Young birds

11 Brassy Longhorns (Nemophora metallica) were still on the Field Scabious at the Brickworks on Thursday. A couple of 6 Spot Burnets were also on Field Scabious and there were plenty of butterflies and other insects around the site.

Thursday seemed to be a popular fledging or exploring day as I came across noisy families of Bullfinches, Blue Tits, Robins, Whitethroats and Linnets. A pair of Red Kites was displaying overhead and a young Green Woodpecker was exchanging contact calls with its parent.

Brassy Longhorns, 6 Spots & a Painted Lady

It was a blustery but sunny morning last Friday. I was out looking for Purple Hairstreaks but actually came across a cloud of glistening micro moths. These turned out to be Brassy Longhorns (Nemophora metallica), a county rarity. They favour Field Scabious and are on the wing during June and July. This is the forth species of day-flying longhorn moth that I've come across on Trust land. The other three are:

• Fairy Longhorn (Nemophora degeerella)
• Green Longhorn (Adela reaumurella)
• Little Longhorn (Adela (Cauchas) fibulella)

Brassy Longhorn on Field Scabious

A couple of 6-Spot Burnets were also lovely to see and another faded Painted Lady.

Butterflies, Moths & Dragonflies

Over the last few weeks the Small Skippers and Gatekeepers have emerged at the Brickworks. Still plenty of Meadow Browns, Ringlets and Marbled Whites on the wing. Red Admiral, Small Tortoiseshell, Comma, Large Skipper and Peacock all still around and a handful of Speckled Woods looking a little worn now.

Peacock butterfly larva on nettle

Gatekeeper, male

Southern Hawker, female

I came across a new-to-me moth this week, called The Snout (Hypena proboscidalis). What a great name, especially when you see what inspired it. This moth has two long mouth parts also known as palps (sensory organs used for 'tasting' nectar sources). They stick out like an upturned nose. Many moths have palps but none so exaggerated as in the Snout.

The Snout (Hypena proboscidalis), not the best photo but the best I could get before it flew off!