Friday 21st July 2023

Species: Silver-washed Fritillary (2) Green-veined White (1) Gatekeeper (4) Meadow Brown (4) Comma (4) Red Admiral (2)

White-legged Damselfly - Tucking Mill 21-07-2023

The weather on the 21st was cloudy and cool and I was not expecting to see many butterflies on the wing. The weather had changed to an unsettled pattern over the previous couple of weeks and this was my first chance to visit since the ninth of the month.

Gatekeeper butterfly - Tucking Mill 21-07-2023

A few butterflies were seen during my walk around the Tucking Mill valley, including Gatekeeper, Comma and Red Admiral. 

Black and yellow longhorn beetle - Horsecombe Vale 21-07-2023

Among the other insects I saw was a Black and yellow longhorn beetle. These large and colourful beetles are seen quite frequently in the shadier, wooded areas. Hoverflies were also present in the more flowery areas. These were mainly of the 'Eristalis' family of species.

'Eristalis' Hoverfly - Horsecombe Vale 21-07-2023

The grassy embankment just south of the Tucking Mill viaduct was looking very colourful  with plenty of nectar sources available but, due to the weather, no butterflies were seen.  

Further along the embankment I photographed a blue damselfly This turned out to be a White-legged Damselfly, a first for me. (See photo at the top of this post).

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