iscover the latest news and sightings from the Southrey Wood butterfly reserve below...
You can report your sightings and send your photos from Southrey Wood to John Davison at: [email protected]
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2022 Workparties:
Some news regarding the work in Southrey Wood: we are in a position to
start the work days again in January, so the dates arranged are as
follows. (All 10 til 3ish)
Jan 9th and 23rd
Feb 6th and 20th
Mar 6th and potentially 20th, depending on the season and how we get on.
We are not able to use chainsaws at this time, so are limited to hand
tools only, and will just have to get on as best we can. As a
consequence, I would ask that people who can come out help cutting down
the trees and shrubs, rather than just taking out wood for themselves-
we can spend so time towards the end of the day clearing out cut
material.
View the Southrey Wood Blog 2020
Southrey Wood Blog 2021
Thursday 21st October
Starting to feel like the season is over but still a few things about.............
Lots of Dragonflies (not killed by the frost yet). Mainly Common Darters but a nice female Southern Hawker.
Unusual pink form of the Coxcomb Prominent larva.
Tuesday 21st September
Warm day but getting later in the year so not a lot about.
Large & Small White, Red Admiral, Speckled Wood & Comma.
Other Fauna.......
Thursday 16th September
Devil's-bit Scabious continues to be the main nectar source for the butterflies:-
Small, Large & Green-veined White, Red Admiral, Small Tortoiseshell, Brimstone, Comma and Speckled Wood.
A few late stage moth larva about including Herald, Dot & Buff-tip.
Another of the "slug" Sawfly larva - Oak Slug Sawfly Larva - Caliroa annulipes. They do feed on alternatives to Oak.
Other Fauna........
Sunday 12th September
Peter Cawdell reports.........
On a cloudy afternoon, there were still quite a few butterflies about at Southrey Wood.
Along the main ride in from the gate on Horncastle Road I found about a dozen of Small White, Green-veined White and Red Admiral, 3 Speckled Wood, 4 fresh Comma, and a couple of both Small Tortoiseshell and Large White. It was great to find 2 Brown Hairstreak eggs on the ride edge blackthorn bushes near where John saw a female on 7/9. They were about 10 metres apart.
In our butterfly coppice area there were still plenty of Red Admirals feeding on the Devil's bit scabious flowers and now joined by the new brood of Commas (maybe 10). The Brimstones and Peacocks had gone but there were still a scattering of Small and Green-veined whites as well. A couple more Speckled Woods too. A small deer jumped across the ride .. probably a muntjac but the coat was very 'fallow deer brown'?
Tuesday 7th Sepetember
A very hot sunny day (perhaps too hot).
The rides were full of Devil's-bit Scabious.
Clouds of Red Admiral and Brimstone arose with each step. I estimate 500 Red Admiral and 150 Brimstone.
Small numbers of Small & Green-veined White, Speckled Wood, Painted Lady, Peacock and Small Tortoiseshell.
Best find was a Brown Hairstreak.
Other Fauna........
Tuesday 3rd August
Almost identical to the 20th except for a nice Painted Lady.
Tuesday 20th July
Hot day and still few butterflies. 3 Silver-washed Fritillaries on the BC ride and a Brimstone taking shade.
Other Fauna....
Thursday 8th July
Nice warm day but butterfly numbers still low. Good to see White Admiral and Silver-washed Fritillary out.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YdVm1_73e8
Listen out for Muntjac "barking".
Thursday 1st July
Jill Hall e-mailed........
Thought you might like to know that the beautiful White Admirals were out today.
Tuesday 22nd June
Suuny afternoon again and a few butterflies but again, not as many as there should be.
A few Red Admiral sunning themselves on the main track.
Large Skipper, Meadow Brown and Speckled Wood were also on the wing.
Red-eyed Damselfly on the BC ride and several Black-tailed Skimmer on the main track.
Other Fauna......
The furthest north recorded in the county & only 10th record.
Tuesday 15th June
Another lovely day but hardly any butterflies.
One Marsh Fritillary still on the wing.
https://youtu.be/bF9yVUOVG7c
seemingly a lot of different Longhorn Beetles but not so.....
Also came across a Midge Gall on the Limes.
Tuesday 8th June
Very pleasant day.
Not a lot flying but at least 5 Marsh Fritillary which seemed to love the Ragged Robin.
Sunday 6th June:. Peter Cawdell reports.........
Southrey remains another surviving satellite colony from those Marsh Fritillary boom years, for the third consecutive year. I counted 7 individuals here - 1 on the Tower Ride, and the other 6 the New Ride.
Thursday 20th May
Cool wet day with nothing really about except this, probably a new record for Lincolnshire. Who knew.....
Thursday 13th May
Warm day, nice to see the insects out again. Brimstone, Small, Large & Green-veined White and Orange-tip all flying.
Dark-edged Bee-Fly still about and Early Purple Orchids in flower.
Also a micromoth.
Thursday 29th April
Tuesday 27th April
Tuesday 20th April
Warm day but still early and not a great lot about. A Buzzard flew low over the trees and a Green Woodpecker was very vocal. Quite a few male Brimstones about as well as male Orange--tips.
Tuesday 13th April
Sunny but cool...
A lot of Colt'-foot on the main track up from the road
Brimstone, Peacock, Comma, Small Tortoiseshell and Green-veined White were all on the wing.
Lots of Dark-edged Bee-fly among the spring flora.
Tuesday 6th April
Typical British weather, lovely Spring day, cool wind and a snow shower........
