Tuesday 21st May 2019

Butterfly Species: Grizzled Skipper (1) Dingy Skipper (1) Common Blue (2) Speckled Wood (1) Brimstone (2)

Speckled Wood - Midford 21-05-2019
It was a reasonably warm, bright, sunny day as I set off down the cycle path for my weekly butterfly count. The cloud was broken, and the sun was out, although for early May it was still quite cool. The temperature was hovering around 18 degrees Celsius.

At the Tucking Mill section of the cycle path I once again saw the two ‘Skipper’ butterfly species I had seen on my previous this trip. The Grizzled Skipper I first saw on my last trip along the cycle path. This is a new species for me this year. I have seen a number of these butterflies on and around the cycle path in the area around the path, but this is only the second time I have seen it on the embankments here. Alas, they were too quick to photograph this time!


As I cycled further along the path, I note that the brambles growing along the edge are now starting to come into bloom. By mid-June these Bramble bushes is will be alive with bees and butterflies.

Brimstone egg on Buckthorn - Midford 21-05-2019
Further along the path I cycled over the Midford viaduct and stopped for a moment at a buckthorn Bush I discovered here over a year ago. Last year I managed to find a number of eggs laid by Brimstone butterflies on this small inconspicuous shrub. This year so far, I have only managed to find just the one egg. There is time yet for more eggs to be laid by this long living species as they are still very evident flying busily up and down the path.

Brimstone egg on Buckthorn - Midford 21-05-2019

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