Thursday 19th April 2018

Butterfly Species: Brimstone (5) Peacock (2) Small Tortoiseshell (2) Comma (1) Small White (1)

Scarlet Tiger Moth Larva (Callimorpha dominula)

Two weeks on from my first trip and the temperature has risen to between 14-17c. More butterflies are present including my years first Small White.

It was noticeable how much greener the route looked compared to my first trip. Many more flowers had appeared including the first Bluebells.

Both male and female Brimstone butterflies were on the wing and were the most commonly met with of the five species seen.

The other notable sighting was a single Scarlet Tiger Moth larva. This was spotted feeding on a Common Comprey plant near the Wellow end of the path. This species has extended its range considerably during the latter half of the 20thC.

Heading back towards the tunnels, as I passed and area cleared by volunteers in March, I noticed a small Grass Snake disappearing down one of the many holes that perforated this section of the embankment.



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