Holly Blue

A lovely little butterfly and not uncommon but I don't see a lot of these despite having loads of both Holly and Ivy here. This year there are definitely more and one kept still long enough for me to take a photo.

Butterflies

It's been a good year, in general, for butterflies. A huge increase in Small Tortoiseshells despite reports of them decreasing elsewhere, lots more Peacocks, a good year for Marbled Whites and also for Small, Large and Green-veined Whites. Reasonable numbers of Common Blues and Meadow Browns and Gatekeepers and I have recorded some species I didn't see last year such as Holly Blue and Silver-washed Fritillary. Today there were six specieson the Buddleia including this Red Admiral.

New Species - Roesel's Bush Cricket

Another one for the Orthopterans list - the Roesel's Bush Cricket which brings the count to seven species. Luckily it is an easy one to identify as I did not have my camera with me which is the usual way I id insects. I think there is a general decrease in the density of grasshoppers and crickets this year-last year there were hordes of them. The list in full: Dark Bush Cricket Pholidoptera griseoaptera Meadow Grasshopper Chorthippus parallelus Field Grasshopper Chorthippus brunneus Common Green GrasshopperOmocestus viridulus Speckled Bush Cricket Leptophyes punctatissima Common Groundhopper Tetrix undulata Roesel’s Bush Cricket Metrioptera roeselii

New Species - Common Pipistrelle

I have seen at close quarters and recorded on my ancient bat recorder two species of bat on site - the Soprano Pipistrelle (Pipistrellus pygmaeus) and the Lesser Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus hipposideros). I have seen a Common Pipistrelle (Pipistrellus pipistrellus) at a neighbour's house but my bat recorder was not subtle enough to detect one on site. However my new hi-tech recorder (Echo Meter Touch 2 Pro) managed to find both species of Pipistrelle on its first outing last night. I look forward to detecting more species but I have seen very few bats around this year which is concerning.

Waxcap #4 - Dingy Waxcap

This is the last of the 'early' waxcaps we see here. It is distinctive in its slow reddening of stipe, flesh and gills and its chemical smell. Very unfairly named in my view.

Waxcap #3 - Spangle Waxcap

Usually arrives around this time as one of the early season Waxcaps. Usually appears in the North Field as well. Small but perfectly formed, the red striae, translucent reddish centre and reddish top to the stipe are distinctive.

Burnet Saxifrage - back again

Two years ago I recorded a single Burnet Saxifrage in the middle of the East Field. It is back again and as it is a perennial I assume I just missed it last year or it got eaten. I am hoping it can generate seeds this year even though there is only a single bloom.