Migrant Hawker

Quite a few Migrant Hawker were enjoying another warm day at Dunstable Stw this afternoon. This one was resting on Spindle.

Clouded Yellow

There were four Clouded Yellow at Ledburn Road Sandpit this afternoon. A few of these migrant insects are seen in most years.

Wall Brown

Still hanging on in the brick pits. A second brood male Wall Brown nectaring on Knapweed.

King's Wood, Heath & Reach: 18/07/2009

As the weather for the next day looked foul, another visit to King's wood was in order. The highlights were three Purple Emperor, but fewer Silver-washed Fritillary. Purple Hairstreak numbers had increased, as did Painted Lady - most of the latter were fresh individuals. A single, fresh Brown Argus was my first for a while. A Southern Hawker stopped by to nibble on its prey.

Houghton Regis chalk pit - 12/07/09

There were at least thirty-eight Chalkhill Blue seen on a three hour amble around the pit.





Just a few Marbled White were on the wing.



A buddleia had a fair selection of lepidoptera including a Painted Lady and this Hummingbird Hawkmoth - a record shot only, unfortunately.



Surveying butterflies in an area that has no records since 1996 (SP9322) produced twelve species. There were plenty of whites including this Small White.

King's Wood, Heath & Reach: 10/07/09

There were four male and two female Silver-washed Fritillary in King's Wood, Heath & Reach today.

King's Wood, Heath & Reach: 27/06/09

This thistle seemed popular today playing host to Marbled White, Large Skipper, bombus sp, and Narrow-bordered Five-spot Burnet !



A Four-spotted Chaser



You never know who you might bump in to - this Red Fox was soon off after it heard the camera !



A typical posture for a Large Skipper

Heath & Reach - 23/06/09

Plenty of insects around today. In a field next to King's Wood, there were c.20 Narrow-bordered Five-spot Burnet moths - including this pair in-cop on a pupal exuvia poking out of the pupal case !



Nearby, a pair of Meadow Brown were busy.



A slightly worn Small Tortoiseshell, and the longhorn beetle Rutpela maculata.

Six-spot Burnet

At Sandhouse Lane NR a few Six-spot Burnet moths were present. The larval foodplant is Common Bird's-foot Trefoil - which is abundant on the site.

Black Hairstreak

A new butterfly for me today - three Black Hairstreak at a site in Bedfordshire. As expected, they were always up in the canopy. It was quite breezy and the blue sky soon disappeared. This butterfly has a short flight season - the adults live for about three weeks, so I was happy to get the shot below.

Emperor Dragonfly

Two Emperor Dragonfly were patrolling one the lagoons at Dunstable STW today.

King's Wood, Heath & Reach

Unexpectedly, a basking dragonfly turned out to be a Downy Emerald.



Quite a few Hornet were milling around the woods.

A grave situation

Vandyke cemetary, on the east side of Leighton Buzzard, has small areas of habitat in amidst the mown sections. This was my first Small Copper of the year ! A few days ealier, and my only Holly Blue for the county so far this year was observed, though not photographed.

Sandhouse Lane NR, 23rd - 25th May

A hot and sunny bank holiday weekend !

It was nice to catch up with the Downy Emerald once again.



We are in the midst of a huge Painted Lady invasion.



A pair of Dingy Skipper 'in cop'



A new, ocassionally day-flying moth for me - Treble Bar



I liked the blokeh on this image of Green Hairstreak.



The male Common Blue seems to have limitless energy chasing rivals away - this one, however, takes a break



A Small Heath basking in the glorious sunshine.



Another day flying moth - Burnet Companion.

Green Carpet

A Green Carpet disturbed at Dunstable STW today.

Oxfordshire

A Four-spotted Chaser basks in the sun at Whitecross Green Wood.



Corizus hyoscyami is a Rhopalid bug which smells of cinnamen. It is usually found on sandy soils and is spreading northwards.



A male Orange Tip nectaring on Cuckoo Flower at Piddington Hill NR

Potton Wood

A pleasant morning at Potton Wood this morning to 'twitch' an orchid - Early Purple Orchid.



A Green-veined White on Cuckoo Flower

Wood White - 05/05/09

Nine species of Butterfly at a location in Buckinghamshire, one of which was new to me - a few Wood White were either constantly moving in the sun, or sitting still in the gloom making photography a challenge !



Another chance to see Grizzled Skipper.



Herb Robert Geranium robertianum



A female Minotaur Beetle (Typhaeus typhoeus) on the heath at Cooper's Hill NR, Ampthill in Bedfordshire. It is one of about sixty species of dung beetle found in the UK.

Brown Hare - 04/05/09

Rain and cloud meant few insects today.

A Brown Hare stops and stares.

Kent - 29/04/09

Blue-tailed Damselfly at Dungeness.



A Common Lizard in a shelterd spot by a boardwalk



Hairy Dragonfly - a new one for me.



Ivy-leaved Toadflax Cymbalaria muralison the shingle at Rye Harbour NR - a naturalised plant from the Mediterranean. Likes to grow in walls, paths and rock crevices.