July

As I write this, the rain is pouring down and I am reminded of the last two summers that hit our wildlife hard. However, so far at least, there have been spells of sunshine between the rain during this current unsettled period. Insects can survive downpours so long as there is sufficient sunshine to dry them out, and in the case of dragonflies, to allow them to hunt for prey.


A warm end to June gave the kick start needed to give July good numbers of ringlet in many areas. Willsbridge has had better years but the late June emergence continued into July. When I last checked on 15th July a few could still be seen in the grassy areas around the meadow.


Gatekeepers have emerged along the hedgerow by the horse paddock down the slope from the meadow.


Late summer commas have emerged earlier than usual in good numbers around the reserve - these are the darker variants that have matured slowly and will be joined later by the offspring of the lighter "hutchinsoni" commas that emerged last month. Both sets of emergences will overwinter as adults provided they can survive the next couple of months before hibernating.
Peacocks are also emerging and feeding on the buddliea bushes in front of the mill and behind the barn.


Despite worries about southern hawker numbers being down this year I saw three adults hawking for prey in the reserve. They are a highly mobile species so even if numbers in the mill pond are down currently, they should repopulate it readily from other areas.

Remember last May when The Times reported The Invasion of the Giant Painted Ladies? Blown out of all proportion by the paper, maybe, but there were thousands of migrant butterflies crossing the English Channel to our shores. Now, having reproduced on countless thistles, and sometimes nettle, the offspring are emerging. When freshly emerged, these butterflies are breathtakingly beautiful. Make the most of them as we might not get a repetition for many years.



A male southern hawker taking a rest from hunting for prey in the reserve. Once he has built up sufficient reserves he will adopt a stretch of water and guard it, waiting for females to visit to mate and lay eggs. Look out for them over the mill pond and the new refuge pond.














The privately owned horse paddock near the reserve's meadow area is looking very good for wildlife currently. A combination of light grazing and little other management is generating ideal habitat for small skippers such as this one.
Keep an eye out over the fence for them nectaring from knapweed as you pass.






This painted lady is probably an offspring from the mass influx from North Africa in May. Laying eggs on thistle and occasionally nettle they are maturing into adults now so we can expect to see many more before the end of summer. This one was snapped nectaring from teazle in front of the mill.








Look out for the summer's new emergence of peacock butterflies.
With just one brood per year, this is a long lived butterfly, conserving its strength in order to hibernate through the winter to mate and reproduce next Spring. The larvae feed on nettles in communal webs. This one was snapped on the buddliea behind the barn.

Here's hoping the current unsettled period ends soon.


Mike.

June

June is a relatively quiet month where dragons damsels and butterflies are concerned with the spurt of Spring hitting a plateau and the high summer emergences occurring in July. However, the warm Spring coupled with a good start to Summer has accelerated damselfly nymph development and good numbers of azure and large reds have been seen, especially around the garden tubs. The garden pond has all but dried out so it's fortunate that the tubs have been able to take up the slack. On 25th June the first ringlet butterflies were appearing in the reserve along with several hutchinsoni commas. The latter are a paler variant of the regular comma whose development from egg to imago is much faster. These go on to produce normal looking adults in the Autumn, mixing with the slow tracked individuals that emerge in late Summer. Also on the 25th a scarlet tiger moth was seen several times around the garden.A single dragonfly exuvia was seen on 30th at the mill pond. It's been a good year for large skipper, with a few individuals spilling over into the reserve from the horse field adjacent to the meadow area.

With three broods a year, speckled wood can be seen in wooded glades throughout the summer. This is a female. She is much less aggressive than the male, who will defend his patch by chasing off other butterflies.

The ringlet is a summer butterfly, usually emerging around 1st July. It was a week early this year. Best seen in the reserve near the meadow.

Large skippers are a meadow species but occasionally visit the wildlife garden to feed on nectar from the flowers there.

Scarlet tigers are occasionally seen in the garden. I have also seen a caterpillar or two at Willsbridge so I wouldn't mind betting that they breed there. They are a day flying moth but can be quite elusive, hiding the bright red underwing when at rest.

Have a good July, all.

Mike.