A walk in the park

by Ian Bushell

Just some thoughts and pictures on a pleasant Sunday afternoon walk in the reserve.

It was a bit breezy and with some threatening clouds but warm.  I walked along Lambrok Meadow and spotted a few Small Whites and a couple of battered Meadow Browns; not an auspicious start but so different when I got to one of my favourite butterfly spots – the Old Dog Pond.  Here about a dozen pairs of Common Blues were feeding on the Ragwort flowers along with a couple of Small Coppers, Gatekeepers and some Small Whites.   

A Comma passed through the area and to my great surprise I saw and photographed a Cinnabar caterpillar on the flower head of a Ragwort.  Despite extensive searching, it was the only one I found.  There were a couple of dragonflies swooping about and feeding but they refused to settle and be photographed and identified.  I meet up with Clive and Dillon and we had a leisurely walk round to Puddle Corner, along the bottom of Sleeper field, into Sheep field and then on to Fiveways.

On the edge of the copse in the set-aside at the top of Kestrel field there was an odd butterfly feeding on the Ragwort, luckily it stayed static and once home looking at the pictures realised it was a female Brimstone – I was really pleased.  In the long grass lots of chirruping and we got pictures of Roesel’s Bush-crickets, the long winged versions.

It has been a funny year for butterflies within the reserve, they seem to be coming in waves.  Prior to the hay cut, Meadow Browns dominated then Ringlets multiplied.  Always in attendance were Speckled Woods and of late Large and Small Whites.  Since then we have had Skippers, Marbled Whites, Red Admirals and Peacocks interspersed with Gatekeepers and Small Coppers.  Odd individuals have been the Silver-washed Fritillary, Painted Lady and a Five Spot Burnet Moth.

Still plenty of time this year and if the weather improves, there could well be some interesting sightings.

Cheers.