Friday 20 July 2012

The heavy showers predicted for this afternoon didn't materialise thankfully, but it did come over a bit dark at times, however it remained warm, and some short sunny spells were also had  :-) These enticed me to take a trip around the Tree Nursery looking for Butterflies and other insects, with the birds taking a back seat mostly. There were plenty of Butterflies about, hundreds of Meadow Browns, and scores of Skippers, mostly Small and Large Skippers, but i'm sure I found my first Essex Skipper amongst them, this is the 22nd and probably the final Butterfly species i'll find on my patch this year now. Green Veined White, Red Admiral, Small White and Speckled Wood made up a nice variety for the hour I spent in the Tree nursery. Whilst looking for Flutters I found a couple of Hoverfly species, which some kind soul might identify for me from the photo's below, I also encountered a large diving beetle in a shallow puddle that also needs Identifying, the puddles have been around so long now that they have developed there own pond life!

I eventually moved over to the Greenhouse Grounds, where I watched a mixed family of BLACKCAPS and WHITETHROATS, I also watched 3 of the KESTREL family flying together and calling to each other  :-)  SWALLOW, SWIFT, HOUSE MARTIN and CHIFFCHAFF were the other summer birds noted, I didn't spend much time birding though, i'll leave that to tomorrow mornings full patch walk  :-)

Immature Whitethroat at the Greenhouse Grounds
Gatekeeper
Green Veined White
Meadow Brown
Meadow Brown and Small Skippers, most of the Ragweed had multiple butterflies on it this afternoon , magic sight!
I thought this was a Small Skipper, but it turned out to be my first Essex Skipper of the year....
I also thought these were Essex Skippers, but they are in fact Small Skippers
Small Skipper
Here's one of the unidentified Hoverflies  -  species 'A' ( thanks to Davo, for suggesting ''Eristalis pertinax''
And here's unidentified species  'B' any help appreciated :-) ( Thanks to Songbird for Identifying it as a Drone Fly)
Here's the Diving beetle that also needs a name, or is it a water boatman ? ( Thanks to Songbird again, for suggesting this is in fact a water Beetle, going by the name Acilius Sulcatus
Lastly, the only Dragonfly seen today,  a  Common Darter

12 comments:

Lancashire and Lakeland Outback Adventure Wildlife Safaris said...

Where's yer hover pics Warren? You can always try www.ispot.org.uk plenty of hover experts on there.

Nice selection of flutters

Cheers

Davo

Warren Baker said...

Pushed the edit button instead of 'add image' Davo - Doh!

post finished now :-)

ShySongbird said...

Lovely flutter photos Warren especially now they've shown up properly ;-) You seem to be doing well with them on your patch despite the weather!

The second hover is a Drone-Fly (Eristalis tenax)

Warren Baker said...

Thanks for that Songbird, I can add that species to my photographic records now :-)

Phil said...

Great pics again Warren. Love the notion of puddles developing their own pond life!
I'll leave those in the know to decide if your skipper is an Essex girl.

Lancashire and Lakeland Outback Adventure Wildlife Safaris said...

A looks like Eristalis pertinax with its pale tarsi on front & middle legs

Cheers

Davo
PS how big was the beetle?

Pete Woodruff said...

Some more excellent images Warren.

I counted six Gatekeeper yesterday and I was 'looking' for a Gatekeeper pic and gave up, now look at that excellent one in your post today Warren. Like you said when you pushed the edit button....Doh!

Marc Heath said...

The 6th shot is an Essex Skipper, note the black antennae and the more pointed wings. The 2 below are Small Skipper.

Gary Jones said...

Great images Warren, love the shot of the Gatekeeper!

Greenie said...

Warren ,
Your comment page seems to be playing up now . The one I left last night has just disappeared .
As Mark says , the first single Skipper is an Essex , the other two are Small .
Also , like Davo asked , any more info or shots on the Diving Beetle ? Especially side or head on . Definitely not a Water Boatman .
Just remembered , the 'Show Original Post' tag didn't come up last night either on the comment page .

Jason K said...

Nice one on your first Essex of the year Warren...those black tips couldnt be any more text book!

ShySongbird said...

Hi again Warren :-) With my iPad I am able to stretch your beetle to screen size to get a clearer look especially at the head detail and am pretty positive it is Acilius Sulcatus which of course is one of the water beetles.