Green Hairstreaks and more...

A few highlights from the first 10 days of May. It’s amazing what a bit of warmth and sunshine can achieve!

The first Green Hairstreaks have emerged, spotted by butterfly surveyor Brendan Sheridan on the 3rd. The first Small Copper was also fluttering around the chalk dell on the 4th, occasionally tussling with a territorial Green Hairstreak and a less aggressive Holly Blue.

Also of note, the leaves of Common Spotted and Twayblade Orchids are beginning to form and colour.

Small Copper on nettle

Green Hairstreak nectaring on Forget-me-not. This butterfly rarely feeds so a nice moment to capture

The brown upper-wing of the Green Hairstreak. Very rarely seen without the aid of a photographs/video

First moth trapping of 2016

Ben and Roger set themselves the ambitious task of trapping at 3 Box Moor Trust sites simultaneously on 12/4/2016 (Gadespring, Roughdown and Westbrook Hay). In spite of torrential rain, dodgy electrics and spluttering motors, they had the skill, patience and dogged determination to stick with it. Between them, they trapped and netted some exciting specimens: for the full account, including some superb photographs, head on over to Ben's blog, HERE.

Willow Warbler arrives

Not the best photograph but the first Willow Warbler of the year to arrive from sub-Saharan Africa to the dell at Roughdown Common. Wonderful to hear him singing in the sunshine today.