NATURE NOTES

Garden flowers are such important pollen and nectar sources for many insects, and with half of our butterfly species now endangered, such planting is invaluable. Many of our common butterflies visit gardens but the less often seen Green Hairstreak is also occasionally seen. It is an early summer species, unmistakable with iridescent green wings held upright when not in flight and is our only green UK species.

Good habitat for insects provides food for nesting birds such as the familiar wren, one of our smallest yet loudest songbirds. Males can build up to twelve nests for the female to select the most suitable. These surplus nests are not wasted as they are often used as roosts and therefore later help survival during cold winters. There are several UK species of parasitic solitary Ruby-tailed, Emerald or Jewel wasps. All are rare and very small, but have unusual colouration of metallic red, purple and green. They are sometimes called cuckoo wasps as they lay their eggs in the nests of other solitary bees and wasps where the resulting larvae develop. Our most spectacular moths are now on the wing including the stunning Eyed Hawk-moth.

Green Hairstreak butterfly

Once found only around coastal habitat, the iconic raven can now be seen and certainly heard locally and throughout much of the UK. Shy, historically persecuted birds, at distance can sometimes be seen disappearing into the topmost branches of the tallest trees, remaining there whilst resting or communicating with each other. These intelligent birds may live for well over ten years. It is always a privilege to Wren observe a pair of ravens as they create the most amazing flight display – in and out of acrobatic aerial formation, Ruby-tailed Wasp often at great height.

Eyed Hawk-moth