Montpelier Station!

I had a wander to the station between the showers this morning. There were several Small White butterflies on the other side of the tracks and some Enchanter's Nightshade was in flower nearby. A Rose Chafer was feeding on Buddleia. Towards the TV mast I was amazed to see lots of Broomrape plants - presumably Ivy-leaved Broomrape as the host plant was present. This seems to have been gradually colonising the railway land around Montpelier in recent years. I couldn't get better photos as it was behind a fence. A Marmalade Hoverfly was sat on a Hazel leaf. Halfway down Station Road a Harlequin Ladybird was trundling around. An Impressive Great Mullein plant was flowering near the Cheltenham Road arches.

Small White

Rose Chafer

Marmalade Hoverfly

Enchanter's Nightshade

Ivy Broomrape

Harlequin Ladybird

Great Mullein

In the garden a Dunnock was singing.

Dunnock

The last couple of nights I've detected Noctule bats hunting when sticking my bat detector out of the window.

Rose Chafer!

My first Rose Chafer on the patch this morning - on Red Valerian along the path to the station - I love these guys. Nearby a Nursery-web Spider waiting for its breakfast. Four distant Swifts seen through binoculars beyond the TV mast.

Rose Chafer

Nursery-web Spider

My moth trap produced just three moths this morning and one of them escaped so I was left with a Willow Beauty and a lovely Buff Ermine. Also in the trap was an Ichneumon Wasp - probably either a Netelia or Ophion species.

Buff Ermine

Willow Beauty

Ichneumon Wasp

Montpelier Station

While waiting for the train this morning I noted my first Rose Chafer of the year on some Hogweed on the other side of the tracks, a Tree Bumblebee and a couple of Harlequin Ladybirds.

Rose Chafer

Harlequin Ladybird

Tree Bumblebee

Rose-chafer

The disused platform at the station is a riot of colour, full of Ox-eye Daisies and Red Valerian. The only trouble is that if you see an interesting insect through your binoculars it's too far away to get a decent photo. So.....here is a fantastic photo of a Rose-chafer (my first of the year) - enjoy!

Spot the Rose-chafer