Sandhouse Lane NR

Another fine April day with plenty of wildlife to enjoy. A small micro moth turned out to be Grapholita jungiella which was new for me - other day-fliers included Common Heath and Pyrausta purpuralis. There were  plenty of butterflies too:

• Dingy Skipper - 1
• Small White - 1
• Green Hairstreak - 9
• Small Copper - 2
• Holly Blue - 1
• Red Admiral - 1
• Speckled Wood - 4

Speckled Wood

Dragons were in evidence with four Downy Emerald, Large Red and Common Blue Damselfly.

Downy Emerald

Grapholita jungiella

Extremadura, Spain, May 2008

Spanish Purple Hairstreak

The Marsh Fritillary Eurodryas aurinia beckeri is a variable species across europe and asia. This one was basking in the garden of our base in Extremadura.

Speckled Wood



A female Common Blue

Thanks to Don Green and David Anderson who helped in the identification of the lacewing Nemoptera pennis.

Maulden Woods

At last - a fine, sunny day, with 13 species of butterfly and 81 individuals.

There were plenty of Speckled Wood to be seen:



Meadow Brown abound:



Peacock



Only 2 Holly Blue were seen



... similarly, 2 Red Admiral:



Three Small Copper - including this tatty individual: