After my brief outing to Chopwell East Field, I decided to see if things were any better at the brownfield site I visited early in the year and saw dingy skipper. If anything they were worse and all I could muster in 45 minutes was a single green-veined white, one shaded broad bar moth and a tatty looking female common blue:
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| Common Blue |
Otherwise the bird's foot trefoil had all but vanished and grasshoppers and mini moths patrolled the large expanses of sunburnt vegetation.
I don't know why I have been catching up with so many amorous butterflies lately but a quick exploration of the surrounds at a nearby car park revealed a couple of large whites getting in the mood.
Taking a policy decision it might be better to visit formal gardens (which get watered by human-beings) I set off yesterday to Seaton Delaval Hall gardens.
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| Large Whites |
Conditions weren't great with a strong wind and very brief glimpses of sunshine. The main formal garden seemed to have more emphasis on symmetry and exotic appearance than on encouraging nature and bees were the main visitors.
I was however quite pleased to find another white-tailed bumblebee on the lavender and also turned up what may be a member of the globetail hoverfly group.
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I haven't yet seen a specific suggestion for the hoverfly that accounts for the yellow face.
When the sun flourished briefly, the few whites were joined by the occasional red admiral and one peacock appeared.
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The buddleia is now out in the back garden and has today been visited by large and small white as well as peacock. red admiral and some fresh-looking commas, flying strongly.
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| Comma |
Today a couple of holly blues flew over and one caused a slight surprise when it landed briefly on the buddleia. Not knowing they did that, I momentarily mistook it for an undersized small white!
I've been bemoaning the lack of bees, partly the result of a clearout of dying and over-invasive plants. However a new pink plant has appeared without my intervention and has proved popular with honey bees and early bumblebees.
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| Honey Bee |
I checked the plant out and it appeared to be marjoram, which was duly confirmed by sampling one of the leaves.
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