The Green Hairstreak

Over the last couple of days I have been watching the antics of the Green Hairstreak (Callophrys rubi) along the sunny edge of a Wealden wood. It is the earliest of the British Hairstreaks to be seen on the wing (the others being summer emergents) and it is probably the easiest of them all to approach and observe at low level. I have found several mating pairs over the years but yesterday I was able to observe the brief courtship and coupling as it happened.

 

 

Green Hairstreak (Callophrys rubi) (mating)

 

(the female is the fresher and slightly darker looking individual)

 

 

 

Green Hairstreak (C.rubi) (males) 

 

(this male is showing signs of a bird strike, probably by a warbler that has tried to catch it in flight)

 

 

 

(this male is showing how this species typically holds its wings at a perpendicular angle to the sun's rays)

 

 

 

The Grey Birch moth (Aethalura punctulata) is not a species that comes to my garden light-trap. Established birch woodland is its preferred habitat and I often see it flying during the day when I'm working in the woods. 

 

 

Grey Birch (Aethalura punctulata) 

 

 

Yesterday, I came across this young Toad (Bufo bufo) on the woodland floor and looking for shelter from the sun. It was just 2.5 cms. long and was probably a tadpole from spring 2017. Toads do not reach maturity until they are 4 or 5 years old and can live for 30 or 40 years.

 

 

Common Toad (Bufo bufo) (juvenile)

 

 

Green-veined White (Pieris napi) (male)

 

 

 

Common Frog (Rana temporaria)

Water Stick-insect

What a difference a few days makes. After walking around last week looking for my first Spring emerging butterflies of the year in temperatures that were just getting into double figures; a week later and the temperature has soared into the high 20's. Since the weekend, numbers of emerging Small Whites and Orange-tips have accelerated but it is far too hot to chase them around for a photograph just yet.

 

Earlier this week I decided to check one of my favourite wealden ponds for signs of emerging damselflies but on this occasion I was rewarded with my first ever sighting of a Water Stick-insect (Ranatra linearis) climbing out of the water to bask on the pondside vegetation.

 

This underwater predator spends much of its time motionless amongst underwater foliage and is well adapted to its lifestyle. It has an air tube that extends from its tail and its front legs end in curved claws that are used to catch tadpoles and small fish.

 

 

Water Stick-insect (Ranatra linearis)

 

 

 

My garden moth-trap is now starting to attract species other than Quakers and Hebrew Characters and this morning's catch included a freshly emerged Mullein and also my second Brindled Beauty of the year.

 

 

Mullein (Shargacucullia verbasci)

 

 

Brindled Beauty (Lycia hirtaria)