 |
a smart new sign has appeared
|
An afternoon visit this week . The reserve often seems quiet in the afternoons and today was no exception. Very few bird photos, but there were plenty of butterflies about to keep me occupied.Here is what I recorded:
Birds:
SC209694 Mallard female; male Blackbird; Swallow. Sedge Warbler heard not seen ( call not song) Woodpigeon flying over.
SC208694 3 Goldfinch flying over.
SC209693 Woodpigeon flying over.
Butterflies & Moths:
SC210694 Holly Blue x 2 in roadside ivy, also seen just inside gate.
SC209693 Speckled Wood x 3 including 2 in courtship mode.
SC209694 Path Junction 2 x Speckled Wood; Common Blue; Unidentified White; Speckled Wood also seen from hide.
SC208694 Green Veined White; Small White; Large White; Common Blue x 2; Small Heath.
SC208695 Speckled Wood.
SC209695 Speckled Wood x 2.
SC209695 Udea lutealis moth.
SC209694 Grass moths here and throughout reserve
SC209693 Holly Blue.
SC209695 Red Admiral.
Other:
SC208694 Crane Fly.
SC209695 Common Wasp; Bumble Bee species; Green Shieldbug nymph; "Footballer" Hoverfly.
SC208694 Gorse Shieldbug nymph in gorse
SC209695 Hawthorn Shieldbug nymph on Hawthorn berries
SC209694 Rhingia species Hoverfly.
SC209694 Pond Life: Water Boatman, Pond Skater, Diving beetle.
SC208694 Large unidentified fungi on Compost Heap.
SC208694 still large fairy rings under willows.
SC208695 unidentified fungi along path.
SC209694 Common Froghopper
SC209694 very large spider guarding eggs in hide.
SC208694 Green Capsid on Blackberry.
SC209694 Soldier Beetles here and throughout reserve.
SC209693 dead Pygmy Shrew on path.
SC209693 Angelica in flower
 |
Mallard - my only bird photo of the afternoon!
|
 |
Holly Blue - note the underwing markings
|
 |
then compare the Common Blue, which is quite different
|
 |
the Purple Loosestrife is attracting Green Veined Whites
|
 |
and Small Whites too
|
 |
Speckled Woods are still abundant
|
 |
this one was near Ginnie's Bench
|
 |
and this one at the opposite end of the Reserve
|
 |
an Udea lutealis Moth, I think
|
 |
these white Grass moths are everywhere
|
 |
the new pond
|
 |
with the Boatman back on its back
|
 |
diving beetle
|
 |
Pond Skater - what big eyes they have
|
 |
the very Orange Hoverfly was on the Sneezewort again
|
 |
here it's with a different species of Hoverfly
|
 |
a closer look
|
 |
here with an unidentified fly
|
 |
a Rhingia species Hoverfly
|
 |
and the "Footballer" Hoverfly
|
 |
| Crane Fly |
 |
Common Wasp
|
 |
| Froghopper |
 |
a very large spider in the Hide
|
 |
Green Capsid Bug enjoying a juicy blackberry
|
 |
ants under Ginnie's Bench
|
 |
a Green Shieldbug nymph
|
 |
and a Gorse Shieldbug nymph
|
 |
I think this one is a Hawthorn Shieldbug nymph
|
 |
it was certainly on the Hawthorn berries
|
 |
Soldier Beetle
|
 |
large toadstools on the compost heap
|
 |
you can see the gills in this photo
|
 |
where it had been nibbled, the yellow flesh looked like Madeira cake!
|
 |
new fungi are popping up everywhere at present
|
 |
the fairy rings are still going strong under the willows
|
 |
Angelica in flower
|
 |
once more the chairs have "walked" from the hide
|
 |
view from the Bowman Bench
|
 |
usual photo of the Boardwalk
|
 |
and the view from it
|
 |
the meadow is no longer quite so colourful
|
 |
at this time of year the paths can get very jungly
|
 |
looking back from the Boardwalk towards the hide
|
 |
Sneezewort and Loosestrife make a good combination
|
 |
view from the hide ramp
|
 |
and the usual view of the hide from afar
|
 |
view from Ginnie's Bench
|
 |
Nature's Bounty
|
But please remember there is a "No Foraging" policy on Manx Nature Reserves. The Wildlife depends on this bounty to get through the autumn and winter. Thank you for your co-operation with this.
Please click on the photos to enlarge them
