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Report & Photos

Cotgrave Wood, July 17th 2025

Click on any photo to enlarge

We battled through mist and heavy rain, assembled in Lamming Gap Lane, the rain stopped and it was dry for the morning event. However the sun was almost completely in hiding, resulting in very few (less than 25 in total) butterflies being seen on the day from 9 species. Other insects were more obliging but took some finding.

And so at 10.40, 10 enthusiastic wildlife fanatics set off on what was surprisingly to become quite a rewarding day. A Gatekeeper got us off to a good start, shortly followed by a Ringlet. Several ladybird species were located on nettles together with a harvestman and a few bee species. Deep into the wood and the sun appeared for no more than a minute. But it encouraged White Letter Hairstreak and Silver Washed Fritillary butterflies to show themselves.

The return journey to the cars allowed a more intensive search for insects and a good tally for the day (see photos) was the reward. In the grass around the cars a Roesel’s Bush Cricket was located and both Yellowhammer and Linnet were singing heartily.

A most enjoyable outing attended by, David & Veronica, Rob & Margaret, Glynne, Chris, Richard, Jack, Peter & Tony.

​

Tony Wardell

©2025 Chris Watkins

Bat-Winged Phasia .JPG

Bat-winged phasia

Common Soldier Beetle .JPG

Common soldier beetle

Common wasp .JPG

Common wasp

gatekeeper .JPG

Gatekeeper

Dagger-Fly .JPG

Dagger fly

Green Shieldbug (final instar) .JPG

Green shieldbug

Green-veined White (1).JPG
Green-veined White (2).JPG

Green-veined white

Greenbottle  .JPG

Greenbottle

Harlequin Ladybird (1) .JPG
Harvestman .JPG

Harvestman

Harlequin Ladybird (2) .JPG

Harlequin ladybird

Ladybird pupa .JPG

Ladybird pupa

Marmalade Hoverfly .JPG

Marmalade hoverfly

Silver-washed Fritillary .JPG

Silver-washed fritillary

Large White .JPG

Large white

Ringlet .JPG

Ringlet

Snail .JPG

Snail

Stripe-wnged Dronefly.JPG

Stripe-winged dronefly

Tachnid Fly (1) .JPG
Tachnid Fly (2) .JPG

Tachnid fly

©2025 Dave McGeever

Bombus vestalis (Vestal Cuckoo Bee (1).JPG
Bombus vestalis (Vestal Cuckoo Bee (2).JPG

Vestal cuckoo bee

Bombus vestalis (Vestal Cuckoo Bee (3).JPG
Common Twist Tail .JPG

Common twist tail

Empis livda (1).JPG
Bombus vestalis (Vestal Cuckoo Bee (4).JPG
Dagger Fly devouring hoverfly prey.JPG

Dagger Fly devouring hoverfly prey

Empis livda (2).JPG

Empis livda

Gatekeeper .JPG

Gatekeeper

Green-veined White.JPG

Green-veined white

14-spot ladybird & Hooded Dryomyza .JPG

14-spot ladybird &

hooded dryomyza

Ichneumon Wasp (poss. Pimpla hypochondriaca .JPG

Ichneumon wasp

Large Skipper (1).JPG
Green Shieldbug Final Instar (1).JPG

Green shieldbug

Harvestman (f) .JPG

Harvestman

Hooded Dryomyza .JPG

Hooded dryomyza

Ichnuemon Wasp (poss. Diphyus quadripunctorius) .JPG

Ichneumon wasp

Large Skipper (2).JPG

Large skipper

Roesel's Bush Cricket  (1).JPG
Roesel's Bush Cricket  (2).JPG

Roesel's bush cricket

Silver-washed Fritillary (1).JPG
Silver-washed Fritillary (5).JPG

Silver-washed fritillary

Tachina fera  (1).JPG

Tachina fera

White-letter Hairstreak  (6).JPG
White-letter Hairstreak  (2).JPG

White-letter hairstreak

White-letter Hairstreak  (7).JPG

White-letter hairstreak

White-letter Hairstreak, Harlequin Ladybirds  & Soldier Beetles (1).JPG

White-letter Hairstreak, Harlequin Ladybirds  & Soldier Beetles

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