Another First

The weather has inevitably started to breakdown and both the buddleia and the butterflies are gradually becoming more scarce.

I took a belated walk to Chopwell East Field but as I had feared virtually all the vegetation had turned brown, including one particular area where the flowers had not been out at all on my previous visit this year.  Apart from whites the only species showing was a few speckled wood.  However, as I went round the fringe of the reserve and started to work my way back through Chopwell Woods, it did strike me that I was actually seeing a very large number of them, I'd say somewhere between 50 and 100, virtually all quite small and looking fresh.

One can only conclude that there has been a very successful late hatch.  I wonder how they fared over the succeeding days.

Another pleasant surprise was to spot a single small copper next to the main road on my way back to the village.  I've never seen one so near to home before.

Taking advantage of a tip off from a local naturalist, I took a brief trip to Wylam and quickly found my target - a little colony of ivy bees near the bridge.

Ivy Bee

The ivy bee was only recognised as a distinct species in 1992 and was for a long time only seen in the Channel Islands and the South of England - so a pleasing first sighting for me that I have been keeping an eye out for for some time. They were all males.

My other trip out at the weekend was to Carlisle Gardens at Morpeth.  They looked quite promising with plenty of flowers in bloom but the sun was not to be seen. Apart from a bumblebee giving a wasp a bit of a hiding, the main noteworthy item was the floral clock.

Floral Clock 

Apparently it is one of very few floral clocks that are still working.  Ironically it had stopped before I was there.

Returning to the subject of butterflies, Butterfly Conservation are suggesting that the Big Butterfly Count indicates only a small rise in numbers this year.  My perception is rather more positive.  I have never seen as many small coppers as this year and white and purple hairstreak seem to have done well.  In the garden red admirals and large whites have been prolific this year, with a good late burst of small tortoiseshells. While it hasn't been a painted lady year, there have been a fair few about.  

I sometimes think that the Big Butterfly Count is prone to statistical error, relying as it does on sightings over three weeks at the end of July/beginning of August.  Certainly it's not a good time to count orange tips or green hairstreaks!