Monday 24th September 2018

Butterfly Species: Speckled Wood (5) Small White (5)


Monday 24th September will probably have been my last weekly butterfly walk of the season. The weather is cooling fast and the autumn colours are appearing. I now need time to collate and review the past months and and reflect on what has been an unusual summer for butterflies.

Despite the changing seasons there are still some butterflies to be seen out and about along the path. Small Whites and Speckled Woods can be seen fluttering in the shafts of oblique sunlight beaming through the trees.

My first record of the Specked Wood was on my April 26th walk. Since then I have completed 19 walks and recorded this butterfly on all by five of these. They have been an almost continuous presence companion and its fitting they will be the last to leave the path as the winter approaches.

Burnet Moth Cocoon - 24-09-2018

The vegetation along the embankments is now turning autumnal  with some signs of the summer past lingering as a reminder such as long abandoned Burnet Moth cocoons. 

Cycle Path - Wellow 24-09-2018

There is still some frenzied insect activity to be found. Further along the path near the Wellow Riding Centre there is some flowering Ivy covering a wall, where a varied assortment of bees, wasps and Bluebottle flies were noisily hovering up the available nectar.

Flowering Ivy - Wellow 24-09-2018



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

One Square Kilometre

Image
I have come to appreciate the landscape around Tucking Mill and Midford as a special place for nature and have frequently been surprised at the species I have seen there. All the species and photographs in this post were recorded between 2018 and 2024, in just one square kilometre centred on the Tucking Mill viaduct. The valley contains varied habitats, which include broadleaved woodland, species rich grassland and various bodies of water. This diversity, added to its isolation from intensive agriculture, has allowed the survival of many species that you just do not normally see elsewhere in the countryside around Bath.  The area's wildlife and geological history has been well documented over the years and I am mindful that I am just one of many people who have taken a keen interest in the area's biodiversity.  Tucking Mill valley from near Summer Lane Wessex Water, as one of several landowners in the valley, recognise its environmental sensitivity and have surveyed and maint...
Read more

Saturday 2nd September 2023

Image
Species: Brown Argus (2) Common Blue (2) Meadow Brown (2) Red Admiral (6) Small White (1) Speckled Wood (5) Brown Argus - Tucking Mill 02-09-2023 The afternoon of the 2nd September was warm and sunny with the temperature peaking at 22c. I first headed towards the grassy embankment, just south of the Tucking Mill viaduct. Spotted Flycatcher - Tucking Mill 02-09-2023 There were few butterflies on the embankment itself but my attention was drawn by a small bird fliting in and out of a Elder tree. It appeared to be a Spotted Flycatcher. Devil's Bit Scabious - Tucking Mill 02-09-2023 The field on the other side of the fence was thick with flowering Devil's Bit Scabious. I see this plant growing in various locations in the valley, but this year is is proving abundant. Common Darter Dragonfly - Horsecombe Vale 02-09-2023 In Horsecombe Vale there were a few Red Admiral butterflies and quite a few Common Darter dragonflies. At this time of year, in an early September afternoon, the woo...
Read more

Saturday 24th June 2023

Image
Species: Common Blue (4) Ringlet (1) Comma (8) Silver-washed Fritillary (1) Meadow Brown (7) Small Skipper (6) Marbled White (9) Black-tailed Skimmer - Tucking Mill Viaduct 24-06-2023 A late afternoon visit on a warm (26c) but cloudy day led to few butterflies being about, but some interesting sightings nonetheless. A Black-tailed Skimmer was basking on the path that traverses the Viaduct. Not a species I have seen before in this location.  Beautiful Demoiselle Damselfly - Tucking Mill 24-06-2023 Also near the path was another Odonata species, this time a Damselfly. A Beautiful Demoiselle flew past and perched on a tree. Comma - Horsecombe Vale 24-06-2023 In Horsecombe Vale I had just a brief glimpse of a Silver-washed Fritillary but there were a number of Comma butterflies still flying. Variimorda villosa  'Tumbling flower beetle' - Horsecombe Vale  24-06-2023 It was in the valley I saw an unusual looking beetle feeding of a Bramble blossom. After some online research I...
Read more