I did three major insect surveys in 2023. One of these was Ufton Fields SSSI/LNR in Warwickshire. We recorded over1,000 insect species at this former limestone quarry, 55 with conservation statuses. You can find out more here: researchgate.net/publication/37…

Aaand it's landed! 🛬 Step into spring with the April edition of the Warwickshire Country Parks update: ow.ly/QBlc50RfaSp

#SpringUpdate #ExploreOutdoors #ParkUpdates

Had a great time catching up with fellow butterfly & moths enthusiasts at our BC Warwickshire Spring Meeting. Was great to give David the Emperor Moth Club badge I made to celebrate us both trapping the female moth on the same night this week! #butterflies #catchup

This Bee Fly chose the wrong Primrose to nectar from! Primroses must bring major meals for Crab Spiders at this time of year!!

Branch Spring Meeting
13/4/24, 14:00 to 16:30 Social gathering for members and non-members interested in joining or supporting Butterfly Conservation. Illustrated talks and presentations about butterflies and moths from Warwickshire and beyond.
maps.app.goo.gl/p57yZqQtYYeqgW…

By contrast to last year, an early example of Great Prominent at Ryton Pools last night. You can usually set your clock by this species, with the historic first annual record dates being 15th/16th April (usually with Chocolate-tip on the same night).

George reports 28 moth species at Ryton Pools this morning, including the 2nd Blossom Underwing in as many nights and a duo of White Marked NFY. Lesser Swallow Prominent brings the year tally to three for this group, we are cooking in gas now! Thanks to Grorge for pics!

Spring is here! Primroses going ballistic round Pagets Pool, first Willow Warbler & Whitethroats back and good numbers of Butterflies and Bees on the inaugral transect of the year including three Orange-tip, 7 Bumblebee species including B. ruderatus and three other bees NFY!

A corking Blossom Underwing at Ryton Pools this morning among a 22 species haul. This species is becoming more regular in recent years, distribution becoming more widespread? Also only the 2nd site record of Semioscopsis steinkellneriana to boot too!

There's a dearth of insects in my local Warwickshire patch but here are a few things on Sallow catkins at Hay Wood, Warwickshire this afternoon: Nomada leucopthalma, Andrena scotica, Melanostoma scalare, Platycheirus albimanus, showing value of Sallow Forestry England woods 🌲🌲

Ryton Pools very own Cubbington Pear will soon be in leaf! This tree will become the focal point of the main courtyard in years to come with a big redesign underway. Hoping this tree will remain unmolested for another 250 years!

Great year for Marsh Marigold this year, now spreading really well along the watercourses and pond margins at Ryton Pools since planting a few about 12 years ago!

Saturday volunteers hard at it again! Beating up another section of our fledgeling hedgerows. This section historically has struggled due to heavy clay, but after much nurturing is very much getting going now. Eighteen species planted and even the sun shone!!

The early spring tachinids are now flying so this is a good point to launch the new Tachinidae on Flickr resource: flickr.com/photos/6307520…. Has photos of about 95% of the British species. Species accounts for even more. This is a truly fascinating fly group. Use alongside keys.

At last, a half-decent day for a bit of insect photography in the sun. Here are male and female Andrena praecox from Warwickshire Wildlife Trust Wappenbury Wood. Back to rain & report-writing tomorrow.

Brilliant advice! Get planting those Alder Buckthorns!! Who wouldn’t want a delightful lime green/yellow butterfly that mimics a leaf in their garden? Also if you do then you can register it as a Wild Space for butterflies! 🌟🦋BC Warwickshire Butterfly Conservation 🦋 #wildspaces

I've had seven blank years without seeing any Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers at Ryton Wood. Today two came along at the same time. 😉😊 NatureUK West Midland Bird Club WestMidsBirding Warwickshire Wildlife Trust Also finally caught up with a Bullfinch for the year. ✔️🙂

Blossom Sequence is moving on now! Blackthorn is now going full bore, Sallow is just getting going and the Cherry isn't far off now!

Great haul for Courtenay Dubock and George in the moth traps at Ryton Pools this morning! 30 species including Pale Pinion NFY alongside Lead-coloured Drab, Oak Nycteoline, Water Carpet any only 4th site record of Chamomile Shark. Mystery micro escaped George too!

Huge thanks to a team from JLR today who helped install 135m of new Coir Rolls in the margins of Feeder Pool today! All rolls backfilled with sand-rich aquatic soil for seeding, too. Will create a rich riparian margin for aquatic insects and pollinators alike! Dunsmore Living Landscape