Holt Country Park - 30th July 2023

 Today, Jayne and I started the day at Holt Country Park, We were there to see the Silver-washed Fritillaries, but whilst there, we also had  several other species, including two "lifers".

We started the day in the car park (!), where the buddleia bushes were absolutely alive with butterflies (helped by the warm sunshine, and 20 degree heat). Species seen were: Silver-washed Fritillary (20+, including 2 "valezina" females), Comma (c.15), Peacock (c.20), Gatekeeper (c.10), Brimstone (1m and 1fm), Ringlet (1), Holly Blue (1), Large White, Green-veined White, Speckled Wood (5), Meadow Brown and White Admiral (1). We also saw several dragonfly species: Common Darter, Ruddy Darter , Large Red Damselfly, Common Blue Damselfly and Migrant Hawker.

Silver-washed Fritillary (female valezina)

White Admiral

We carried on around the site and walked down to a Norfolk Wildlife Trust reserve called Holt Lowes. Here we bumped into a local, who explained about the resident Keeled Skimmer dragonflies. We had a look around and spotted 3 males and a pair "in tandem". Although, not quite a lifer, as I'd seen them in Majorca, it was a very good British tick.

Keeled Skimmer

Whilst searching for the Skimmer, I spotted a Bush-cricket, that, after a bit of an internet search, was identified as a Roesel's Bush-cricket - a lifer!! 

Roesel's Bush-cricket

Mallorcan Insects 2018

Whilst in Mallorca Jayne and I looked at, and recorded some of the insect life to be found there. We didn't see many species, but we did get a few new species.

The first new species was the dragonfly Keeled Skimmer. Several were seen on the River Sant Jordi just outside Puerta Pollenca, as well as in Albufera and at the Lluc Monastery. Another new species, the Small Red Damselfly, was also seen at the Lluc Monastery, in the Botanical garden. Other species seen included Blue-tailed Damselfly, Black-tailed Skimmer, Emperor and a large Hawker species that may have been Southern Migrant Hawker though that was not confirmed.

Keeled Skimmer (male)

Small Red Damselfly

Two species seen at Son Real were also new. Both were butterflies. The first, Two-tailed Pasha, was enormous, and the most impressively beautiful butterfly I have ever seen. I managed to get this shot of the underwing.

Two-tailed Pasha

The second species seen at Son Real was Geranium Bronze. This attractive species was seen, unsurprisingly, on a geranium! Apparently it's an introduced species from South Africa.

Geranium Bronze

The last three "lifers" were a Striped Grayling and Cleopatra (butterflies) seen at Cuber Reservoir and Passenger ( a moth found in the hotel).

Striped Grayling

Passenger

Other species seen were: Common Blue Butterfly, Small Copper, Clouded Yellow, Hummingbird Hawk-moth and Small Heath.