Lynchcombe Steps

Lynchcombe – Mendip Hills, Somerset, UK. ID DSC_3291P

The grassland of the Lynchcombe nature reserve on the Mendip Hills is looking cooked. The sides of the central combe (valley) are brown but the sheltered trees are still looking good.  I like this spot as during windy weather it is a magnet for butterflies.

Lynchcombe

This is a great year for butterflies and the reserve is more like a butterfly farm.  Silver washes are starting to look a bit bedraggled.

Silver-washed Fritillary (Argynnis paphia) – Lynchcombe, Somerset, UK. ID 825_4652

The large cabbage whites maybe common but their translucent wings look good backlit.

Large White (Pieris brassicae) – Greate Breach Wood, Somerset, UK. ID 825_4142

Butterflies clearly like the thistles.  But some, such as this fresh brown argus, prefer the dry heat of the grasses.

Brown Argus (Aricia agestis) – Lynchcombe, Somerset, UK. ID 825_3617

The small coppers like it on the ground.

Small Copper (Lycaeena phlaeas) – Lynchcombe, Somerset, UK. 825_4209

Back up on the bramble scrub the bees bomb the comma butterflies.

Comma (Polygonia c-album) – Lynchcombe, Somerset, UK. ID 825_3819

The commas are good looking, and can be confused with the silver washes.

Comma (Polygonia c-album) – Lynchcombe, Somerset, UK. ID 825_3801

This tiny moth caught my eye.  Probably because its sitting on ragwort which can be a pest across nature reserves.

Gold Mint moth (Pyrausta aurata) on Ragwort (Senecio jacobaea) – Lynchcombe, Somerset, UK. ID 825_4479

And Finally…

Nursery spiders are all over the reserve.

Nursery Web Spider (Pisaura mirabilis) – Lynchcombe, Somerset, UK. ID 825_4567

The females guard their nursery of young.  Of course, they have already eaten their father.

Nursery Web Spider (Pisaura mirabilis) – Lynchcombe, Somerset, UK. ID 825_3912