June

2008

The butterfly transect has been fairly disappointing, although this may be due to the month falling between emergences. Either way, very few whites all month and fewer blues. The first meadow browns were recorded on 20th, with the first ringlets the next week. A single small tortoiseshell on 9th was the first of the year and there was a painted lady and a hairstreak sp. (possibly white-letter) on 26th.

Moth trapping was a little better, although still unspectacular. National Moth Night (7th) drew a few people, but some ill-timed drizzle rather dampened the evening. Highlights were a smart peach blossom & a cream-spot tiger, but things livened up over-night, with 4 spp of hawk moth (eyed, poplar, privet & elephant) in the trap next morning! 

Other good records through the month were the reserves 2nd rosy wave, the first small angle-shades since 1992, a few records of cream-bordered green pea, a number of local species like obscure & southern wainscots and scorched carpet + several records of the Nb pyralid Schenoebius gigantella.

The expected dragonflies emerged, although scarce emerald damselfly seemed to be on the wing earlier than is usual. Still good numbers of hairy dragonflies around.

2007

Another wet month affected the inverts again. 3 butterfly transects were walked, but numbers & variety remained low until the 2nd half of the month. The first grassland species started to appear in the second week and numbers of meadow brown, small heath & ringlet began to increase slowly. Only 1 common blue was recorded & they seem very scarce this year so far. Commas, on the other hand, seem to be common.

The moth trap was run fairly regularly and produced a series of notable moths. Highlight was probably the first buttoned snout since 1997

But there was also the 1st reserve record of white satin moth, as well as a number of other "local" species: large nutmeg, scorched wing, square-spot, triple-spotted pug, small elephant hawk & light brocade. A few nationally scarce (Nb) things like the aforementioned snout + cream-bordered green pea, water ermine & rosy wave. A couple of potential migrants were trapped; a delicate on 11th & a dark sword grass on 24th. Some good numbers of common stuff, like 320+ shoulder-striped wainscot & 50+ heart and dart and large yellow underwings on 10th. Plenty of dark arches and various rustics later in the month.

There was a large emergence of common darter dragonfly, but the weather hasn't helped with Odonata observations. Highlight though was a yellow-winged darter seen by Paul Hyde by the pond-dipping platform on 13th. This is the 1st reserve record, although there were records at Cliffe and at Rye Street in the invasion year of 1995.

2006

The un-springlike May seems to have set back most inverts this year. Once again, early butterfly transects were very poor with things not starting to liven up until the last part of the month, when meadow brown numbers increased, small heaths were more noticable than in recent years and the first purple & white-letter hairstreaks appeared on cue.

Small red-eyed damselflies were first noted on 23rd again. Black-tailed skimmers are widespread and scarce emerald damselflies are present in good numbers in suitable habitat.

2 new moths were added to the reserve list - grey pine carpet is a common species, but I guess there aren't too many pines around Northward; and small mottled willow is a migrant. There were 2 in the trap on 25th. Another migrant, the micro- Eucosma metzneriana was taken on 22nd. A lime hawk moth was taken on 2 nights and other notables included light feathered rustic (Nb), a good run of the local obscure wainscot; scorched wing, the first lilac beauty for 15 years, a few white-points, the first cream-bordered green pea of the year and shed-loads of shoulder-striped wainscot, dark arches & heart & dart.

2005

This years Water Vole census researcher has predicted a population of 800 animals at Northward Hil & Rye Street after the breeding season.

The first individual of Small Red-eyed damselfly was noted on 23rd. It hasn't been a classic year for Odonata so far, but Emperor, Common Darter, Broad-bodied Chaser and Black-tailed Skimmer dragonflies; and Common Blue, Blue-tailed and Emerald damselflies are on the wing at the moment.

Butterfly transects were rather disappointing early in the month - transect on the 9th recorded 10 individual insects! And six of those were Speckled Wood. Later transects were better, eg. on 23rd there were over 50 Meadow Browns, the first White-letter Hairstreak and a few Commas, Ringlets and Common Blues. Good numbers of Small Heaths are found on the grassland and there have been a few records of Marbled Whites eg 25 on 27th. The first Purple Hairstreak was seen in the public area of the wood on 24th.

Moth highlights have included two new species for the reserve - Orange Moth and the nationally scarce (Nb) White Colon, both on 29-30th. Other Nb species included a Water Ermine (4-5th), Reed Dagger (9-10th & 29-30th) and a good run of Cream-bordered Green Pea. There have been good numbers of Privet, Poplar, Eyed & Elephant Hawk Moths. Other notable records include Obscure & Silky Wainscot's, White-points and a Coxcomb Prominent.