May

2008

The butterfly transect still has peacock as the commonest species, but orange tip have been quite plentiful and 3 grizzled skippers on 14th was the first record on the transect for a few years. Moth highlights included a reed dagger (Nb) on 4th and an orange footman on 6th. A more spring-like feel to the catches, with cinnabar, white ermine, numerous prominents (inc. pebble, coxcomb & swallow), knot grass, lunar marbled brown, chocolate tip & sandy carpet.

First odonata on the wing, with good numbers of hairy dragonflies and a few blue-tailed damselflies so far.

Grass snakes very much in evidence along the edge of the wood.

Brown hares still a feature of the marsh, and badgers becoming more active

2007

More like April than May, with over 3" of rain.  The effects of the lack of rain in April was evident in the wood, where the display of bluebells was almost finished in the first couple of days. Normally, they can be relied upon to be out to mid-month at least. The butterfly transect suffered, although there were unprecedented numbers of holly blues in the wood, with a peak of 7 on the 18th. Some good numbers of commas, but little else of note. The 1st small heaths were recorded on 17th. Moth trapping also took a bit of a back seat, with only a few local species - chocolate tip, maiden's blush & dwarf cream wave; and a cream-bordered green pea (Nb) of note. The migrant diamond-back moth was recorded on 23rd, but is probably over-looked.

Hairy dragonflies continued to be recorded and broad-bodied chasers were noted from mid-month. Common, azure & blue-tailed damselflies all appeared on cue.

2006

Normally the spring month, but a bit of a wash-out this year! The wood is looking at it's best - carpets of bluebells contain a scattering of red campion, yellow arcangel and white garlic mustard; oak & ash leaves sprouting and everywhere there is the heady scent of the May-blossom - hawthorn flowers providing a valuable nectar source for a variety of insects. Look particularly for the curious micro-moth Adela reaumurella, which swarms around blossoming trees on sunny days. The males have metallic green wings & incredibly long antennae. Spring butterflies on the wing include orange tip, green hairstreak & (later in the month) grizzled skipper.

The moth trap was only run on a handful of nights. The best record was only the 2nd mocha (Nb) for the reserve on 4th. Other notables were a couple of records of emperor moth, and the local species scorched carpet & maidens blush.