At Rest!

Friday, July 5th 2019

Warmth and sun are excellent for all the invertebrates, but can cause problems when you want to take a photograph of something that flies! Moth morning was a good example, moths 10, photographers 3, meaning 10 flew as soon as they were released and of course disappeared into the undergrowth where we were unable to follow. A Peppered Moth did sit still. When it was ID'd we decided it was darker than normal but not as dark as the dark variation. It was quite worn but I was amazed that it had stripes on its legs.

Ringlet butterflies were certainly on the wing on Wednesday when the butterfly transect was carried out, all 128 of them. They usually sit with their wings closed so it was a careful step and a zoom of the camera to catch one sitting with its wings open.

Investigating a movement in one of the meadows we thought we had a Meadow Brown but then realised that it was too small. Stalking it saw it fly from grass to flower and back to grass again before it settled for a few seconds to allow a photo to be snapped. It was a Small Heath. This butterfly has shown a severe decline over the long term and is therefore a priority species for conservation efforts. It was not recorded at Foxglove during 2018. It is good to see it back.

I make no excuses for another photograph of the Four-spotted Chaser. This species was first recorded at Foxglove in June 2012. Over recent weeks it has been observed along Risedale Beck, near the heath, up towards the middle moor and of course on the wetland. It is widespread throughout Britain but slightly scarcer in Northern England.

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