Emeralds and Large Heaths at Crowle Moor

No mosquito bites and no ticks!!  This must be a record for a trip to the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust reserve of Crowle Moor, part of the Humberhead Peatlands and the largest area of raised bog in Lowland England.  The area was much wetter this year and last year than in previous years as the water table has been raised.  In fact an area of birch woodland has died, presumably because it is now flooded.  Roger and I had gone to Crowle in the hope of finding black darter dragonflies but they have yet to emerge.  It is also the only Lincolnshire site for the attractive large heath butterfly and so it was pleasing to see these in large numbers all around the reserve.  Although we didn't find black darters, both ruddy and common darters were beginning to emerge.  We also saw a single female southern hawker as well as good numbers of four spotted chasers, now coming to the end of their life span.  Other butterflies on the wing were ringlet, meadow brown and very large numbers of one of my favourites: the large skipper.  I especially like the under wing of these insects.

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Common Darter

Drinker Moth Catterpillar

Female Emerald Damselfly

Male Emerald Damselfly

Male Emerald Damselfly

Newly emerged Emerald

Himalayan Balsam

Large Heath

Large Heath

Large Heath

Large Heath

Large Heath

Large Heath

Large Red Damselfly

Large Red Damselfly

Large Skipper

Large Skipper

Large Skipper

Large Skipper

Large Skipper

Meadow Brown

Ruddy Darter