A sunny morning with still conditions, temperature reaching 25 degrees C. Not a great day for the smaller insects due to the heat, most hiding in the undergrowth to escape the sun. Dragonflies however were active around the Dragonfly Ponds with several Emperor Dragonfly Anax imperator present including an ovipositing female on the western pond. Good numbers of Black-tailed Skimmer Orthetrum cancellatum and Four-spotted Chaser Libellula quadrimaculata were present, including a praenublia form of the latter species, with the extended spots spreading across the wings. A single male Large Red Damselfly Pyrrhosoma nymphula was also still present around the ponds. Several recently emerged Emerald Damselfly Lestes sponsa were in the long grasses on the south side of the western pond. Still plenty of Common Darter Sympetrum striolatum emerging, many making their maiden flight. Azure Damselfly Coenagrion puella, Common Blue Damselfly Enallagma cyathigerum and Blue-tailed Damselfly Ischnura elegans were all present in good numbers.
Emperor Dragonfly – Anax imperator
Four-spotted Chaser – Libellula quadrimaculata
Black-tailed Skimmer – Orthetrum cancellatum
Emerald Damselfly – Lestes sponsa
Large Red Damselfly – Pyrrhosoma nymphula
Seven species of Butterflies noted on this visit, full list detailed below, Small Skipper Thymelicus sylvestris being the latest addition to the year-list (NFY). Also of interest was a Vapourer Orgyia antiqua (NFY) caterpillar found along the western path.
Small Skipper – Thymelicus sylvestris
Meadow Brown – Maniola jurtina
Vapourer – Orgyia antiqua
Nothing much else to report other than four Stoat Mustela erminea putting on an excellent display along the Northern Path.
Stoat – Mustela erminea
7-spot Ladybird – Coccinella septempunctata
Common Red Soldier Beetle – Rhagonycha fulva
Oedemera lurida
Butterflies (7)
Common Blue – Polyommatus icarus
Large Skipper – Ochlodes sylvanus
Large White – Pieris brassicae
Meadow Brown – Maniola jurtina
Ringlet – Aphantopus hyperantus
Small Skipper – Thymelicus sylvestris (NFY)
Speckled Wood – Pararge aegeria
Dragonflies (9)
Azure Damselfly – Coenagrion puella
Black-tailed Skimmer – Orthetrum cancellatum
Blue-tailed Damselfly – Ischnura elegans
Common Blue Damselfly – Enallagma cyathigerum
Common Darter – Sympetrum striolatum
Emerald Damselfly – Lestes sponsa
Emperor Dragonfly – Anax imperator
Four-spotted Chaser – Libellula quadrimaculata
Large Red Damselfly – Pyrrhosoma nymphula
Bees (4)
Common Carder Bee – Bombus pascuorum
Large Red-tailed Bumblebee – Bombus lapidarius
Tree Bumblebee – Bombus hypnorum
White-tailed Bumblebee,Bombus lucorum
Moths (3)
Common Marble – Celypha lacunana
Garden Grass-veneer – Chrysoteuchia culmella
Vapourer – Orgyia antiqua (NFY)
Grasshoppers and Crickets (1)
Speckled Bush-cricket – Leptophyes punctatissima
Flies (5)
Broad Centurion – Chloromyia formosa
Common Green Colonel – Oplodontha viridula
Flecked General – Stratiomys singularior
Four-barred Major – Oxycera rara
Twin-lobed Deerfly – Chrysops relictus
Hoverflies (7)
Episyrphus balteatus
Eristalinus sepulchralis
Eristalis intricarius
Syritta pipiens
Syrphus
Volucella bombylans
Volucella pellucens
Mammals (1)
Stoat – Mustela erminea