Diary of Natural Environment In and Around Wimpole
28th April I saw my first Speckled Wood this year, bringing the total of different ones to six so far – Brimstone, Comma, Tortoiseshell. Peacock, Orange Tip, and the Speckled Wood of course.
The Orange Tip leads nicely to some of the recent flowers, the orange tip larva feed on the Cuckoo Flower and Garlic Mustard amongst other flowers. The larvae are cannibals, so the Orange Tip makes surer it only lays one egg per plant – seems sensible to me.
Other flowers providing early nectar and pollen are Bugle, White Dead Nettle and Bluebells
Ive been around Wimpoles woodland for 30 years and it was only two years ago that I saw my first bluebells there. Since then they have been popping up everywhere along with the Wood Anemones and Helleborine Orchids.
Both male and female Marsh Harriers seem to be settling in although the female hasn’t started ‘sitting’ yet.
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