Ragweed Restaurant

Work offered the chance of a half day holiday so naturally being a dedicated servant of the company I was off and out like a shot. For today's walk I chose to take a relatively short stroll over to Willowbrook Industrial and Brookfield Plantation. It wasn't quite as sunny as it has been recently but it was still warm enough for many insects to be active.

Common Blue and Brown Argus.

Numbers of Common Blue butterflies seem to have rocketed over the past week and at least fifty, mainly males, were active. At least two Brown Argus were seen as well with one being particularly small. While the numbers of some species wax others wane and Marbled White numbers had dropped to three, a couple were also seen later in Brookfield. Browns and whites remain numerous though no Small Heaths were seen, they must be in between broods. The only other wildlife of note were several Common Blues of the damsel variety.

Essex, Small and Large Skippers.

In Brookfield Ringlets had replaced Common Blues as the commonest species with over a hundred being noted and many were feeding on ragwort. Many species seem drawn to this noxious weed and apart from whites and browns there were several Large Skippers and a Peacock partaking. Best butterflies here were three Silver-washed Fritillaries which included at least one female. Further sightings of Brown Argus were made while examples of both Essex and Small Skippers were found. At least one Comma was found too, it was taking nutrients from the damp bed of an all but dry pond.

Ragwort diners.

These dried ponds had a small population of Ruddy Darters hanging around them with about ten in total present. Several Commons were active in the wood as well as singles of Brown and Southern Hawkers as well as an Emperor. A bit of a surprise came in the shape of a male Banded Demoiselle which had perhaps wandered up from the River Welland.

Silver-washed Frit, Common and Ruddy Darters.

Two species of day flying moth, Six-spotted Burnet and Cinnabar, rounded off the insects while several Fallow Deer and a Peregrine provided the other wildlife highlights.

Six-spotted Burnet and Cinnabar Moths.