Tuesday 22nd May 2018
Butterfly Species: Green-veined White (6) Brimstone (2) Speckled Wood (6) Marsh Fritillary (2)
With sunny weather and temperatures in the low 20Cs, there were plenty of butterflies on the wing. Just three species were identified but many more unidentified 'whites' were seen. These were likely to have been mainly Green-veined Whites rather than Small White given their flight pattern and size.
The first part of the route between Tucking Mill and Midford is now much shadier with the canopy now starting to close over the path. There were however many (10+) Demoiselle Damselflies along this stretch, many more than a week earlier.
Also noted along this stretch were two Marsh Fritillary over-flying the grassy embankment from the field beyond. The fields around Tucking Mill are a known locality for this rare and protected species after the laval nests were discovered by an ecologist working for Wessex Water the year before.
After passing over the Midford viaduct and onto the path once again, I noticed a small Buckthorn bush in deep shade. I counted four Brimstone eggs on the outermost foliage. Two of these were on the upper surface of the leaf. This was a first for me!
Speckled Wood butterflies were again in evidence having been conspicuous by their absence and week earlier due to poor weather although most now seem faded.
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| Cow Parsley in full bloom |
With sunny weather and temperatures in the low 20Cs, there were plenty of butterflies on the wing. Just three species were identified but many more unidentified 'whites' were seen. These were likely to have been mainly Green-veined Whites rather than Small White given their flight pattern and size.
The first part of the route between Tucking Mill and Midford is now much shadier with the canopy now starting to close over the path. There were however many (10+) Demoiselle Damselflies along this stretch, many more than a week earlier.
Also noted along this stretch were two Marsh Fritillary over-flying the grassy embankment from the field beyond. The fields around Tucking Mill are a known locality for this rare and protected species after the laval nests were discovered by an ecologist working for Wessex Water the year before.
After passing over the Midford viaduct and onto the path once again, I noticed a small Buckthorn bush in deep shade. I counted four Brimstone eggs on the outermost foliage. Two of these were on the upper surface of the leaf. This was a first for me!
 |
| Brimstone eggs on Buckthorn |
Speckled Wood butterflies were again in evidence having been conspicuous by their absence and week earlier due to poor weather although most now seem faded.
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| Female Speckled Wood Butterfly |
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