If anyone's thinking of heading to the coast to check Ivy blossom, I'd advise waiting a couple of weeks - I went down to Lavernock last night and only a couple of plants were in flower (and these only just coming into flower). It's evidently having a very late flowering this year - I've found good numbers of moths on it at Lavernock as early as 19th September (in 2008).
George
George, it must be area specific as the Ivy in Oxwich village is at its peak at present,in fact some bushes had big patches that had gone over. Worth looking out for Colletes hederae if you find any during the day (see here http://goweros.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/oxwich-beach.html).
ReplyDeleteI was at Dunraven on Sunday and Ivy was not quite in flower there either.
ReplyDeleteBarry - I saw Colletes hederae on Barry Island in late October last year.
ReplyDeleteThe Ivy up here never flowers before the latter half of October anyway, but if you can find any Buddleia still in flower, it is worth checking. A quick look at mine, just now, resulted in a Common Marbled Carpet, Large Yellow Underwing and a Silver Y, on the few flower heads still left.
ReplyDeleteGeorge/Barry - may have seen Colletes hederae on Barry Island this afternoon. There are numerous holes excavated in the sandy soil wherever it is exposed along the seafront promenade. They looked a bit like wasps from a distance. Does that sound about right? Didn't have my camera unfortunately!
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