Butterflies Galore

A visit to Stratton Wood this lunchtime in the blazing sun, was well rewarded with dozens and dozens of Marbled Whites, Ringlets, Meadow Browns and several Small Heath. There were many 5-spot Burnets about and I came across a beautiful White Plume moth, but it flew off before I could photograph it. A couple of surprises were a Red-legged Partridge, my first at Stratton Wood, a pair of Common Blue Damselflies in the meadows which is well away from any water and there were also several Orchids sp.

No big write up today: Just a few photos to sum up a brilliant day for butterflies.

One of the meadows at Stratton Wood full of butterflies.

Orchid sp.

Orchid sp.

Marbled White

Marbled White

Marbled White

Marbled White

Meadow Brown

Ringlet

Ringlet

5-spot Burnet moth

Large Skipper

Meadow

Small Heath

Common Blue Damselfly (female)

Common Blue Damselfly (male)

Possibly a Garden Grass-veneer.

Grasshopper

Another Meadow

And a butterflies view from ground level

Speckled Wood

Small Tortoiseshell

5-spot Burnet moth

Small Blue

Small Blue

Small Emerald

Birds recorded: Red Kite, Red-Legged Partridge, Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Wood Pigeon, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Skylark, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Song Thrush, 2 Garden Warbler, 5 Blackcap, 9 Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, Long-tailed Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Rook, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Greenfinch and Bullfinch.

Butterflies seen: 1 Peacock, 30+ Marbled White, dozens of Ringlet, several Meadow Brown, 3 Speckled Wood, 8+ Small Tortoiseshell and 8+ Large Skippers several Small Heath.

Moths seen: 1 Small Emerald, 12+ 5-spot Burnet moth, Cinnabar, White Plume moth (Pterophorus pentadactyla) and possibly a Garden Grass-veneer.

Damselflies seen: A pair of Common Blue Damselflies.

Other insects: Drone Fly, Harlequin Ladybird, Cardinal Beetle

A Bad Day for Hay Fever Sufferers

Dawn, Benji and I took a walk around Nightingale Wood in the sweltering heat. If you suffer from Hay Fever, this is probably a walk you would want to put on hold. The meadow alongside the River Cole has recently been cut and the pollen was quite extreme. Consequently the walk was a bit quicker than normal, but we still managed to see plenty including both Beautiful and Banded Demoiselles along the banks of the River Cole.

A young male Beautiful Demoiselle

A male Banded Demoiselle

Other sightings were lots of Meadow Browns and Brimstones with one or two of the latter showing signs of wear and tear. A Holly Blue was only my second sighting this year and a Small Skipper my first. Dawn is very good at spotting caterpillars and it wasn't long before she found one crossing the path. I've yet to ID it but she also found a moth in the vegetation, which at first glance looked as if it had died. In fact it was the contrary, what she had spotted was a Large Yellow Underwing newly emerged and pumping its wings up.

Meadow Brown

Possibly an Oak Eggar caterpillar

Possibly an Oak Eggar caterpillar

A newly emerged Large Yellow Underwing

Other bugs out and about were Drone Flies, Scorpion Flies, a Leaf Beetle (Donacia vulgaris) and a surprise when we got back to the car was a Wasp Beetle sunbathing on the car roof.

Leaf Beetle (Donacia vulgaris)

Leaf Beetle (Donacia vulgaris)

Wasp Beetle

Wasp Beetle

On the bird front there were plenty of juveniles about, with young Blue Tits very much evident wherever we were. A Wren was spotted with a juicy caterpillar in its beak heading off in to the heart of the woodland, which then got me thinking how very wrong it was off the Forestry Commission to be cutting huge swathes of trees down with thick vegetation around their bases. Surely they could have waited until at least the end of the Summer. Judging by the destruction I saw, there must have been an awful lot of casualties. But hey whose going to now know!

There are still plenty of warblers about and we heard Blackcap, Garden Warbler, Common Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler and Sedge Warbler. By the cottages there was a male Common Whitethroat letting every one know that this was his patch and as he flew from tree to tree and back up onto the telegraph wires he was joined momentarily by a Yellowhammer.

