Peacocks and Humming Birds
Lynchcombe from Cooks Fields – Mendip Hills, Somerset, UK. ID DSC_3298
Sorry, no birds just butterflies and moths.
Lynchcombe
At the moment the Lynchcombe nature reserve on the Mendip Hills of Somerset is like a butterfly farm. They certainly seem to be enjoying the hot weather.
Peacock butterfly (Inachis io) and Silver-washed Fritillary (Argynnis paphia) – Lynchcombe, Somerset, UK. ID 825_3375
The reserve is home to a single buddleia plant. It is a huge magnet for all the large colourful butterflies on the site. Of course, it is on the route of my butterfly transect that I walk each week to count the numbers of each species.
The peacock butterfly is familiar to everyone in the Uk. It is extremely beautiful, as well as being large and easy to approach.
Peacock butterfly (Inachis io) – Lynchcombe, Somerset, UK. ID 825_3375
The peacocks also love the thistles.
Peacock butterfly (Inachis io) – Lynchcombe, Somerset, UK. ID 825_3375
And rest on the surrounding bracken.
Peacock butterfly (Inachis io) – Lynchcombe, Somerset, UK. ID 825_3375
The humming-bird hawk moth (Macroglossum stellatarum) is an immigrant from southern Europe and north Africa. It is so exotic and looks just like a mini-humming bird.
Humming bird Hawk-moth (Macroglossum stellatarum) – Lynchcombe, Somerset, UK. ID 825_4260
Its fast beating wings, long tongue, and reverse flight are the same as those of a humming-bird. This was the first I had seen on Lynchcombe and it was amazing.
Humming bird Hawk-moth (Macroglossum stellatarum) – Lynchcombe, Somerset, UK. ID 825_4246
The usual suspects were also around such as this red admiral.
Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) – Lynchcombe, Somerset, UK. ID 825_4287
And Finally…
Even the most common meadow browns enjoy a visit to the reserve’s buddleia plant.
Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina) – Lynchcombe, Somerset, UK. ID 825_4409
