Kirkstall Hill sightings

Earlier this evening I discovered Five-Spot Burnet moths (Zygaena trifolii) in the short grasses near the top of Kirkstall Hill. I counted eight in total, dotted around on flower heads of Ribwort Plantain and Red Clover. Its a distinctive day flying moth with metallic looking black forewings coloured with red dots and black clubbed antennae.

The larvae feed on Bird's Foot Trefoils, located nearby. I've yet to develop the knack of spotting butterfly and moth eggs and chrysalis, so I was happy enough with my discovery of a Five-Spot chrysalis, the moth still inside the semi opaque papery yellow casing.

Also on the hill, this well worn Small Tortoiseshell soaking up some early evening rays. Altogether a pretty good bounty for such a brief stroll-io-lio.

Kirkstall Creatures in St Stephens churchyard

Back to nearby St Stephen's churchyard in Kirkstall, amongst the headstones settled this Red Admiral, looking like it had seen better days. Despite extensive damage to both its hindwings and forewings it appeared to fly freely. 

Blue Tit fledglings bounced around in the Hawthorns overhead.

A couple of fresh looking Speckled Wood engaged in a series of aerial tussles, the victor returning to pride of place amongst a heap of what looks like Wood Pigeon feathers. 

A Song Thrush settled on the upright of a wooden bench, eyeing me from a distance, by the look of the bench its a popular birdy perch.

St Stephen's Churchyard, Kirkstall

In the corner of St Stephen's churchyard in Kirkstall, there's a well established patch of Honey garlic (Nectaroscordum siculum ssp bulgaricum), a tall, shade tolerant, perennial whose upright flowerheads open into dainty hanging umbels. 

The plant is a native to the Mediterranean and is related to the Allium family. Its nectar rich flowers are much loved by bees, which was apparent as I watched twenty or so working their way around this patch.

Kirkstall Hill Large Skipper

After work I strolled over to nearby Kirkstall Hill where I spotted this male Large Skipper feeding on Red Clover, a first for this year, and a super sighting so close to home.  Previously I've struggled to distinguish between the Small and Large Skippers but this pic clearly shows the mottled wings of a Large Skipper rather than the cleaner golden wings of a Small Skipper, and the prominent diagonal black mark on the forewing indicates the male of the species.

Kirkstall Hill is adjacent to the busy crossroads of Kirkstall Lane and Morris Lane, and forms a steep south west facing grassland area.  The tall growing grasses are dotted with patches of red and white clover, buttercups, common vetch, birdsfoot trefoil, ribwort plantain, dandelion. Despite the discarded cans and bottles, the top path offers a great view towards Kirkstall Abbey and the Aire valley beyond, but I have to admit that this golden winged wonder was the highlight of my evening stroll.

Kirkstall creatures - Banded Demoiselles

Walking along the riverbank by Kirkstall Abbey, I encountered my first Banded Demoiselle (Calopteryx splendens). Yipee! On a sunny, south facing bank males and females settled amongst the leaves of tall growing nettles and Himalayan Balsam. The males were easily identifiable, with their dark banded wings and appeared more restless than the females (pictured above) which lack the coloured wing band. The body colouring of the male (below) is a metallic blue green, the females are a metallic green with a bronze coloured tip.

More information about Banded Demoiselles on the Yorkshire Branch of the British Dragonfly Society.