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British Moths seen around Old Weston in JuneThe air was full of life day and night during June - day flying British Moths, hoverflies, and of course the birds...BirdsAs usual, a quiet month for bird movement; the only new species recorded was a Hobby on the 16th. The Hobby is a migrant bird of prey and one of the last bird species to arrive in the summer. They are mercurial and acrobatic fliers able to take swallows and martins on the wing.There are numerous fledged chicks about and many adult birds are raising a second if not third brood such as robins and blackbirds, whilst many summer migrants are still on their first brood. Spotted flycatchers and turtle doves were regularly seen as were the ever present buzzards and red kites. A hint that the breeding season is coming to an end was the sight of two small flocks of lapwing moving south and an increase in the number of gulls being seen.
British moths, butterflies and moreThe settled and especially the warm humid weather towards the end of the month encouraged many insects to emerge. Painted Lady butterflies were recorded most days although only in ones and twos but still an unusual sight. Several other species of butterfly emerged including the ringlet, meadow brown and small skipper. About mid-month there was a large emergence of small tortoiseshell butterflies.Late June and July are usually the peak times for moths. So far the numbers of moths are meagre but the number of moth species is reasonable.
 Figure of Eighty
 Green Lime Hawkmoth
 Narrow Bordered Five-Spot Burnet Moth Other InsectsAdult Hoverflies, which frequently mimic bees and wasps, are common at this time of year feeding on flower pollen. Several species of hoverfly have larvae which have voracious appetites for aphids.
 Hoverfly Episyphus balteatus
PlantsThe number of Bee Orchid recorded this year, 33 flowering spikes, is down on last year. This is not unusual as bee orchids flower once then die after setting seed, which in favourable conditions may flower again in seven years. This is why their colonies seem to appear and disappear only to reappear several years later in the same location.One new species of plant was recorded in the village, the Adder’s Tongue a species of fern usually associated with ancient damp sites.
 Adder's Tongue MammalsWith the exception of numerous rabbit sightings, there have been few mammal records. On two occasions muntjac deer approached reasonably close allowing a couple of photos to be taken before they disappeared into the undergrowth.
 Muntjac Deer | |
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