The Butterfly Walk might be considered primarily of interest when the multi-coloured buddleia are in flower in mid-late summer, attracting butterflies such as Peacocks and Red Admirals. However, there is more to it than that. At the end of last month, the blackthorn flowers were in abundance providing a vital nectar source for butterflies, hoverflies and bumblebees on the rare sunny day we were blessed with.
The understory is planted with herbs, such as marjoram which flower from June onwards. Weeding has been done selectively leaving those that won’t overwhelm the herbs and can also provide nectar. Dandelions, for example, are very important at this time of year and thistles are a favourite for insects in the summer. Whilst cutting off last year’s flower stems this week, a number of Scarlet Tiger moths caterpillars were found in amongst the marjoram foliage.
These spectacular day flying moths have a vibrant red under-wing only normally visible in flight and come out when the buddleia is in flower. Behind the buddleia, honeysuckle runs along the fence-line; the food plant for the caterpillar of the scarce Broad-bordered Bee Hawk-moth, another stunning day-flying moth that has been recorded along the butterfly walk, in May.
The wildflowers on the bend of the river Frome came with a soundtrack of birdsong that took some dissecting: wren, song thrush, reed warbler, Cetti’s warbler with the odd honk of a goose. Unlike the reed warbler, our Cetti’s warblers don’t migrate to warmer...
The common reed, our tallest native grass, is beginning to flower as the reed warblers begin to return from Africa where they over winter. Two birds arrived early and had an oratory duel in the reeds along north bank. Only one bird is now singing at that spot so...
Bumblebees have been on the wing for several months, even on cooler days, but these are mostly the familiar stripy buff-tailed bumblebees. Now we are beginning to see the Common Carder Bee and the Tree Bumblebee both with rich ginger thorax. Tree Bumble Bee...