Common Whitethroat

Common Whitethroat

Yellowhammer

Yellowhammer just about to move on

Other birds of interest were a pair of Red-legged Partridges in the fields beyond the giant compost heap, a Green Woodpecker in the meadow, a Water Rail calling from the reed beds, a Grey Heron which flew over the pool by the River Cole and had a white tag on its right wing. Unfortunately I couldn't tell if there were any letters, numbers or anything else on it and also seen a Grey Wagtail flying over the car park when we got back to the car. The walk was just over an hour, which was long enough if you suffer from Hay Fever or if your a young pup.

A Water Rail calling from the Reed beds. (Courtesy of xeno-canto)

Shade at long last

Birds recorded: were 1 Grey Heron, Buzzard, 2 Red-Legged Partridge, Water Rail, Moorhen, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Grey Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Song Thrush, 5 Sedge Warbler, 3 Garden Warbler, 8+ Common Whitethroat, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 11+ Blackcap, 8+ Chiffchaff, 3 Willow Warbler, Goldcrest, Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Rook, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Bullfinch, Yellowhammer and Reed Bunting.

Butterflies: 12+ Meadow Browns, 4 Small Tortoiseshell, 5 Brimstone, 2 Green-veined White and 1 Holly Blue.

Moths: Large Yellow Underwing

Damselflies: Beautiful Demoiselle and Banded Demoiselle.

Other insects: Drone Flies, Scorpion Fly, Leaf Beetle (Donacia vulgaris), Wasp Beetle and Meadow Grasshopper

Between the Pools

As the weather was pretty good again, Dawn and I thought we'd take a walk from the house to Shaftesbury Lake and then back home via Nythe Pool. It was fairly windy so I wasn't expecting to see many butterflies, but I did manage a few Small Tortoiseshells, Speckled Woods and Green-veined Whites. In fact it wasn't just the butterflies we came across, because as we walked along the main path between Nythe Pool and Shaftesbury Pool, Dawn spotted the caterpillar of a Small Tortoiseshell making its way across the path.

Small Tortoiseshell caterpillar

Most of the birds now are feeding young, so any bird singing was a bonus. So hearing 3 Chiffchaffs and a couple of Blackcaps was pretty good. Some surprises were a Treecreeper in Nythe Wood and the huge number of Canada Geese on Shaftesbury Pool. Please don't get me wrong I love birds but I think there has to be limit to the amount on one Pool. I got to about 60 and then lost count as more appeared. Its not so much the birds, but the mess they leave on the banks and lawns around the water. Its pretty bad!

Adult Canada Goose with goslings

Apart from the geese on the pool there was a Red-eared Slider or Red-eared Terrapin as they are more commonly known as, sitting on an "island" in the middle of the pool and running about on the banks was a Brown Rat, which didn't seem to bothered by me, Dawn and the dog walking past it.

Red-eared Terrapin

Once we had circumnavigated the pool we headed back to Nythe Pool, where we came across a Grey Heron feeding in the shallows and at least 3 Banded Demoiselles dancing along the stream.

Banded Demoiselle

Birds seen: Grey Heron, 2 Mute Swan, 60+ Canada Goose, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Moorhen, Coot, Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, 2 Blackcap, 3 Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Treecreeper, Wren, Magpie, Rook, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch and Goldfinch.

Mammals: Brown Rat

Reptiles: Red-eared Slider (Trachemys scripta elegans)

Butterflies: 4 Speckled Woods, 3 Small Tortoiseshells and 2 Green-veined Whites.

Damselflies: 3 Banded Demoiselles and 1 Common Blue Damselfly

Caterpillars: 1 Small Tortoiseshell caterpillar

A Day in the Sun

A bit of a lazy day today in Nythe, and why not. With the sun out and rain always forecast, it seemed like a good enough excuse to sit out in the garden and watch the wildlife go by.  First off it was 3 Buzzards circling high above and then several large gulls, mainly Lesser Black-backed Gulls and the odd Herring Gull drifting up on the thermals. A Swallow whizzed through the gap between the houses, which had I blinked I would have missed and a Pied Wagtail called from behind the houses at the back, which was the first for many moths.

