Privet Hawkmoth

I was privileged to be present when a Privet Hawkmoth larva was found in a wet meadow very close to The Narth. At the time I took some photographs and through that we were able to positively identify the larva. The surprise was that this was the first record of this species in Gwent for forty years and only the ninth record ever in the county.

New Butterfly - Green-veined White

Another new butterfly for the site making it about 12 species so far. More common and less exciting than the Marbled White but a new species nonetheless.

New butterfly - Marbled White

I was just thinking that despite the sunshine bringing out loads of butterflies they were all meadow Browns or Ringlets, when a black and white beauty flew across my eyeline. I have never seen a Marbled White before so it was a very welcome sight.

New flower - Fox and Cubs

This flower is not endemic to the UK, having been introduced in the 17th Century, but pretty widespread in the countryside now. I didn't record it last year so it is a new species for our meadow this year. It is a most striking hawkweed just for its colouring.

Nesting swallows

I'm delighted that swallows are nesting in one of the outbuildings. I realised last year that there were plenty of swallows but no nests on our land. To encourage them I installed four artifical swallow nests in outbuildings. Needless to say the swallows have totally ignored the nests I put up and built a makeshift nest resting on a girder. No pictures I'm afraid - I tried a flash assisted picture but it just frightened the fledgling who was sitting there and the photo didn't come out.

6-spot Burnet

A second moth has been formally identified (I'm starting with the easy ones) on our meadow. Fittingly this is the 6-spot Burnet after the previous day-flying moth identified which was the Burnet Companion (so named because it is often found with the Burnet). The Burnet is pictured on knapweed one of its favoured food sources.

More Orchids

Greater Butterfly Orchids are now flowering at the Pentwyn reserve. Here are a few surrounded by a rich mixture of meadow flowers and grasses.