Looking out of the centre window today I was regularly treated to the mad display dancings of Small Tortoiseshell butterflies in pairs of small groups zooming to and fro across the view with frantically fluttering wings. Judging by the number reported on the trail it bodes well for a good breeding season in our nettle clumps!
(Andrew Rodger)
(Denis Tuck)
Nice to see the Sloe in full bloom so early too... lets hope that there is not a heavy frost!
Lee Spence also got a shot of our first Eristalis pertinax hoverfly today and expertly captured it in mid flight! (Thanks Phil for the correction......!)
12-3-14
Howard Vaughan, Information Officer
I think that should be E. pertinax - yellow middle and fore tarsi, hind tibia with pale basal half.
Phil