1st Visit to Brockholes Nature Reserve, Lancashire

On Tuesday 20th June, we visited Brockholes Nature Reserve, Lancashire for the first time. The visitor centre is a impressive floating within a lake surrounded by birds, fish, water lilies and during our time damselflies flying around.

On the way to the visitor centre, we spotted some old Harlequin Ladybird pupa cases still attached to the drawbridge.

We saw good numbers of butterflies, such as Red Admiral, Meadow Brown, Ringlet, Speckled Wood, Large White, Small White and Small Heath around the reserve.

 Speckled Wood

Red Admiral

Common Blue Damselfly

Six-spot Burnet moths were busy nectaring around the thistles.

Shieldbugs and Scorpion flies were on the Sycamore trees.

Scorpion Fly

We spotted a Four-spotted Chaser resting on vegetation.

It was an enjoyable visit to Brockholes and we will return.

Small Square Spot - Moth Update VC60

The moth trap was switched on Sunday night (18th June 2017) and again the evening was warm, but a full moon was lighting up the night sky over Nether Kellet in Lancashire.

The moths recorded were as follow:

Cypress Tip Moth 1
Barred Fruit-tree Tortrix 2
Heart & Dart 6
Large Yellow Underwing 2
Riband Wave (non banded form) 1
Riband Wave 1
Green Carpet 1
Small Square Spot 1
Common Pug 1
Ingrailed Clay 1
Since-dotted Wave 1
Silver Y 1

The Small Square Spot was a welcome surprise. I had not seen on at home (VC66) in the garden since 2010.

Here are another two photos of Cypress Tip Moth.

Whilst photograph the moths the White-tailed Bumblebees were busy collecting nectar from the Blackberry bushes.

Also a Wren sat for a few minutes in the sunlight

Sunday 18th June - Muncaster Castle

After watching the Grey Heron feed, the audience was introduced to the latest arrival at Muncaster.

A baby Tawny Owl.

As we left Muncaster Castle we spotted a Painted Lady butterfly on some plants near the pond.

Sunday 18th June - Muncaster Castle

Sunday 18th June was Father's Day and so we went to Muncaster Castle in West Cumbria primarily for afternoon tea in the castle, but the weather and surrounding countryside was beautiful.

After afternoon tea, we watched the local Grey Heron being fed, a tradition which has gone on for many years. The heronry near Muncaster Castle is quite old.

Moth Update from VC60

A week's holiday in North Lancashire & South Lake District starting on Friday 16th June was the hottest UK holiday I have ever had. It included my birthday and I can safely say that it was the hottest  birthday I have ever had which is usually cool and damp.

On Saturday morning, I was entertained by a non-feathered visitor to my feeder. The birds were not impressed and sat patiently along the branches of the cherry tree.

The first mothing was done on Saturday evening, which did produce some nice moths. The evening was warm and very pleasant, so I enjoy watching the moths nectaring before entering the trapped for a rest on the egg boxes.

Tachystola acroxantha 2
Light Brown Apple Moth 1
Barred Fruit-tree Tortrix 1
Cypress Tip Moth 1 (new moth for me and SD59)
Large Yellow Underwing 1

Cypress Tip Moth