Violet Oil Beetles

I was pleased to accompany Gavin Vella, Liam Olds and Michael Kilner to an undisclosed site in Monmouthshire countryside to view the violet old beetle. By coincidence the site is well known to me as it was an area where the late Percy Playford had a nest box colony in the 1970s and 80s supporting up to 10 pairs of pied flycatcher. Percy was my mentor and trainer in gaining my bird ringing licence.

The search for the oil beetles was straightforward with around 20 individuals noted as we walked the site. It was also pleasing to see both male and female pied flycatcher still using an area of former coppiced alder woodland.