The weather was good for seeing butterflies at the weekend. We have had Small Tortoiseshell for some time but now they have been joined by Ringlet, Meadow Brown and Small Skipper.
Lockhart found this Small Tortoiseshell on Saturday
Not quite so easy to see with wings folded.
They lay their eggs on nettle as do the Peacock Butterflies. Lockhart saw a Peacock caterpillar crossing a path but many can be found on our many nettles.
On the Wildflower Walk the Burnet Moths are hatching. We manage the land to encourage Bird's-foot Trefoil, which is the food for their caterpillars, and Common Knapweed which is a nectar source for the adults.
At last the dragonflies are on the wing with several sightings of Black-tailed Skimmers. Hopefully the recent rain will have helped to raise the level in the Dragonfly ponds.
And the final picture is of a Water Rail