfolk Hawker, nymph case and adult sheltering in the hedgerow). Lots of other insects around - Soldier Beetle, Green-veined Butterfly and Cardinal Beetle.

Marbled Whites and Southern Hawker Emergence Date

We recorded our first southern Hawker emergence from our pond and the first Marbled White in the wood meadow. This date 29th June is very close to the last two years - around 27th June; image taken with my phone so not great but a beautiful fresh male with creamy white and very dark brown markings. The garden has abundant Bombus hortorum at the moment

 

Dragonfly Survey at Paxton Pits

 Yesterday was our monthly Dragonfly and Butterfly survey at Paxton Pits. Scarce Chasers (1,2) and Norfolk Hawkers (3) were the most numerous of the Dragonfly species followed by Four-spotted Chasers (4) with occasional Emperors (5) and Black-tailed Skimmers (6). 'Blue' damselflies were too numerous to count so estimates of numbers were recorded - all three species present (just Common shown in various coupled positions)  plus Red-eyed (11). Lots of Banded Demoiselles.  Butterflies on the other hand were noticeably scarce - occasional Brimstone, Small Heath and a couple of other species. Finshing with a Cuckoo

Paxton Pits Dragons and Damsels

Paxton Pits now has a well-established colony of Norfolk Hawkers- a very attractive green-eyed dragonfly. The exuvia is probably a Norfolk Hawker though there are also Hairy Dragonfles (4) around at the moment. another speciality is the Scarce Hawker (5, exuvia - 6). As usual I had to revise the differences between the three common 'blue' damselflies. So in order they are Azure, Variable and common Blue plus Blue-tailed Damselfly.