Wildlife around Bath 8 October 2015

Scalloped hazel (Odontopera bidentata) caterpillar Family: Geometridae A truly striking caterpillar, camouflaged against lichen that grows on trees on which it feeds. Caterpillars of this family are often known as ‘loopers’ due to the absence of legs in...
Dyrham Park Pear Perry weekend 3-4 October 2015

Dyrham Park Pear Perry weekend 3-4 October 2015

As a continuation of Bath Nats outreach work with Dyrham Park we took our display boards and orchard related specimens for this weekend event. The weather was dry and chilly, but a gazebo was provided that gave us a good base amongst the pear trees and other orchard...
Breach Wood , Englishcombe, 27 September 2015

Breach Wood , Englishcombe, 27 September 2015

Leader: Alan Feest A party of 18 met at the start of the visit (including a number of new members) and Alan F explained that Englishcombe Parish was lucky in that it had not only three Ancient Woods (Breach, Middle and Vernham Woods) and that Breach Wood was...
Wildlife around Bath 22 September 2015

Wildlife around Bath 22 September 2015

Field digger wasp (Mellinus arvensis) with prey © Ian Redding Family: Crabronidae A common digger wasp, typically associated with sandy habitats. This one was amongst several other species of diggers between woodland and pasture, around an old wood pile. The adult...
First record for Somerset 9 September 2015

First record for Somerset 9 September 2015

Metalampra italica 28.008 (BF642a) Female This moth was caught by one of our moth group members, by Paul Wilkins,  and is a first record for Somerset (VC6) Gen Det. First recorded in Britain in 2003, originally a native of Italy and spreading northwards. Feeds under...
Around Marshfield, 5 September 2015

Around Marshfield, 5 September 2015

A party of eleven members met in the layby west of Marshfield and proceeded then on minor roads and footpaths, northwards mainly, to observe birdlife. During the course of the three hours we were out we observed a total of twenty four species of bird. It was pleasing...
28 August 2015, Wildlife around Bath

28 August 2015, Wildlife around Bath

Entomophthora muscae (232/365) Family: Entomophthoraceae A hoverfly has become a food source for a fungus. Upon infection, the fungus causes behavioural changes in the host, leading to ascent of a blade of grass before death. This allows the spores to be broadcast...

Moths around Bath, 20 August 2015

. The mocha (Cyclophora annularia) Family: Geometridae An attractive moth that feeds on field maple (Acer campestre). This was one of at least three individuals taken at a light trap left overnight in Prior Park Landscape Gardens by the Bath Natural History Society. ....
Prior Park Landscape Garden, 19 August 2015

Prior Park Landscape Garden, 19 August 2015

Twelve members made an early start in the delightful surroundings of Prior Park Gardens adjacent to the lower lake to examine, identify and study the contents of a moth trap left overnight close to the lake and surrounding trees. Before looking at the moth trap we...
Priddy Mineries/Stockhill, 8 August 2015

Priddy Mineries/Stockhill, 8 August 2015

Leaders: Alan Barrett and Geoff Hiscocks This was a joint meeting between Bath Nats and the Somerset and Bristol Branch of Butterfly Conservation. On a glorious sunny day, 22 of us (about equal numbers from each group) met in Stockhill car park opposite Priddy...
Wildlife around Bath, 29 July 2015

Wildlife around Bath, 29 July 2015

Micromus variegatusFamily: Hemerobiidae A predatory brown lacewing in woodland near Brown’s Folly, outside Bath, UK. This 8mm long insect is identified by the pattern on the wings. © Ian Redding Lacewing larva (probably Micromus variegatus) Family: HemerobiidaeA...