June 26th 2008

Needed to photograph this little beauty before I went out this morning which was trapped by Dave the previous night and one I have not seen before.

Lilac Beauty
Arrived at Draycote Water just as Bob Hazell found a Little Ringed Plover in toft bay. Earlier I had 4 Song Thrush in toft shallows along with singing Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler plus 2 Green Woodpecker 7 Lapwing and 2 Buzzards but little else in the blustery conditions. Stayed for the sun to come out which produce a Brown Argus in the country park amongst the many Ringlets and Meadow Brown's and a pair of Blue-tailed Damselfly's with a Hobby hunting overhead. After spending some time chatting with Bob & Francoise I managed the 2 Herring Gulls Bob had seen earlier and found a Common Tern before leaving.
Back out with Dave this evening down the valley but it started to rain so we ended up having coffee and looking at a moth he found at work. O boy it looks like its a Small Ranunculus and will if accepted only the 4th record for Warwickshire - just waiting for the county recorder to get back to us.

Small Ranunculus

Richard