Insects of the heat

Hello

Up to 35C degrees locally which makes it a little uncomfortable to be out for much of the day.

In this heat the insects are in their element and a hundred Marbled Whites and a Purple Emperor at Lamport Hall is evidence of this.

A visit to Pitsford Reservoir this afternoon provided a fishing Osprey north of the causeway plus a Marsh Harrier, an Oystercatcher, a Redshank, a Green Sandpiper and a Great White Egret, one of a couple which are summering at this site for the first time. Marbled Whites were everywhere in the Scaldwell Meadow plus Small Heath, Small Skipper, Small Tortoiseshell and Meadow Brown.

Three Little Ringed Plovers were at Stanford Reservoir today where also a Common Sandpiper and three Pochard.

Further butterflies were a Clouded Yellow at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell and at least two more near shrike hedge in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton. Marbled Whites were numerous in these areas too and a Barn Owl was hunting here early this morning.

A Purple Emperor was also on view at the more traditional site of Fermyn Wood today.

A Green-eyed (Norfolk) Hawker was again at Stortons Pits today on the west side.

Regards

Neil M

Green-eyed Hawker at Stortons Pits today.

Southern Marsh Orchid.

Large Red-eyed Damselflies.

Above images courtesy of
Tony Stanford.

Juvenile Common Whitethroat
courtesy of Tyler Atkinson.

Aphideater sp courtesy of
John Tilly.