Fantastic day setting up habitat boxes and camera traps on our nature reserve in Lough Erne last week. Highlights included seeing the Ivy broomrape in flower - a native, parasitic plant found on only six sites in NI.
The island is home to beautiful old oaks and we came across this yellow brain fungus - a sign of a witches curse! Look at the view out from the island onto Lough Erne ~ Katy & Michael
Ivy broomrape, Isle Namafin July 2020
Oak, Namafin July 2020
Yellow brain fungus, Namafin July 2020
View from Namafin, July 2020
Butterflies - seven species seen on the wing. Silver-washed fritillary have now increased in number to a minimum of 12-15 with a similar number of peacock present. Green-veined white and ringlet were also plentiful together with a smaller number of meadow brown and speckled wood. Finally, a single small tortoiseshell was seen.
Micro moths - a sighting of the most interest to me was a single Pyrausta Purpuralis (common purple and gold).
Dragonflies - a minimum of three common hawker were on the wing.
Bumblebees - Garden bumblebee and common carder bee were present.
Finally, an observation. I had anticipated seeing several species of shield bug. From memory, four species were seen within a few minutes of arrival last year. Despite beating off vegetation, I couldn't find a single specimen. It reinforces my view that, for whatever reason, shield bugs appear to be having a poor season.
~ Adrian Kernohan, Ulster Wildlife Member
Common purple and gold, Pyrausta Purpuralis (c) Adrian Keronhan
