The Butterfly Effect

Bluebells - The Butterfly Effect
Bluebells – The Butterfly Effect

After walking my daughter to school this morning I was pleased that the sun was shining and decided to take a short walk around the lake, due to the butterfly effect, no not the film (which I both enjoyed and got scared about, I watched it twice and there were two different endings, quite concerning when the film is all about time travel changing the past!!) but the fact I kept chasing butterflies further along my patch, may short walk ended up with me walking to Bradwell Abbey.

The Butterfly Effect

The bird life was much the same as the last two days, plenty of migrant warblers, there were an extra couple of Garden Warblers in, as well as yesterday’s Reed Warblers but there were no Willow Warblers today, but other wise the sound was dominated by Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs.

The Mute Swans are not occupying their nest as much as I thought they should I keep passing and the nest is empty but the birds are back when I return passed, it is quite a worry especially as there seem to be quite a few people heading down to watch them at quite close quarters sometimes (perhaps a sign should go up asking people to give them some space). I guess we will see how many of the eggs hatch.

It was also nice to see Buzzards again (a pair I think) soaring together although one appear to be missing it’s tail which gave it a huge appearance in the clear skies.

Campion - Loughton Valley Park, Milton Keynes
Campion – Loughton Valley Park, Milton Keynes

The Micro Life

It was butterflies and bugs that ruled today though, I recorded 5 species of butterfly, mainly Orange Tip, but plenty of Brimstone and Green-veined White, a few Peacocks and the odd Small Tortoiseshell.

Brimstone - Loughton Valley Park, Milton Keynes
Brimstone – Loughton Valley Park, Milton Keynes

 

Green-veined White - Lodge Lake, Milton Keynes
Green-veined White – Lodge Lake, Milton Keynes

 

Orange Tip - Lodge Lake, Milton Keynes
Orange Tip – Lodge Lake, Milton Keynes

 

Peacock - Loughton Valley Park, Milton Keynes
Peacock – Loughton Valley Park, Milton Keynes

4 species of Ladybird – 14 Spot, 7 Spot, 22 Spot and Harlequin (not a bad haul really) Photos below, however the 22 spot (a new one for me) the photo is not included as it is not great (not even in focus really) but useful for ID still.

7 Spot Ladybird - Great Holm, Milton Keynes
7 Spot Ladybird – Great Holm, Milton Keynes

 

14 Spot Ladybird - Great Holm, Milton Keynes
14 Spot Ladybird – Great Holm, Milton Keynes

 

Harlequin Ladybird - Loughton Valley Park, Milton Keynes
Harlequin Ladybird – Loughton Valley Park, Milton Keynes

I also saw my first Odonata of the year in the form of a Large Red Damselfly (2 I think – sorry no photos).

There appeared to be plenty of Bees, Flies and Hoverflies around as well.

St Marks Fly - Loughton Valley Park, Milton Keynes
St Marks Fly – Loughton Valley Park, Milton Keynes

And a good number of shieldbugs of which I saw two species (plus one which isn’t a shield bug technically but sure looks like one) I managed Common Green Shieldbug (there were lots) Hairy/Sloe Shieldbug (a few) and loads of Dock Bug (they were everywhere). I also had a couple of small beetles which I have yet to identify (they may even be the same species but the colour looked different to me).

Common Green Shieldbug (mating) - Great Holm, Milton Keynes
Common Green Shieldbug (mating) – Great Holm, Milton Keynes

 

Dock Bug - Great Holm, Milton Keynes
Dock Bug – Great Holm, Milton Keynes

 

Sloe (or Hairy) Shield Bug - Great Holm, Milton Keynes
Sloe (or Hairy) Shield Bug – Great Holm, Milton Keynes

 

Unknown beetle - Lodge Lake, Milton Keynes
Unknown beetle – Lodge Lake, Milton Keynes

 

Unknown beetle 2 - Lodge Lake, Milton Keynes
Unknown beetle 2 – Lodge Lake, Milton Keynes

Flowers

It must be said it was also lovely to be out in the sunshine with all the spring flowers bursting out, especially the Bluebells and and Campion (the mix of garish pink and subtle purple blue is really pleasing on the eye) well to me anyway.

Bluebells - Loughton Valley Park, Milton Keynes
Bluebells – Loughton Valley Park, Milton Keynes

 

Campion - Loughton Valley Park, Milton Keynes
Campion – Loughton Valley Park, Milton Keynes

 

Unknown White Flower - Loughton Valley Park, Milton Keynes
Unknown White Flower – Loughton Valley Park, Milton Keynes

Moths

Oh and just to add insult to injury I found a caterpillar today that I am pretty sure is a Drinker, this is a moth I would love to see but yet I have never done so.

Drinker Cat Face on - Lodge Lake, Milton Keynes
Drinker Cat Face on – Lodge Lake, Milton Keynes

 

Drinker Cat - Lodge Lake, Milton Keynes
Drinker Cat – Lodge Lake, Milton Keynes

Please feel free to leave me a comment, I really appreciate the interaction and will reply as soon as I can.

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5 Comments

  • Dee B

    The Orange Tip butterfly is so gorgeous. Never seen it here in Enfield. And love the bugs – each one is so wonderful in terms of colours and shape. Love it.

    • AshleyBeolens

      They are stunning butterfly, I'd imagine if you find some wasteland or rough ground with a few weeds (even in inner city areas) you may come across Orange tips, they are quite small and often overlooked (they can seem like a white butterfly from a distance).

  • srobbo71

    What beautiful pictures, Alfie is doing mini beasts in school so I just showed him them. We didn't realise there were so many different types of Ladybird…a fact he may just share with his classmates next week!

    • AshleyBeolens

      When I first started paying attention to the smaller side of nature (having been a birdwatcher my whole life) one of the things that amazed me was the sheer amount there is, with ladybirds I knew there were a few species but when I found my first Orange Ladybird (it looks like it is covered in glass over the shell amazing!) and looked closer i was shocked by what I had been missing.

      My daughter loves bug hunting with me, so I know the pleasure kids get out of finding new information they can share 🙂

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