Wildlife

Birds

There are many birds to be seen in St Ives and Mark Doveston, our resident bird watcher has put a full list together following the following links; Birds of St Ives 1 and Birds of St Ives 2

For further information of what to look out for on your visit, check out our Bird Life Calendar

Wren

Troglodytes troglodytes

in full song

Above - Large Skipper Butterfly

Ochlodes venatus

This is a small brown butterfly with orange-brown markings on the topside of the wings. When at rest its fore-wings are held above its hind-wings so is easily mistaken for a moth.

Grey Squirrel

(Sciurus carolinensis)

This cute rodent can have 2--4 litters per year, and live up to 20 years. The young are independent after only 16 weeks.

Right -- Common Kestrel

Falco tinnunculus

The hovering Kestrel is a common sight in St Ives. The Kestrel is the only small British bird of prey which has a hovering habit. This is a British falcon denoted by its long pointed wings, and no other British falcon has a tail as long.

Insects

Many insects, including this Small Copper Butterfly Lycaena phlaeas, (left) can be found whilst walking through the grounds of St Ives.

Mark Doveston's Blogspot

Scorpion Fly

Panorpa communis

A very strange looking insect. The male has a scorpion like, upturned abdomen. weak flier and holds wings flat at rest . Its head has a long downward projection used in feeding. It scavenges on dead animals, including contents of spiders webs, and ripe fruit. Seen May-July in hedgerows and among brambles.

Length 14 mm

Black and Red Froghopper

Cercopis Vulnerata

Distinctive black body with red markings that act as a distasteful warning. Found on low vegetation but jumps to escape danger.

Seen from May to August. in hedgerows, meadows, and woodland Length 9 mm

Common Blue Damselfly

Enallagma cyathigerum

Predatory insects, both in the larval and adult stages. Damselflies rest with both pairs of wings almost parallel, but they are strong fliers. Adult males are predominantly blue, spotted with black markings resembling stripes. Adult females are much darker with larger areas of black and usually a green background colour, although there is a blue form, again with larger areas of black.