July full patch walk

Date: 26/07/2016

Location: Patch Walk- Newton St Loe

Weather: Cloudy and grey

Other Species: 
Coal Tit, Bullfinch, Swift, Barn Swallow, House Martin, Buzzard, Black Headed Gull, Yellowhammer, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Green Woodpecker, Song Thrush, Raven, Nuthatch.36 sp.
Butterflies
Gatekeeper,Small Skipper, Essex Skipper, Ringlet, Small White, Large White, Peacock, 
Red Admiral, Holly Blue,Comma.11 sp.

Observation: 

Started out through Bath Mill with very little along brook a few butterflies on dog track mainly Gatekeepers and Ringlets but number low.

Walking up on to fields a few Yellowhammers about, but no skylarks or Whitethroats heard.

Swifts buzzing overhead, farmer was harvesting far fields lots of Wood Pigeons and 2 Buzzards also.

Just before Seven Acre saw a couple of Skippers Essex and Small.

While standing watching Red Admirals around 5 on edge of Seven Acre saw at least 3 Holly Blues on Bramble, 2nd brood.

Red Admirals looked fresh saw around 7/8 on the full walk. Sun was trying to come out but not long enough so most butterflies didn't stop for long.

Out through village Martins and Barn swallows zooming in skies, 

just after church saw 2 Green Woodpeckers feeding in grass.

At lake nout new Mute Swans still with 7 Cygnets, plenty of mallards and this inquisitive Grey Wagtail juvenile. 

But also no Grey Herons ! But the return of 2 Black Headed Gulls not seen on lakes since 07/03/2016 breeding i suppose ?

Out past second lake saw this feather ? anyone ID ?

On Ponds by Football pitches 2 Emperor Dragons and 2 Common Darters, Little else but this pale Buzzard calling for mum or Dad.

As you can see very pale against the equally pale and grey skies !

That ended walk with the walk up over hill to Park Farm and along 12 O'clock lane with nothing to add. 

Ended on 36 bird Species and 11 Butterflies.

Thanks For Looking !

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Butterflies On The Mendip Hills

Date: 21/07/2016

Location: Mendips - 3 Sites

Weather: Started Warm, Broken Cloud, Ended Drizzle + Cloudy

Other Species: 
Marbled White, Small Skipper, Larger Skipper, Essex Skipper, Red Admiral, Small Heath, Ringlet, Meadow Brown, Green Veined White, Dark Green Fritillaries, Small Copper, Gatekeeper, European Peacock, Chalkhill Blue, Grayling, Common Blue, Small White, Comma - 18 Species 

Observation: 
With a hot tip on some Dark Green Fritillaries headed down on to the Mendips and within 10 mins spotted a couple plus many Marbled Whites and an assortment of Skippers Large, Small and Essex. Main target today were Dark Green Fritillaries, Chalkhill Blues and Grayling so 10 mins in was doing well! 

A great looking Small Copper, seen 2 at Priddy.

But Dark Green Fritillaries take the best butterfly award today ! 

Stunning things as are most Fritillaries..

Wouldn't really stay still as cloud was incoming and sun was disappearing.

But end total was 5.

Turned around and a stunning Emperor Dragonfly (Anax imperator) was perched up! 

Saw a few Dragonflies today Common Darters mostly. But the Emperor being one of UK's largest at 78mm or 3" is a monster!

On the damp ground there were many Green Veined Whites grouped together taking minerals from soil.

Always a bit of grass in the way but Marbled Whites mating. The Marbled Whites were the most abundant here.

Right next year tick, was the Chalkhill Blue so headed the 4 Miles to Draycott Sleights, very cloudy now! But on arriving seem to be only person there, soon spotted a few Chalkhill Blues around 10 or so mostly hiding in grass.

A few other things about, the Silver Y Moth, wonder why it's called that?

A few Stunning a very colourful Peacocks, the fly amazed and probably wished he was a bit more colorful!

Wandered up and down slopes hoping for a clear shot, did bump into some more people also looking but eventually managed a perched Chalkhill! 

Nice next tick was Crook Peak about 7 miles away, it's now raining mmmm not promising!

Rain sort of stopped on arriving, so headed up towards top of Crook's Peak scanning hillside for Grayling but now a bit windy also. Got 3/4 way up just as it flattened out and a Grayling!