A couple of Swifts came low down over the roof tops and then for the rest of the afternoon, they or maybe other birds were seen, with up to 3 together. In the back garden a Large Red Damselfly visited the pond, the first for the year in the back garden and other visitors to the Honeysuckle and Pyracantha were both Lasioglossum leucozonium and Bombus pratorum bees.

Bombus pratorum on the Honeysuckle

Lasioglossum leucozonium bee on the Pyracantha

Large Red Damselfly

Large Red Damselfly

Also in the Honeysuckle was a male House Sparrow, who worked his way along every stem and flower, picking out small insects. He did this for several minutes before flying off and then returning some 10 minutes later to do the same all over again.

House Sparrow in amongst the Honeysuckle

Then amongst the Roses

And back into the Honeysuckle

Before checking out the Pyracantha

The resident Collared Doves visited the feeders as did the local Wood Pigeons, House Sparrows and Starlings. Overhead small parties of Wood Pigeon passed by as did 2 Jackdaws and the local Carrion Crows.

One of the local Carrion Crows

And a daily visit by one the resident Wood Pigeons

And finally rain. Just a few drops, but rains rain. But at least I made the most of a glorious day.

A Muggy June Day

 With the weather looking pretty good, it was off to Mouldon Hill and a walk along the canal, along the River Ray, through Purton & Berriman's Wood and back past the lake to the car park. As soon as I stepped out of the car a Little Egret flew over my head, and was gone before I could get the camera out. Around me I could hear both Common and Lesser Whitethroats, Willow Warblers, Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps, which was quite surprising as I would have thought by now that most male warblers would be busy feeding youngsters and not singing within their territories.

By the time I had walked to the canal, the sun was just starting to come out and it was feeling quite muggy. A drake Mallard was sitting on an old tyre and seem quite happy to stand there as I passed him by. The trees and bushes along this stretch were alive with warblers as well, with Common Whitethroats, Blackcaps, Garden Warblers and Chiffchaffs.

A drake Mallard takes time out on an old tyre

A Common Whitethroat

I've yet to walk along the canal, but as always I cut through the hedge on my left and followed the path along the scrubland up to the River Ray. As I did so a Jay shot across in front of me and disappeared into the bushes on the other side. Overhead a Buzzard caught my eye and above him were 2 Swifts. Along this stretch there were several Sedge Warblers, but sadly no Grasshopper Warblers heard. From the canal I could a few Reed Warblers and also another Willow Warbler.

Looking back towards Thamesdown Drive with the canal on the left.

By the time I had reached the River Ray the nettles were about chest height and it was quite obvious nobody had walked this part of the path before. As I waded through dozens of Banded Demoiselles took off, along with a few Common Blue Damselfly's. As I got to the bridge a pair of Mute Swans were making their way upstream with their 6 cygnets, stopping every now and then to feed in the calmer stretches of the river.

A male Banded Demoiselle

A female Banded Demoiselle

A family outing. Mute Swans battling there way upstream.

The undergrowth in this area was quite dense I came across all sorts of bugs including Scorpion Fly, Drone Fly, Cardinal Beetle, Nursery Web Spiders, Froghopper, Clay-coloured Weevil and a Sawfly (Arge Pagana).

A Clay-coloured Weevil

Cardinal Beetle

Drone Fly

Sawfly

A juvenile Dark Bush Cricket

Once back up onto the canal path there were more Sedge Warblers flying about, plus a pair of Reed Buntings, the latter I've not seen along here before. In the hedgerows there more bugs with Soldier Beetles, Green Nettle Weevils, Green Dock Beetles, Lacewings (Chrysopa perla) and a Red-and-black Froghopper.

Green Nettle Weevils

Red-and-black Froghopper

Green Dock Beetle

A Lacewing - Chrysopa perla

As I neared the end of the canal I took a look back and was amazed that all you see was wall to vegetation. At first glance you be forgiven to think that the canal didn't exist and that there was actually a tow path running down its length.

The canal stops here!

