Harrington insects

Hello

In between admin work, I found time to visit Harrington Airfield this afternoon in warm but dull conditions and before the main body of showers materialised. Birdwise it was just the usual species on-site but did include three Grey Partridges. The orchids always look good at this time of the year but there are very few Bee Orchids this time but plenty of Common Spotted.

At least twenty-five Marbled White butterflies were on the wing and the dull, still conditions was good for photographing them and other nectaring insects. Other butterflies included plenty of Meadow Browns and Ringlets, the usual whites, Small Heath, Small Tortoiseshell, Painted Lady and plenty of skippers, some of which were Essex Skippers. Day-flying moths included Burnet Companion, Cinnabar and Narrow-bordered Five-spot Burnet.

Yesterday I saw a Scarlet Tiger moth in the front garden and two days ago Fiona noted a family of Grey Partridges between Hanging Houghton and Scaldwell and an Orange-tailed Clearwing moth in her Hanging Houghton garden. Purple Hairstreak butterflies were also active in roadside trees along Mill Lane between Scaldwell and Hanging Houghton.

In the county as a whole there has ben a significant emergence of Marbled Whites (good numbers at Woodford Halse and Pitsford Reservoir), plenty of Hummingbird Hawk-moth records and the first of the Purple Emperor butterflies noted at Bucknall Wood and the Fermyn complex at Souther and Lady Wood. Silver-washed Fritillaries have been noted on the north side of Salcey Forest in recent days and the first-emerged White-letter Hairstreaks and Gatekeepers have been reported.

This evening there was a hunting Barn Owl and at least five Marbled Whites at Lamport Hall.

Regards

Neil M

Jaeger and Rouzel.

Smeagol.

Narrow-bordered Five-spot Burnet.

Marbled White.

Essex Skippers.

Mullein.

Marbled White.

Bee Orchid.
All images from Harrington
Airfield this afternoon.