Monday 13th May 2019

Butterfly Species: Brimstone (5) Grizzled Skipper (1) Dingy Skipper (2) Orange Tip (1) Holly Blue (2) Speckled Wood (1) Green-veined White (1)

Dingy Skipper - Tucking Mill - 13-05-2019
A nice sunny day, temperatures reaching 17c and plenty of butterflies in flight! A much better day than my last trip.

Today, I took the Two Tunnels route as usual, and cycled (and walked) out to the Wellow Trekking Centre. On returning, I paused at the Tucking Mill viaduct and took a walk along the footpaths away from the cycle-path. More of that later.

Grizzled Skipper - Tucking Mill 13-05-2019
All the usual species were to be seen, plus one new one, The Grizzled Skipper! I have seen this species already this year close to the cycle-path, but not actually on the cycle-path. It was busying itself at the top of the embankment at Tucking Mill along with two Dingy Skippers. Both these species seem much more abundant this year. I have seen them both in several locations around the Tucking Mill valley over the past three weeks.

Green Hairstreak - Horsecombe Vale, Bath 13-05-2019
After completing my butterfly count on the cycle-path I left my bike and took a walk along the surrounding footpaths. One runs westwards along Horsecombe Vale through the woodland alongside a small stream. At a point where the path runs alongside the bottom of a steep field, I saw several small butterflies. A grizzled Skipper, Dingy Skipper  and a solitary Green Hairstreak. This latter butterfly I have not seen in the Bath area for some years. A nice surprise!

Beautiful Demoiselle Damselfly - Horsecombe Vale, Bath 13-05-2019
It was along this path I came across one last treat. My first Beautiful Demoiselle Damselfly of the spring, a male sunning itself on the Brambles.

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