Noticing Nature Blog

The Red Admiral is another strong-flying migrant butterfly, making its way northwards from continental Europe on warm southerly airflows. There have been lots around the area in recent days, along with Painted Ladies which have arrived in huge numbers. Red Admiral

Lots of this rather striking plant around Staple. Most people walk past without a second glance but mention its name and.......................!&@!?** Hemlock (Conium maculatum)

Viper's Bugloss This huge, multi-stemmed Viper's Bugloss (Echium vulgare) plant in the churchyard is attracting lots of insects, especially Common Carder Bees that seem to love it. It adds a glorious splash of blue amongst the Ox-eye Daisies. Hopefully it'll seed and spread, it's a good plant to have in the mix. My first Humming-bird Hawk Moth of the year was also whizzing around today.

A Hairy Shield-bug (Dolycoris baccarum) in my front garden. Hairy Shield-bug

Pyramidal Orchid A good count of 10 Bee Orchid and 6 Pyramidal Orchid flower spikes in the Miller Woodland Trust site in Chalkpit Lane this morning. This site is improving year on year since the mowing regime was reduced to once a year in late summer. Bee Orchids Large Skipper butterfly Also my first Meadow Brown and Large Skipper butterflies of the year. The sheltered aspect of the Miller Woodland Trust site and its range of wildflowers, makes it an excellent site for butter

There have been a lot of Peacock butterflies about this spring, so it was good to find plenty of their caterpillars this morning. They feed pretty much exclusively on nettles and there are plenty of those about too. Peacock butterfly caterpillars