Anyway, 2 Fridays ago we took a drive to my dad's friend's field. Dad had been raving about how wonderful it was so suggested we had a little trip down there. It is a few fields that slope downwards that are over grown with brambles, thistles, many types of grass, various species of vetch and a wonderful array of trees around the border. Dad's friend Nigel is hoping to do something with this land, but we convinced him to leave it be and not to get any kind of huge mower to flatten this area of butterfly heaven. As well as vast numbers of butterflies of several species, other insects such as grasshoppers and.... were seen as well as a bright green legged creature. Here are a few snaps from the day :)
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| I think this is Rhyssa persuasoria on a common knapweed flower |
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| Araniella cucurbitina which is sometimes known as the cucumber green spider and is one of the orb web/weavers |
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| Meadow grasshopper |
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| Mum amongst the huge thistles!! |
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| Large skipper on common knapweed (Edit: Small skipper) |
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| Common blue |
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| Common blue |
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| Essex skipper??? (Edit: Small skipper) |
Last Sunday (now 2 Sundays ago!) we were meant to have lunch at the Hook and Hatchet near Maidstone, but luckily we looked at their website beforehand - they were shut. Instead we took a picnic and sat outside and took Brack too. They have lovely woodland trust walks around there which was our main reason for going.
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| Small skipper |
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| Same one as above.... |
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| A young swallow wing flapping :) |
I am now so far behind that I will just post this and get round to posting some August photos soon! Sorry I haven't had a chance to catch up on all those lovely blogs you wonderful readers produce!
Well looking at the images you got I'm glad Nigel didn't take a lawn mower to his field.
ReplyDeleteGreat images Lou it's no surprise you're busy trying to catch up with your backlog, just not enough hours in a day :)
Thanks Doug! I think it would take a bit more than a lawn mower to get through all the vegetation! An added bonus! There is some lovely woodland at the bottom of the field too. Really aren't enough hours!
DeleteLOVE the blue butterflies Lou. Lovely to think of that great environment existing - must be thousands of insects living in it.
ReplyDeleteI know, if only more farmers and other land owners would leave a small area of their land for the wildlife, I don't think it would be in as much trouble as it is!
DeleteHo Lou Mary Playing catch up can be very tiring! These photos are all great although I love the first shot of agapanthus. Butterflies are wondeful.
ReplyDeleteThanks Margaret! I think my life must have got busier or maybe I take too many photos. I'm sure I used to manage to keep up!
DeleteWhat a lovely place. I love that little insect on the knapweed. I wonder what it is. Like the new type face by the way!
ReplyDeleteI think it belongs to the Ichneumonidae family and it seems they are parasites of butterfly and moth caterpillars so don't let CT see that you have said you like this little insect!!
DeleteThanks Re. type face, I think it is a bit more readable that the other one.
Lovely photos and a great selection of insects. What superb habitat - so glad the field is going to be left as it is :) Know the feeling about catching up - have a day's worth of wildlife records to update - just not enough hours in the day!
ReplyDeleteThank you :) I feel maybe I should try and do some sort of survey of the area! I wouldn't know where to start though!
DeleteGreat close up images of these lovely insects. I really like the Skipper photos, I had never seen one until I moved to Brixham. Love the contrast of the orange and blue of the lavender.
ReplyDeleteThank you Suzie :) They are quite fluttery so took many attempts to get one in focus! It was a bit of a windy day, so another element to contend with. I don't think I had seen a skipper until this year, well I may have done but just not realised. I feel like they have lots of character!
DeleteBeautiful photos. It is great news that this field is being left for wildlife. I love the butterflies and the young swallow trying out its wings is wonderful.
ReplyDeleteThanks a lot Wendy :) I always think the young swallows appear to be playing around and having fun!
DeleteBeautiful blues Lou!! Some lovely photos :)
ReplyDeleteI think the Essex Skipper is a Small, and the other two skippers look like smalls too :) hard to tell...
Good luck with the bloggery catching up!!
Thanks Tom :) I tweeted uk butterflies and they said exactly what you have just commented, so about 10 minutes ago I edited the captions. Thanks for correcting me, you obviously know your skippers!!
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