Reclaimed by nature

For once, the sun was shining and it wasn't too windy, so Pete and I went out and spent a few hours recording in a triangle of ex-arable land that had already developed an interesting flora full of nectar-rich plant species such as fleabane, common knapweed and angelica.

Needless to say, insect activity was very high, as the rich food resource attracted a wide range of butterflies, bees and, hoverflies, not to mention a few beetles, bugs and crickets and several hornets. The commonest butterflies were Peacock and Brown Argus, but I also saw a Brimstone as well as several female Silver-washed Fritillaries, all looking a little the worse for wear. Not that long ago this species was a real rarity locally, but now it's likely to turn up in most of the larger woodlands. My extra is a juvenile female Long-winged Conehead, another species that has become dramatically more common in recent years.

We then visited w second site where Pete had set pitfall traps. By this time the wind had got up, so we didn't stay for too long. While he collected the traps I gathered a large bag of damsons from some hedgerow trees. I only took the lowest fruit and there's plenty more to come - now I just need to get busy making damson gin and damson chutney.