A Busy Day for Insects

Sun and warmth encourage the insects out from deep in the vegetation where they have been sheltering from the wind, rain and cold.  The Large Red Damselflies were newly hatched last week but disappeared during the cold and wet days.  There was concern that the first hatching may have died, however today they were flying strongly in many areas of the reserve, not just around the ponds.

On Friday there was a possible sighting of a blue damselfly but it flew so quickly and disappeared into the long grass, recording it was 'not allowed'!  Today there was no doubt, a Blue-tailed Damselfly was photographed.

Along Risedale Beck, Mayfly were seen, as were butterflies, bees and hoverflies feeding amongst the Spring flowers.

A different movement saw a Scorpion Fly land.

Each year is different and the date of summer migrants returning, damsleflies hatching, frogs and toads spawning and flowers opening varies.  The last day of May 2012 saw Northern Marsh Orchids making it into the month's observations.  This year it will take a little while longer before they can be recorded.