Lynchcombe / Update

Lynchcombe Steps

by Jeff Bevan · Published 7th July 2017 · Updated 13th July 2017

After the trips to Great Breach Wood it was time for Lynchcombe to demonstrate it can serve up its share of silver-washed fritillaries. It did not disappoint.

Lynchcombe – Summer Style

Silver-washed Fritillaries

The silver-washed fritillaries were still flying around the trees and brambles of the central combe. The look-out at the stop of the steep slope into the combe being the best place to watch, and is of course on the route of the Lynchcombe butterfly transect.

Silver-washed Fritillary (Argynnis paphia) – Lynchcombe, Somerset, UK. ID 822_9677

Marbled White

Marbled white numbers are dropping quickly. A couple of weeks ago they were flying up around my feet as I walked through the long grass. Today I had to look carefully to spot one here and one there.

Marbled White (Melanargia calathea) – Lynchcombe, Somerset, UK. ID 823_0224

Despite the low number they were still looking good.

Marbled White (Melanargia calathea) – Lynchcombe, Somerset, UK. ID 823_0224

Skippers

Skippers always seem to be having fun across the reserve. Most thistles had a busy skipper nearby.

Small Skipper (Thymelicus sylvestris) – Lynchcombe, Somerset, UK. ID 822_9587

Red Admirals

Red admirals are easy to forget over the excitement of the silver-washed fritillaries they are easy to spot when their wings are open. Once closed in the depths of a tree or bush they are very hard to find.

Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) – Lynchcombe, Somerset, UK. ID 8223_9773

Peacocks

Five peacocks almost in as many yards. This is only the first brood of the year and were perfect. They should survive the summer then hibernate over the winter to emerge next spring. In the spring they will lay their eggs to continue the cycle.