Small copper butterfly
Peacock
It's not just about birds at Coombes Valley! This is a great time of year for butterfly-spotting. Look out for small coppers, peacocks, ringlets and many others flitting from flower to flower on warm days. There are insects galore, with lots of bees and hoverflies buzzing around too. Rosebay Willowherb is in flower, and you can't miss it. Its bright pinky/purple flowers on tall stems bring an exciting splash of colour to the reserve. The teasels are coming into flower by the viewing platform and brown hawker and broad-bodied chaser dragonflies have been seen at the pond too.
Arriving at the reserve early this morning for an interview with BBC Radio Stoke, I was greeted by lots of young rabbits in the car park, who scarpered as soon as they heard my steps. It's a great time of year for a peaceful walk at Coombes. Why not do some summer-wildlife spotting too?