A really good day out on the reserve yesterday. Managed to get absolutely soaked on the Kids Birdwatching Club walk but we still had a great time and got really good views of a female Peregrine chasing a Hobby, singing warblers and Reed Buntings, dashing Swifts and even the Cuckoo did a fly past. I think that the kids were most entranced by watching a Seven Spot Ladybird emerging from it pupae. It squeezed out of its case out od shape and then slowly pumped up to 'normal' ladybird shape but was bright yellow and spotless to start with. It was sharing its nettles with some of those fantastically spikey Peacock caterpillars.
The Insect Afternoon Walk had glorious sunshine and the temperature warmed a bit and there was plenty to see including another Emperor Moth caterpillar, several huge Drinker Moth cats, hoverfly bee-mimics, leafhoppers, shieldbugs and a really cool, bright green and yellow sawfly called Rhogogaster viridis.
Rhogogaster viridis. Would you just look at those eyes!!! (by me)
Howard Vaughan, Information Officer