Butterflies and Vistas

In the warm sunshine of the last few days, there have been some wonderful, clear views across the countryside from our walks around the area. among the best views are to be had - as you might expect - from the top of Shipley Hill, as in this picture, looking through the trees and across the grassland, out over the Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire borders.

Shipley Hill itself is every bit as worthy of closer inspection. Rather than using it as a standing point to look out at the surrounding area, looking at the hill itself proves to be colourful and spectacularly 'Summery'.

Green fields, Greener hedgerows and blue skies abound. The birds sing from the bushes, the crows 'caw' at you from the tree tops and everywhere the grasshoppers are chirruping from the grassy edges.

The reservoir at Mapperley makes a welcoming, cool, oasis for the ducks, geese, swans, grebes, coots, moorhens and a pair of common turns.

The Butterflies are all busy flitting around the place too. This little, brown chap is a Ringlet (Aphantopus hyperantus). Rather common, but easily overlooked due to its rather drab colouring, the caterpillars of this species feed on a number of different meadow grasses, while the adults like to sip nectar from the Brambles and Wild Privet flowers.

another insect which seemed to take a shine to our windows and patio doors, was this Small Magpie Moth (Eurrhypara hortulata). Common in the South of Britain, it gets progressively less common, the further North you get. Rather more colourful than the Ringlet.