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| a peaceful scene at the Reserve |
I called in briefly at the reserve on Tuesday, 24th August for a blow of fresh air between chores. There was very little bird life but plenty of butterflies and other invertebrates. Here is my report:
Butterflies:
SC209694 Wall Brown; Small Copper; Small Tortoiseshell; Small White x 3; Speckled Wood x; Common Blue.
SC209695 Green Veined White.
SC210694 Common Blue.
SC208694 Small Copper; Common Blue; Unidentified whites flying
SC209693 Speckled Wood x 3; Small White.
SC208695 Red Admiral; Speckled Wood x 3.
Birds:
SC209694 4 x Mallard
Other:
SC209694 Eristalis tenax x 2 Hoverfly
SC209695 Syrphus speciesHoverfly
SC209695 Gorse Shieldbug
SC209693 Buff Tip Moth Caterpillars
SC209694 Green Bottle Fly Lucillia species
SC208694 Unidentified Hoverflies hovering in sunbeam
SC208694 Unidentified spider web
SC208694 Hare's foot Inkcap fungus
SC209693 Green Shieldbug nymph
SC209694 Andrena species solitary bee
SC209694 3 x unidentified Dragonflies over the pond - probably Common Darter
It is the time of year when we remind people not to forage on the Reserve. Tempting as all that fruit and nuts may be, it's important to remember that it was planted as food for the wildlife. Wood Mice need the hazel nuts for their winter store, the apples attract winter thrushes, blackbirds and possibly even Waxwings if we are lucky. Birds, late butterflies, other insects and small mammals feast on the blackberries, sloes, rosehips and other berries on the reserve. Similarly, any edible fungus which might appear should be left for the wildlife. Your cooperation is much appreciated.
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| seasonal reminder |
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| Wall Brown |
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| controversial Cushag ( Ragwort) is a magnet for wildlife |
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| Small Copper and Eristalis tenax Hoverfly |
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| Small Tortoiseshell |
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| Small White with Eristalis tenax Hoverfly |
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| Small White SC209694 |
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| Small White |
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| Speckled Wood ( composite picture of same insect) |
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| Green Veined White |
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| Common Blue |
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| Small Copper |
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| Buff Tip Moth Caterpillars |
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| Green Bottle Fly ( Lucillia species) |
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| Gorse Shieldbug |
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| Syrphus species Hoverfly |
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| Hoverfly in a sunbeam |
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| Hare'sfoot Inkcap |
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| telltale signs of autumn |
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| when I grow up I shall be a Green Shieldbug! |
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| 4 Mallards on the pond |
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| Rowan berries are popular with blackbirds and thrushes |
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| an amazing spider web picked out by the sunbeam |
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| an Andrena species Solitary Bee |
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| as summer wanes seeds and berries provide food for wildlife |
My next visit will be in September - I look forward to seeing how the Reserve has changed.
With thanks to Steve Crellin for the fly and solitary bee identifications
Please click on photos to enlarge them
