Butterflies on Granta Park

16th May 2026 - there were a few butterflies starting to appear when Andy M walked through the meadows on Granta Park, in particular the first reports of the season for Common Blue and Brown Argus butterflies. Green-veined White were also seen.

Male Common Blue butterflies have a characteristic bright blue upperside, with narrow black and white borders. Females have brown uppersides, often with a tinge of blue around the body, with a row of orange spots. Both Brown Argus sexes are similar, having brown uppersides with orange dots, but lacking the narrow white border outside the orange spots - a feature that can be hard to see. The undersides are more useful for identification, with Common Blue butterflies having a single 'cell spot' on the upper underwing, which Brown Argus lack.

Common Blue male

Common Blue male underside - note the single lower 'cell spot'

on the forewing nearest the body

Brown Argus male - very similar to Common Blue female

Brown Argus male - note the lack of the 'cell spot' on the underside of the forewing

Brown Argus male

Green-veined White

Mandarin Duck along the river

16th May 2026 - there are been quite a few Mandarin Duck along the river this year, Andy M seeing up to six at one point. This pair were quietly feeding in the river by the sluice, the male sporting his particularly splendid breeding plumage.

Mistle Thrush pair

16th May 2026 - this pair of Mistle Thrush were busy gathering food by the lake on Granta Park - no doubt to feed their ever-hungry offspring in a nest nearby.

Andy M

Reed Bunting

16th May 2026 - this rather dapper-looking male Reed Bunting was chirping rather tunelessly around the lake on Granta Park - but hey, with these good looks, who needs a lovely voice! 

Andy M

High-level Grey Wagtail mating

16th May 2026 - whilst walking around the Granta Park lake, Andy M heard the twittering call of a wagtail, and looking up was slightly surprised to see two Grey Wagtail high up on the roof of the TWI building. After a bit of prancing around, the two then proceeded to mate - the bird equivalent of joining the 'mile-high-club' perhaps!

Kestrel female

16th May 2026 - this female Kestrel was hovering over Andy M on Granta Park, ever vigilant for prey below. The female lacks the grey head of the male, and has continuous barring on the underside of the tail.

Red Kite with prey

16th May 2026 - Andy M spotted this Red Kite circling over the meadow by the Granta Park lake.  As he watched it fly lower and lower, before finally dropping and coming back up with an item of prey in its talons. Whilst hard to be sure what the prey is, there is quite a warren of rabbit burrows in that area, so chances are it was a young rabbit.