Walking Around
Thursday, July 16th 2020
When walking around Foxglove it is always worth looking for something that should not be there. A nettle leaf with a dark mark on it proved to be a beautiful snail. There are not too many land snails on the reserve, although there are plenty of slugs on damp mornings!
A flash of orange and a Small Tortoiseshell butterfly landed on a Knapweed flower. Two years ago we saw very few of these butterflies but since then the sightings have increased.
Walking through Plover's Pool, wondering where the sheep were, I realised that I was being watched, by the ram (tup). Obviously I was a likely intruder so he had to guard his flock. Once he saw me move away he settled down again. I was no threat.
Gorse is controlled otherwise it would take over, but unfortunately it soon grows its spiky stems again. Sitting on one of these stems was a Black-tailed Skimmer. Usually found in the southern part of the UK it is spreading north and was a new species at Foxglove, recorded last year.
Whilst out on the training area Sophie and Ian spotted some pupa on a fence. On closer inspection a burnet moth was seen, probably Narrow-bordered Five-spot Burnet moth. The pupa are usually found high up on plant stems. These have gone for high and missed out the plant! Larva mainly feed on Meadow Vetchling, Red Clover, Sainfoin, and Greater Bird's-foot Trefoil, occasionally Common Bird's-foot Trefoil, White Clover and Bitter Vetch. Adults nectar (feed) on many flowers and sometimes can be seen on the Rayed Knapweed on the middle moor.
(0) Comments:
There are no comments for this blog post yet. Why not start the discussion? - use the form below:
Help Support Foxglove
Friends of Foxglove
The Friends of Foxglove Covert is for those individuals, families and organisations who would like to support the reserve through an annual membership subscription. Friends receive a regular newsletter and invitations to attend our various activities and social events.
More DetailsUpcoming Events
Access to Foxglove Covert Nature Reserve
Monday 18th March 2024 |
Foxglove Covert LNR is currently open with limited access. The number of visitors able to accesss the reserve at any one time will be limited.
Please be aware that this means you may be turned away or asked to wait when you arrive at the front entrance to Cambrai Lines
The usual signing in procedure remains in place; you will need to sign in at the front barrier and provide photographic ID.
We are hopeful that access will improve in the near future, but in the meantime, thank you to everyone for the continued patience and support.
Spring Crafts Day: CANCELLED
Wednesday 27th March 2024 |
The Spring Crafts Event is cancelled.
Undergrowth Newsletter
View All The Newsletters
Recent Blog Posts
- Dead Hedging
- Beautiful Bird Boxes!
- Completed Coppice
- Unconventional Scything
- Garden Birds
- Winter Fungi
- Winter highlights
- Happy 2024!
- Wonderful winter workers!
- Making A Start
- Visitor Information (Update)
- Autumn Crafts and Autumn Colours
- Weekend Waxcaps
- Meadows and Ponds
- Meet Foxglove’s New Ranger
- All Work and No Play?
- Field Centre open Sunday 15th October 12 noon - 4.00pm
- Paving the Way
- Getting further, faster - together…
- Brian’s Baler!
- Reserve closed Tuesday 26th September 2023
- The Revolution has begun!
- Learning to Scythe with Steve Tomlin
- A fine time was had by all!
- Bird Ringing
- Galls
- Late Summer into Autumn
- News from the North
- Thank you!
- A Quiet Walk
- Hanging Around
- Mipits
- Common Lizards Again!!
- Species
- Bird Ringing
- Keeping Your Eyes Open
- Weekend opening hours Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th August
- We are recruiting!
- Thank yous and Bye Bye
- When the Sun Comes Out
- Weather and Flora and Fauna
- Volunteers at Work
- More Photos from the BBQ
- Jenga
- Volunteer and Bye Bye BBQ
- Summer
- Summer Work
- More Wildlife
- Wildlife
- A Good Growing Season
- Weekend opening hours Sat 22 & Sun 23 July 2023
- Moth News
- Butterfly Roundup
- More Moths
- Butterflies and Moths
- Weekend opening Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th July 2023
- Watching
- Juvenile Birds
- Common Lizards
- The Scrapes
- Nesting birds
- Ooohs and Ahhhs at the Moth Traps
- Co-operative Plants and Animals
- Summer Maintenance
- Moth Update
- Warm Days
- The Bees Return!
- June Flowers
- Lots of Legs
- Sharing Ideas
- Questions
- Caught Chasers!
- Some Bugs and Beasties
- Snow in June?
- Chasing the Chasers and Other Insects
- A Lesson - Perhaps?
- Small Nest Box Time
- Half Term Trail
- A Winding Way Through the Reserve
- Checking the Ponds
- Around the Reserve
- Moths and…
- Wildlife
- Living Creatures
- Roe Deer
- Dippers
- Dawn Chorus and Volunteering
- CES 1
- Hive of Activity
- Job Complete!
- Trial Run
- Flowers
- Natural England
- At Last
- Spring Sun Winter Wind
- Last Photos from Gibraltar and Shy Moorhens
- Winter or Spring?
- More Flowers and More from Gibraltar
- Reptiles
- Spring is Springing!
Blog Archive
- Blog Posts from - 2024
- Blog Posts from - 2023
- Blog Posts from - 2022
- Blog Posts from - 2021
- Blog Posts from - 2020
- Blog Posts from - 2019
- Blog Posts from - 2018
- Blog Posts from - 2017
- Blog Posts from - 2016
- Blog Posts from - 2015
- Blog Posts from - 2014
- Blog Posts from - 2013
- Blog Posts from - 2012
- Blog Posts from - 2011
- Blog Posts from - 2010
- Blog Posts from - 2009