A lovely sunny day, we went to one of my favourite places to see what wildlife was about. Our mission to see Green Hair-streak Butterflies, Emperor Moths and Sedge Warblers, as we had yet to see any this year. We weren’t disappointed we saw all three (although didn’t manage photos of all). We saw 27 species of birds, including Whinchat, Cuckoo, Wheatear, Reed Bunting, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler & Sedge Warbler. We saw our first damselflies of the year, our first ladybird and lots more besides. Ahh Spring has finally arrived.
Whinchat (Saxicola rubetra) not a great photo but we saw 2 pairs
Here is a slightly better one I took in the same spot in 2010, they must come back to this same place year after year to breed.
Green Hairstreak (Callophrys rubi), dozens of these seen!
Hare's-tail Cottongrass (Eriophorum vaginatum)
Southern Upland Way
Hoverfly Eristalis intricarius
Common Heath Moth (Ematurga atomaria), dozens of these seen in all their different colour forms
Skull
Very green lizard skulking away
Hoverfly Rhingia campestris
Common Heath (Ematurga atomaria), dark form
Large Red Damselfly (Pyrrhosoma nymphula)
Loch of the Eyes
2 Banded Longhorn (Rhagium (Hagrium) bifasciatum)
Watched dozens of these emerging from an old stump
Drinker Moth caterpillar (Euthrix potatoria)
Drinker Moth caterpillar (Euthrix potatoria)
Southern Upland way, we didn’t see another soul on this stretch all day!
Lichen Cladonia sp
7 Spot ladybird
Stonechat
Yellow Pimpernel (Lysimachia nemorum)
Drinker Moth caterpillar (Euthrix potatoria)
Green-veined White (Pieris napi)
Marsh Marigold
Orange-striped Stonefly Perlodes mortoni
Green Hairstreak (Callophrys rubi)
Mirid Bug
Drinker Moth caterpillar (Euthrix potatoria)
Owl pellet, most likely Short-eared Owl
Eurasian Pygmy Shrew (Sorex minutus)
Orange-tip Butterfly
Mining Bee hole
Heath Milkwort (Polygala serpyllifolia)
Heath Milkwort (Polygala serpyllifolia) white form
Still some Merks left in the Kist!
Wood Sorrel
Primroses
Orange-tip Butterflies mating on Cuckoo Flower
Green Hairstreak (Callophrys rubi)
Northern Eggar Moth caterpillar(Lasiocampa quercus form callunae)
Buzzard
Lilypad
Loch of the Eye
Tadpoles
Lilypads
Also seen-the following taken by Mike:
Noon Fly (Mesembrina meridiana)
Cassida (Tortoise Beetle)
Mining bee
Mining bee
Hoverfly Sericomyia lappona
