October

2006

The lack of overnight frosts during this month in recent years has resulted in far more insect activity in October than previously. It is not unusual these days to see dragonflies on the wing right to the end of the month (& even into November!). Variety is limited, with only common darter & migrant hawker flying as late as this. The darter is the smaller of the two species. Males are a dull orangey-red colour, with females being an olive green. The hawker is up to c.4" long and is basically a pale blue colour, marked with black & green.

Butterflies too have benefited from milder autumns, with several species still on the wing until late in the year. These include small white, small copper, red admiral, peacock & comma.

Moth trapping continued through the month, although poor weather meant that the trap was only used for c20% of the time. Good numbers of large wainscots and the tail-end of species like lunar underwing, black rustic & setaceous hebrew character flight periods. Noteable records included still more migrants - 1 small mottled willow, 3 delicates + several rusty-dot pearls & rush veneers. The "local" beautiful hook-tip put in it's first appearance on the reserve in almost 20 years!

Still plenty of mammal activity around the reserve, with badger, fox, brown hare, stoat & weasel all having been seen recently or have left signs of recent activity.