Ardeer Spit

My first trip to the peninsula for a month or two produced 12 Dark Green Fritillaries, a Small Copper, 2 Peacocks, 150+ Common Blues, plus dozens of Graylings. A Drinker Moth had just emerged from its chrysalis.

(Photos: Dark Green Fritillary; Drinker Moth)

Second Generation

Had my first second generation Small Tortoiseshells at Ardeer Fen about a week ago. Today I had my first Peacock and Small Copper, both on the Ardeer Brownfield land. Also, 3 Small Tortoiseshells at Ardeer Fen today.

Ardeer Brownfield land

A walk around the woodland at Ardeer produced 11 encounters with male Common Hawkers, both along the woodland tracks and over the woodland ponds. A couple of Four-spotted Chasers and 4 female Common Darters were also seen. A Dark Green Fritillary was in a lush area of grassland beside the wood. A Red Admiral was on Bramble at the edge of the wood; another one was at Ardeer Fen.

Ardeer Brownfield land

A walk through the Ardeer Brownfield land produced 110 Common Blues and 71 Graylings. 2 Common Hawkers and a Common Darter were at the woodland edge, as was a Red Admiral nectaring on Bramble flowers. I encountered another Red Admiral flying down my street in Stevenston.