Some Inhabitants of Pumphouse Meadow Paxton Pits

The Deerfly and Horse Fly are two inhabitants of Paxton Pits best avoided as they can result in painful bites, others like the two striped Hoverflies are harmless despite their warning colours. Around 100 species of insects etc were recorded and probably about the same number of plants

2023 Earliest Sunrise

 Today (June 17th), the sun rose at 4.37am and continues at this time until June 21st when it will rise at 4.38am and then progressively later  till December!. I caught it just as it came over the horizon and then above the treeline. I was rewarded for an early start by a group of Hares at close range though not for long! and a very vocal Whitethroat. On our pond, a Southern Hawker was emerging.

Male Marbled Whites Have Emerged

There were numerous Marbled Whites on Royston Heath this afternoon - all males and keen to feed on the Thistles. Red Kites flew overhead while a pair of mating Robber flies clung on to swaying grasses. The other chalk flowers were Knapweed-Broomrape, Bee Orchids, Clustered Bell Flower, Dropwort and seeds of the Pasque Flower

Dragonflies, Damselflies and Orchids at Paxton

Every third Thursday in the month Paxton Pits runs a Nature Walk and I often act as back-up leader as today. The dominant wild life were the dragon and damselflies including Scarce Chasers, 4-spot Chasers, Keeled skimmer, Banded Demoiselle, Green Eyed Hawkers, Common Blue and Blue-tailed Damselflies plusPyramidal Orchid (with Cone-head Grasshopper) and Bee Orchid

Insects in Hockley Wood

Some insects plus a slime mould from Hockley Wood on Monday. The Thorn-hopper, Centrotus cornutus,, was my favourite bug of the day