Tophill Low

A change of venue this time and a day trip out to Tophill Low Nature Reserve and a chance hopefully of seeing some of the splendid insects that have been reported this week. We arrived at 10am just in time for the wardens morning walk around the reserve, a free event  might I add, bliss to a Yorkshireman.

It wasn’t long before the warden pointed out a Pyramid Orchid and then we soon encountered or first beetle a magnificent Golden bloomed Grey Longhorn Beetle [Agapanthia villosoviridescens] followed shortly by a Yellow and Black Longhorn Beetle [Rutpela maculata], Damselflies were encountered along the footpaths mainly Azure and Common Blue, many Ringlet and Meadow Brown Butterflies in the long grasses, we soon made a first stop at the a hide to see Kingfishers going to and fro along with Teal, Gadwall, Mallard, Shoveler, Mute Swan,  and Reed Bunting. Out second stop produced the breeding pair of Little Ringed Plover along with Black-headed Gulls, Magpies, Herons and Crows. Or last hide was to see the breeding Marsh Harriers and whilst we were waiting for them to show we watched Four Spotted Chasers and Emperor Dragonflies, finally the female Marsh Harrier put in a brief appearance, the walk was soon over but we did end on a brief Sparrowhawk as it darted into the trees on our way back to the car park for lunch.

After lunch we a had a brief walk out to the other half of the reserve where we encountered a Figwort weevil [Gonus scrophulariae] , Soldier Beetles [Rhagonycha fulva], Cardinal beetle [Pyrochroa serraticornis] , Scorpion Fly Sp. along with Large Skipper, Red Admiral and Speckled Wood Butterflies

Day List :-

Reed Bunting, Reed Warbler, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Blackbird, Marsh Harrier, Sparrowhawk, Buzzard, Little Ringed Plover, Tufted Duck, Teal, Mallard, Gadwall, Cormorant, Grey Heron, Common Tern, Kingfisher, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Canada Goose, Greylag Goose, Common Whitethroat, Four Spotted Chaser, Emperor Dragonfly, Azure Damselfly, Common Blue Damselfly, Blue tailed Damselfly, Meadow Brown Butterfly, Ringlet Butterfly, Red Admiral Butterfly, Speckled Wood Butterfly, Large Skipper Butterfly. Black and Yellow Longhorn Beetle, Golden bloomed Grey Longhorn Beetle, Click Beetle Sp, Soldier Beetle, Figwort Weevil, Cardinal Beetle, Heliophilus pendulas Hoverfly, Scorpion Fly Sp.
Figwort Weevil

Pyramid Orchid