Leaving the canal behind I followed the course of the River Ray up as far as the Lake. There is a quite a bend in the river at this point and looking into the water here I could see several small Chub in a tight shoal. Every now and then one would break away and take something off the surface before rejoining the "pack". 

Once I arrived at the lake I turned left and made my way back towards the river. Once again the nettles here are chest height and as I waded through these I sent up dozens and dozens of Banded Demoiselles. It would have made for a great video, but as soon as they were airborne, they were back down again as quick as they were up. They were obviously not in the mood for flying!

About a quarter of the way around the lake I crossed over the bridge and made my way to Purton & Berriman's Wood. There were a few Speckled Wood here and I came across 2 Green-veined Whites. Once again though, once I reached the river back came the Banded Demoiselles. This is obviously the time of year for them. A quick shrill and a Kingfisher made its way downstream and as it did so a Great Spotted Woodpecker flew over the river.

Speckled  Wood

The wood walk is a circular walk and as I completed it, I came out next to the bridge. The lake ahead was very busy and there has definitely been an increase in Mallards with at least 60 birds counted. In amongst them were 2 ducklings following mum and trying to keep out of the way of the Canada Geese. One of the geese I recognised as being orange neck collared NL. This is a female that a few months ago left the pool when she was overpowered by a male bird. Unfortunately she still looks as if she's at risk as she seemed to be determined to swim away from 3 birds that were pursuing her. Hopefully she can find peace somewhere!

Mum with 2 ducklings

The female Canada Goose

Birds recorded: 1 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Little Egret, 9 Mute Swan (4 adults and 6 cygnets), 10 Canada Goose, 60+ Mallard, 1 Buzzard, Coot, 1 Black-headed Gull, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, Wood Pigeon, 2 Swift, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Skylark, 3 House Martin, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Song Thrush, 3 Reed Warbler, 7+ Sedge Warbler, 4+ Garden Warbler, 13+ Common Whitethroat, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 13+ Blackcap, 15+ Chiffchaff, 5 Willow Warbler, Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, 1 Jay, Magpie, Rook, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Starling, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Bullfinch and a pair of Reed Bunting.

Butterflies and moths recorded: 4 Speckled Woods and 2 Green-veined White butterflies. 2  Nettle-tap moths.

Damselflies: 50+ Banded Demoiselles and 10+ Common Blue Damselflies

Other invertebrae: Scorpion Fly, Drone Fly, Cardinal Beetle, Soldier Beetle, Green Nettle Weevil, Green Dock Beetle, Nursery Web Spiders, Lacewing (Chrysopa perla), Red-and-black Froghopper, Clay-coloured Weevil and a Sawfly (Arge Pagana).

A Night Out in the Garden

The sound of a dog barking in the early hours of the morning is pretty disturbing, especially if you're having a good nights sleep. But when you recognise it as being your own dog, it's even more annoying especially if the neighbours know it's yours. So it was out of bed and downstairs as quick as I could to find out what all the fuss was about. Imagine my surprise then when there on the other side of the dog flap was Benji. Somehow the in / out switch on the flap was in the out only position, and Benj had been out for most of the night. Boy was he happy to see me and was next seen bouncing off the walls in the kitchen and living room.

So it was a couple of treats and back to bed. However getting back to sleep wasn't as easy as I thought it would be, as all I could hear was the dawn chorus coming through the wide-open windows at 4:00am. Now don't get me wrong it's an amazing experience, but this was just one sound multiplied hundreds of times. All I could hear were dozens and dozens of Blackbirds, I can't explain what it sounds like other than just confusion.

By 4:10am a few other birds could be heard, with the local Carrion Crows beginning to wake up and then right out of the blue a Common Whitethroat began singing. So it was out of bed and a quick scan from the front bedroom revealing a male on top of a Whitebeam on the other side of the road. The song was quite subdued and was definitely in subsong. After 10 minutes it flew off over the house.

By 4:30am the Blackbirds had quietened down quite considerably, with just one or two heard locally. Other species were now joining in with Blue Tits, Magpies, Robins, Starlings and House Sparrows chirping away.

By 5:00am I was back in the land of slumber...................................