This week’s Nature Note is from Deborah McLaughlin, Nature Reserve Officer at Bog Meadows in Belfast, an urban nature reserve right beside the M1 motorway.
The warm weather at the end of last week brought out the ladybirds. We saw lots of 7 spot adults and larvae everywhere, particularly on nettles. Ladybirds are beneficial insects, managing garden pests and will turn up anywhere there are aphids for it to feed on.
Ladybird on nettle
Thursday’s heatwave brought out Tortoiseshell butterflies, Ringlet butterflies and the Common blue damselfly. The male is pale blue with bands of black along the body; the female is either blue or dull green, with distinctive black 'torpedo' markings.
Common blue damselfly
Cuckoos have been spotted at our Nature Reserve in Umbra on the north coast. These illusive birds and are easy to hear but very hard to spot. The Meadow pipits helps us find one. They were harassing it until it dived into the hawthorn for cover.
The Sparrowhawks are back at Balloo Woodland. We had a pair that nested and raised two young there last year. They have been heard calling away this week and we caught site of the male nipping through the trees.
Tortoise Shell Butterfly
Tortoiseshell butterflies
Ladybird on nettle
Ladybird larvae
Common blue damselfly
Eggar moth caterpillar web
Sparrowhawk (stock image)
Cuckoo
Pyramidal orchid
Tortoiseshell butterflies
