Pevensey Levels in Spring

     The weather during April was warm and sunny but the start of May was very changeable with blustery showers and occasional sunny spells. However, by the end of May we were experiencing a heat wave with temperatures touching 30 degrees centigrade and not a cloud to be seen anywhere.

Here are some images taken over the last two months on Pevensey Levels.

Large White (Pieris brassicae)

(freshly emerged male)

(mating pair)

Green-veined White (Pieris napi) (female)

Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus)

Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) (5th instar larva on nettle)

This one was found in the open on the nettle plant and probably looking to construct a new larval tent.

Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae)

By the 17th. May, the spring brood was starting to emerge.

Common Blue (Polyommatus icarus) (male)

On the last day of May I saw my first Meadow Brown of the year and there was a significant landfall of Painted Ladies from the near continent, with dozens nectaring on bramble blossom. 

Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina) (male)

Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui)

Hairy Dragonfly (Brachytron pratense) (male)

(mating pair)

Four-spotted Chaser (Libellula quadrimaculata) (male)

Azure Damselfly (Coenagrion puella) (male)

Variable Damselfly (Coenagrion pulchellum) (male)

Blue-tailed Damselfly (Ischnura elegans) (male)

Large Red Damselfly (Pyrrhosoma nymphula) (female)

Common Lizard (Lacerta vivipara) (juvenile/sub-adult)

To finish, I came across these predated Moorhen eggs scattered in the grass beside a reed ditch. The culprit is likely to be a crow. I placed them together for the photograph.

Along the Woodland Edge

 The woodland edge is made up of several different growth layers. Most woodland tracks are bordered by verges of grass and flowers which are backed by a scrub layer of plants such as bramble and bracken. Deciduous saplings such as birch, aspen and willow grow though the scrub and these are backed by mature trees such as oak, beech and pine. The aspect of these track-sides dictates whether they face the sun or are left in shade. Together, all these features provide many different niche habitats for wildlife, especially invertebrates.

Here are some images of what can be found during May and June.

Peacock (Aglais io)

Orange-tip (Anthocharis cardamines)

The male is courting this female who is showing her reluctance to mate by holding up

her abdomen.

Satellite (Eupsilis transversa) (larva on bramble)

This moth larva is a nocturnal feeder but constructs a shelter in which to rest during daylight hours.

Broad-bodied Chaser (Libellula depressa) (female)

Although dragonflies need water for breeding, they utilise the woodland edge to hunt for insect prey.

Four-spotted Chaser (Libellula quadrimaculata) (female)

This immature female is developing the wing markings of form praenubila.

Black-headed Cardinal Beetle (Pyrochroa coccinea)

Red-headed Cardinal Beetle (Pyrochroa serraticornis)

Green Tiger Beetle (Cicindela campestris)

This species is regularly seen on woodland tracks. 

The images show a mating pair and an ovipositing female.

Sabre Wasp (Rhyssa persuasoria) (female)

This species is the largest Ichneumon Wasp to be found in Britain. The female has an ovipositor that makes up half of her total length. 

 I came across this female busily preening herself. She measured about 8 cms.

Oak Sawfly (Periclista lineolata) (larva)

Its foodplant is oak but I found this one resting on a nettle leaf.

 

Tenthredo livida (Sawfly sp.)

Tenthredo mesomela (Sawfly sp.)

Rhogogaster viridis (Sawfly sp.)

Finding Dragonflies and Damselflies in a Wealden Wood

Now that the weather has turned a little cooler and more changeable, I like to head for one of my favourite Wealden woods to see what dragonflies and damselflies I can find at rest amongst the bracken.

 When you watch them during hot and sunny weather, they are usually very active but when the sun goes in you can sometimes watch them settle in the undergrowth.

Four-spotted Chaser (Libellula quadrimaculata) 

(female, form praenubila)

Emperor Dragonfly (Anax imperator) (male)

White-legged Damselfly (Platycnemis pennipes) (female)

Azure Damselfly (Coenagrion puella) (male)

Moth-trap catches have been smaller since the night-time temperature has been a little cooler this week but I usually find something worthy of close attention.

Foxglove Pug (Eupithecia pulchellata)

Broad-barred White (Hecatera bicolorata)

More Dragonfly Encounters

Back on Pevensey Levels, the number of dragonflies on the wing has been increasing. The Hairy Dragonfly (Brachytrons pratense) is probably reaching peak numbers now and there has been a noticeable increase in the emergence of Four-spotted Chaser (Libellula quadrimaculata), including several examples of the variant form praenubila.

 

 

 

Hairy Dragonfly (Brachytron pratense) (mating pair)

 

 

 

 

Four-spotted Chaser (Libellula quadrimaculata) (female, form praenubila)

 

 

 

 

Four-spotted Chaser (L.quadrimaculata) (male, form praenubila)

 

 

 

 

Emperor Dragonfly (Anax imperator) (female)