Butterflies on the Roman Road

Jennifer led a butterfly and flower outing on the morning of Saturday 11 August.

On 14th August, she saw Common Blue butterflies up there:

Whiteletter Hairstreak on Cambridge Road

Derek has, for the third year running, seen - and this time photographed - a Whiteletter Hairstreak in his garden on 12th August. It was feeding for some time on Golden Rod.

The Nobes family had a rather exciting visitor on the night of 6 August -- a Privet Hawk-moth (Sphinx ligustri).

Anne writes: The internet tells me that this is our largest resident hawk-moth and is widespread across southern Britain.

Photo by Jenny Nobes (Anne's fingers for scale!).

Bourn Bridge Road Verges, study walk, 31 July 2012

Patrick reports:

A good turn-out of 15 members. The bad effect of the mid-season mowing on the non-PRV sections was noted. Lady’s Bedstraw as well as the Campions were past their best but Greater Knapweed and Scabious were still at peak.

These plants were seen either then or that morning:

MAJOR FAMILIES

Composites
Common Ragwort
Mugwort
Hoary Ragwort
Milfoil (Yarrow)
Common Knapweed
Creeping Thistle
Greater Knapweed
Scentless Mayweed
Canadian Fleabane

Peaflowers
Restharrow
Hop Trefoil

Crucifers
Hedge Mustard
Shepherd’s Purse

Mints
Black Horehound
Wild Basil

‘Scrophs’
Toadflax

Rose family
Blackthorn
Hawthorn
Dog Rose
Bramble

Umbellifers
Hogweed
Hemlock
Hedge Parsley

Campion family
Bladder Campion
White Campion

OTHER FAMILIES
Field Scabious (Teasel family)
Poppy (Poppy family)
Hedge Bedstraw (Bedstraw family)
Field Bindweed (Convolvulus family)
Lady’s Bedstraw (Bedstraw family)
Great Bindweed (Convolvulus family)
Broad-leaved Dock (Dock family)
Common Mallow (Mallow family)
Curled Dock (Dock family)
Perforate St John’s Wort (SJW family)
Stinging Nettle (Nettle family)
Knapweed Broomrape (Broomrape family)
Crow Garlic (Lily family)
Mignonette (Mignonette family)