The Knapweed, Teasels, and Loostrife are attracting lots of Plant bugs including a new species for my records,Oncotylus viridiflavus and lots of nymph stage Dock Bugs. Some interesting fly species including the Waisted Bee Grabber - does what it says- jumps on Bees and lays its egg in the abdomen of the bee which is then gradually consumed from inside!.
Most of the mud of the winter has dried up in Hardwick Wood with many of the paths now filled with grasses taller than me and everywhere vibrant green with mosses and foliage. I went to check on the butterfly population - certainly there are Silver-washed Fritillaries but not in abundance and they are looking fairly worn. Plenty of Whites, Red Admirals and Ringlets but didn't locate any Hairstreaks - I am sure they will be there high in the Oaks. I took a macro lens - not the best for recording flying woodland butterflies so big enlargements but hopefully gives of feel of this very beautiful and wild place.
The weather was excellent for the Open Day for the Dragonfly Society and resulted in most of the larger dragonflies being on the wing hunting and then resting wonderfully camouflaged in the undergrowth. Here Brown Hawker, Migrant Hawker, Southern Hawker and Emperor. The banded Demoiselles are still very active, plenty of Ruddy Darters (mating pair) and Common Darters (male and female) and a single Willow Emerald - the first of the year with Emerald now come to the end of their season. There were also Common Blue, Azure, Blue-tailed (mating image) and Red-eyed Damselflies
Yesterday was the second of three days sampling the aquatic life at Paxton Pits. Here are a few of the invertebrates that we discovered - not great photos as handheld and the subjects are very small and don't keep still for long!!
We visited Royston Heath on the hottest day so far and the butterflies responded by flying around pretty freely though in small numbers compared to a 'normal' year. The Essex Skipper and Gatekeeper were in pristine condition but some of the others were fairly battered and the Marbled White had the worst infestation of mites I've seen. We finished the morning photographing these Kite-tailed Robber flies mating.
