Butterflies this weekend

Ringlet and Large Skipper made an appearance in Andy M's garden this weekend, for the first time this year.  Red Admiral, Small Tortoiseshell and Meadow Brown were also seen, as well as a male Southern Hawker dragonfly.

Ringlet and Marbled White were also reported from the Roman Road by those on the Mid-summer walk.

 Large Skipper - male - which seemed to be 'keeping look-out' from the top of a clipped box-ball

Ringlet - settling only in the shady spots!

Little Owls nesting again on Granta Park

After two years of nesting in the heaps of building rumble in a (now re-landscaped) site on Granta Park, the Little Owls have moved on and found a new nesting site in amongst the various pipes and tubes stored on site. The pair of adult owls have at least one well-developed chick, which hopefully will successfully fledge in the next few weeks.

Adult emerging - having fed the chick(s) in the nest

Chick - looking out from the pipe-nest

Buff-tailed bumblebee in High Street

Jennifer took phis photo of a Buff-tailed Bumblebee on her honeysuckle on 17th June

Small Tortoiseshell butterfly

This very 'new-looking' Small Tortoiseshell butterfly was feeding on the perennial wallflowers in Andy M's garden today.

Elephant Hawk Moth

Andy M found an Elephant Hawk Moth in his greenhouse this morning and, after carefully moving it to the shady undergrowth, took these pictures.

Young Blue Tits everywhere

Andy M's garden was seemingly awash with young Blue Tits early this morning.  It appeared that two broods fledged at the same time, and there were adult and young Blue Tits calling from all corners of the garden.

Tufted Duck and Damselflies

A single male Tufted Duck joined the Mallards on the Granta Park lake this week.
Nearby in Sluice Woods a number of male Banded Demoiselle damselflies were also seen - Andy M