Tiny Signs

Fewer and fewer sightings, but the little pile of droppings tells me the voles are still there.

Getting Shyer

This isn't him, but I'm still seeing the vole with the white spot on its head.

 Magpie moth

 September Thorn (I think)

 Gold Spot

 Lesser Swallow Prominent

Common Red Darters (female is yellow)

 Migrant Hawker (I think)

Speckled Wood

   Sightings are getting harder to come by now as populations disperse.

Postcard from the Isle of Wight

Red squirrel at Alverstone

 Common Blues (above and below)

  Chalk Hill Blue - a first for me!

Small Copper

Painted Lady

Wall

 I think these are Wall Lizards

  Common Shrew which came into the farm shop and had a nosey round.

I can really recommend the Isle of Wight if you love wildlife. Lots of quiet, well-maintained public footpaths where you can go walking and taking photos - and of course no mink or grey squirrels which means that vulnerable species can thrive!

White Spots

I'd set my litter picker down on the ground when this baby water vole crept out to feed next to it, right by my shoe. I was fascinated to see that it had a white spot on its forehead, something I've seen on water voles before though I don't know what causes it. Also interesting to see ragwort in its feeding station, because that plant is so very poisonous to other animals.

The Big Butterfly Count (plus moths and a dragonfly)

 Migrant Hawker?

 Gatekeeper butterfly

  Meadow Brown butterfly

 Poplar Hawk moth

 Red Admiral butterfly

 Rosy Rustic moth

 Swallow Prominent moth

August Thorn moth

There's still time left to do the Big Butterfly Count. It only takes 15 minutes, and you can submit your records online here: http://www.bigbutterflycount.org/

When You Have a Snail Stuck to your Head and You Don't Notice

Moths, Voles and Amphibians

Edgeley Road vole

Burnished Brass moth

Shaded Broad-bar

Large Magpie

Above, juvenile Common Newts and below, Great Crested newts.

Common Toad.