Butterflies, Dragonflies & Damselflies in Vi's Meadow

After taking you to Australia yesterday, I have returned to my friend Vi's today,  however not to her garden this time but to cottages that Michael, her husband and herself hire out in the heart of the countryside, only 4 miles from their home.  Michael, mainly runs this business and as a farmer is very keen to encourage birds on his farm by planting a few acres of wild flowers and leaving rough 6 feet around the fields that he grows cereal crops in.  Although I am not showing you any birds today, I will tomorrow.  Today its the turn of the insects.

Small Tortoiseshell 

I have to thanks Trevor from The Herald blog for helping my ID some the the below insects.  I have just purchased an IPad mini to take onto the field to help with ID birds and yesterday I added an App for Butterflies.  This year is the first time photographing them and I do struggle with some IDs even though we only have 35 different species in Northern Ireland!! 

  

Barnwell Farm Cottages are situated off a quiet country road, in the heart of the Ards Peninsula, 1 mile from Strangford Lough and 2 miles from the Irish Sea coast. To see more of the cottages click the yellow link.  The location is protected from the noise and bustle of everyday life. It is tranquil and relaxing, surrounded by farmland and unspoilt countryside.  Around the cottages there are 5 different trails including a badger one that you can take at night. 

This is Elm cottage at Barnwell Farm 

 Michael works closely with the RSPB advisers and this year he thinks that 2-3 pairs of Yellowhammer breed.

Ringlet

Speckled Wood 

Shaded Broad-Bar  Scotopteryx chenopodiata

Large White

Close up of Large White (bit blurry)

This is a tiny little part of the wonderful meadow that Michael has made for the birds and insects. 

Marmalade Hoverfly - Episyrphus balteatus. (Thanks to Errol for ID)

   I have now done more research and have discovered that in the UK there are over 300 types of Hoverflies!!!  No wonder I am confused!!!

As I walked round I photographed some the the wild plants and

above and below are 2 of them.  Looks like flies to me on the one below!

 As you can see from the sign below, this Holly Tree is not very big yet as it was only planted in 2010 by Prince Charles when he visited the farm.

These Meadow Brown's are a bit moth eaten! 

Also these Green veined Whites are a little worse for wear.

Now to the Dragonflies and Damselflies.

  At the bottom of Michael and Vi's lane,  there is a Trout fishing lake run by Peter, Michael's brother. 

This is where I found all of the below.

Common Blue Damselfly Male

Then my eyes nearly left my head when I saw two mating.  I have never seen this before let alone photographed it. 

They were quite cooperative in not moving around too much. 

And finally the Common Darter below who was sunning himself on this stone.

Occasionally moving to another stone. 

I hope you enjoyed walking around the meadows with me.  Tomorrow I am showing you birds I saw on the farm and also ones I saw on my way home along with a beautiful Abbey.

Thanks for visiting today.

MANY THANKS TO ALL who commented on ANY of my blogs today.