Monday 27 June 2011

Ingrebourne Valley tuesday 27th june 2011

Had a couple of hours this morning watching for White-Letter Hairstreaks.  Still not that many showing themselves but I still think they will.   They are appearing on a variety of trees at the moment which keeps you moving around.   There are plenty of Purple Hairstreaks,   infact I went back this evening and saw them everywhere,  they are more flighty in the evening,  flitting from oak tree to ash from ash to hawthorn,  even down to head height,   I must have seen at least 20. Colin Jupp always does an evening watch and I can see why.  

Friday 24 June 2011

Ingrebourne Valley Butterflies and bugs friday 24th june 2011

The White-Letter Hairstreaks are coming out.  I don't know why they are later than other places.  It wasn't until the end of june last year that they appeared at the valley ,so they are on time here.  These other places may be more established or there is another plausible explanation.  Interesting!

Purple Hairstreak

Purple Hairstreak


Purple Hairstreak

Purple Hairstreak

White-Letter Hairstreak

Comma

hornet mimic Hoverfly, Zonaria (pellucens)



Bee mimic Hover fly, Volucella (pellucens)

Thursday 23 June 2011

White-Letter Hairstreak at the Ingrebourne Valley

Had an hour this morning to look for the W L Hairstreaks,  didn't see any on the Elms so I moved 50 metres to some Oaks where I had seen some Purple hairstreaks.  Straight away I saw one quite a way up but viewable.  Then I saw another 2 feet away and then realised it was a White letter H.  It must have got blown there or flew there.  Unusual to see a White letter on an oak.  

White-Letter Hairstreak

Purple Hairstreak

P H

PH

PH

Monday 20 June 2011

Ingrebourne Valley monday 20th june 2011


Every time I go to the valley recently I see a Hobby,  especially behind St G's,  must have a nest there somewhere.   Our prayers for rain have been more than answered,   there has been an inundation.  Should last the summer now.

Saturday 18 June 2011

Progress?

                                                                    Progress?
                                                      The warm damp mist hovers
                                                      around the hazy canopy
                                                      as the light appears over the
                                                      timeless forest
                                                      and into the still quiet air the
                                                      awakening sounds
                                                      of the sleepy fauna herald in the
                                                      new day.
                                                      Then! The Banshee shrieks it's
                                                      harrowing call
                                                      echoing round the startled jungle.
                                                      The gentle giant unable to run
                                                      held firmly by it's sturdy roots
                                                      is torn apart by the steely teeth
                                                      and with an agonising roar
                                                      falls slowly down through the
                                                      helpless crowd until
                                                      with a crack of limbs and a mighty
                                                      thump
                                                      lies life ebbing on the soft forest
                                                      floor.
                                                      There, where it has fallen,
                                                      like Goliath slain by David
                                                      though with characters reversed
                                                      the great Iroko stood king of the
                                                      forest
                                                      for four hundred years, and now
                                                      lays
                                                      still magnificent but lifeless.
                                                      There on the now edge of
                                                       the forest
                                                       wait the uneasy rest
                                                       staring resignedly out at an
                                                       unknown creeping wilderness.

                                                                            (c) 2010   Dave McGough.
                                                    

Tuesday 14 June 2011

Ingrebourne Valley 14th june 2011

The lookout doesn't see me in my camouflage, so,

Out they come.   I have been watching for the Purple Hairstreaks and these were the first sightings at the ingrebourne this year, for me.  They were a bit high up but another week or so and they will come down a bit more for better views.




LRP
Other sightings today were;  a Hobby,  2 LRP's,  2 Green Sandpipers, Cuckoo, Sparrowhawk.

Friday 10 June 2011

Butterflies and things along the Ingrebourne 10th june 2011

Red Admiral

Large Skipper



Essex Skipper


Small White

Tortoiseshell

Meadow Brown
Five Spot Burnett

Broad-Bodied Chaser

Common Lizard

Thursday 2 June 2011

Ingrebourne Valley 1st june 2011

The lack of rain is affecting everything.  Even Orchids need water.   There are still a number of sites I didn't check, but the ones that I did I found nothing.   The only one I found was this healthy plant which I knew would probably be OK,  because this patch is sheltered from full sun and the ground does not lose as much moisture.   Last year was also dry at this time and the orchids I saw in the open areas were weak and very dried up which is the most likely cause of them not being here this year.  It is still a bit early and if we did get rain these plants have a knack of suddenly appearing,  says I hopefully.    As for butterflies, or anything come to that matter,  I always look for them too early.   You won't see Purple Hairstreaks until at least the middle of june and probably not until the end and White-letter will not make an appearance much before july.


Bee Orchid

Meadow Brown


Female Common Blue

Comma

Green Hairstreak