Butterflies at Edge

Sunday 4th May 2014
Duke of Burgundy, Edge Common
Butterflies on the wing at Edge Common (a.k.a. Rudge Hill) yesterday included c5 Duke of Burgundy, four Green Hairstreak and three Dingy Skipper, plus several Orange Tips and a Speckled Wood; also several Scarlet Tiger larvae. Note: Natural England are surveying the butterflies here and many of the Dukes are being painted with small coloured spots,in case you see some strange markings on them.
Duke of Burgundy, Edge Common
Green Hairstreak, Edge Common
Garden Tiger caterpillar on Hazel, Edge Common
Also some Red Mason Bees and St Mark's Flies.
Red Mason Bee, Edge Common
St Mark's Fly, Edge Common
At Highnam Court in the afternoon the lovely sound of House Martins and Swallows hawking insects overhead against the blue sky added to the summery feel of the day. Several Large Red Damselflies were around the lakes.
Large Red Damselfly, Highnam Court
A very vocal male Cuckoo was calling from the wood for much of the time, a first for me at this site.
Spoonbill, WWT
Saturday I caught up with the Spoonbill at WWT and saw my first Swifts of the year distantly from Middle Point in the direction of the 100 acre; In the afternoon I visited RSPB Nagshead with Linda where birds included five singing male Pied Flycatchers, three singing male Redstarts and a singing male Garden Warbler.

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