It’s a great time to explore Walton Common. In particular, it’s a wonderful opportunity to check out the many insects that find the reserve so welcoming. Such butterflies as Large Skippers, Marbled Whites, Common Blues and Meadow Browns – to name just a few – are now on the wing. And, any day now, we should see the appearance of our two Fritillaries – the Dark Green and the Silver-washed.
I’ve mentioned Howard Taffs and Rob Martin in a previous post. They have been walking the butterfly transect recently and Rob has been passing on some great photos of insects found along the route. The record of the Southern Hawker (found on the 12th June) was a very early record for this species! They also found a further records of Scarce Chaser dragonfly. A dragonfly that has been expanding in our region in recent years.
In the past I’ve mentioned the masses of Marsh Orchids to be found on the footpath leading from Walton Street to the coast path. I’m assured they are there in numbers again this year. However, another short walk from Walton Common – but in the opposite direction – is Taggart’s Wood (another Avon Wildlife reserve). The path through the woods here is another orchid hot spot with good numbers of Pyramidal as well as Common Spotted Orchids.