 An Essex Skipper Thymelicus lineola It's not been a great year for butterflies in the UK but my garden, as far as I'm concerned, seems to have bucked the trend. Perhaps not in terms in quantity but definitely in terms of quality with 2 new species recently added to the garden list. The first - an Essex Skipper - is easily overlooked, partly due to its small size but also because it closely resembles a commoner cousin - the Small Skipper - a butterfly that has occurred in my garden before. I find that both species are difficult to pin down (maybe with poorer eyesight) as they 'skip' across the long grass. However, once located, it's all about the antennae! Esses Skippers' antennae appear to have been 'dipped' in black ink whereas the Small Skipper's are a butterscotch orange.  A Small Skipper Thymelicus sylvestris In my experience too, Essex Skippers usually appear a fresher, paler yellowy-orange while the Small Skippers appear a darker orange. Some have pointed out that this difference may simply be due to Essex Skippers emerging later than the Small Skippers and therefore do appear 'fresher'. Now into August and the garden is being regularly visited by butterflies and dragonflies so I keep checking to see what's about. Today, I was rewarded with another new species for the garden - a Small Copper Butterfly. Sadly it didn't stay put for long enough for me to get a decent photo but here's one from elsewhere, a while back.  Small Copper Lycaena phlaeas My garden is definitely benefiting from the area of lawn I've left uncut along with the weedy margins. The garden also undoubtedly benefits from the large wild-flower areas created in the last few years on the playing field behind our house by St Albans Council. The added interest these simple developments have brought to the garden is incredible!
My garden butterfly list now stands at 22 species! The full list can be seen here.
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 The change to warmer, sunnier weather has meant more time sitting in the garden and this in turn has reaped a reward! A number of Banded Demoiselles Calopteryx splendens have been visiting the garden in the last week or so but today I couldn't help noticing one looked a little different. Instead of the usual green-blue tinge on the wings this female demoiselle was tinged bronze - a Beautiful Demoiselle Calopteryx virgo!  The female Beautiful Demoiselle This is a scarce damselfly in Herts and one that has only recently begun to colonise the River Ver. It is perhaps thanks to my garden's proximity to the Ver that it has picked up this beautiful wanderer. Maybe in time a male will also grace the garden with his presence! This latest record gets added to my garden damselfly 'hall of fame' following my discovery of a Southern Emerald Damselfly in July 2021 - the very first record for Herts.  A male Banded Demoiselle - present on the same day |
Rupert’s BlogHere you'll find my observations and musings on the wildlife I encounter - usually locally but sometimes further afield. Archives
May 2025
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