One shot and flew! 

So hard to see their camo is amazing against the rock, although this shot he does stand out a bit, luckily!

20 mins of searching about to give up and spotted another with passenger! Trombidium breei the small parasite does not impair flight although a greater number of them can kill the Butterfly. Have seen them before mainly on Marbled Whites.

So 3 year ticks mission accomplished!! My year total now stands at 44 with 4 more to get this year being Clouded Yellow, Brown Hairstreak and Silver Spotted Skipper year ticks and Wood White (second brood) being a new tick.

 I hope to end year on 48. With 2017 being my 50th year my target is the big 59! :)

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13 Species of Butterfly, Plus Close-Up Little Owl!

Date: 11/07/2016

Location: Patch - Newton St Loe

Weather: Cloudy + Windy At Times

Other Species: 
Greater Spotted Woodpecker, Bullfinch, Chiffchaff, Buzzard, Skylark, Yellowhammer, Whitethroat, Grey Wagtail, Barn Swallow, House Martin, Swift, Blackcap, Treecreeper, Little Owl - 35 species
Butterflies:
Meadow Brown, Ringlet, Marbled White, Large Skipper, Small Skipper, Essex Skipper, Red Admiral, GateKeeper, Green Veined White, Comma

Observation: 
A wet weekend for me so Monday morning and no rain I had to go for a wander round patch! Opened front door and Male Bullfinch looking splendid on tree. Out through Bath Lodges and it was very quiet not much until fields although a few butterflies despite weather. On fields usual stuff Whitethroat still dwindling numbers only 1 bird heard. Village normal's here as well .

Then crossing Bath Spa Drive and on to Butterfly Alley! 

I know it finally lives up to its name a single Essex Skipper!! 

Not sure a fly species answers on a postcard please! 

But the Essex Skipper first of the year on patch.

On to Lakes lots Mallards, seem to be doing very well this year, normal Coots and Moorhen also Mute Swan still with 7 Cygnets although they were on Lower Lake today but moved up to Upper while I was munching my Apple. Carried on, no Spotted Flycatcher today but Bonus! As I was going through kissing gate turned around to close gate and.......

A Juvenile Little Owl! 

Never seen them here before but made my day as he sat about 2 meters from me! 

A real surprise.

Look at those feet, amazing very large for such a small chap.

Carried on around towards Park View Farm still smiling and heard a familiar noise a Greater Spotted Woodpecker appeared from around pole, and Blue Skies now! Whoohoo

Down past Pennsylvania Farm not much on his feeders but a few House Sparrows, Then at bottom of lane a Gatekeeper also a first of year and taking Butterfly patch list this year to 21.

 2 more to see, Small Copper and Clouded Yellow on patch. Finished walk with 13 species of butterfly and 35 birds. Plus some cracking shots of our Little Owl!

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Full Patch Walk

Date: 14/07/2015

Location: Newton St Loe

Weather: Drizzly Rain, Some Cloud + Blue Sky

Other Species: Blackcap, Whitethroat, Chiffchaff, Raven, Buzzard, Linnet.

Butterflies: Red Admiral, Peacock, Small White, Large White, Small Skipper, Essex Skipper, Comma, Ringlet, Marbled White

Observation: 

Headed out on walk through Bath Mill building site, but soon to be finished! Up on to Dog track Small and Essex Skippers abundant with around 4 Marbled Whites and the same Ringlets. On out through wooded bit and on left by cherry tree and Damsons there were Long-tailed Tits, Chiffchaff's, Blackcap's Blue and Great Tits all juveniles like a little Crèche !

There was more Long Tailed but around 6 different species ! 

Juvenile Chiffchaff

Leaving behind the creche headed on to Byway this lovely looking Wood Carpet Moth  Landed briefly, it maybe Common Carpet but going on slightly darker band I go for wood ! :)

  

Not a fan of spiders but Still stunning a Nursery Web Spider, on guard.

 Towards Seven Acre around 20 Gatekeepers with Skippers and the odd Peacock

After watching Buzzards over Seven Acre and about 20 Swifts headed on to Village. Barn Swallows up and hunting over village but not much else @ Lake spotted this nasty little chap a Horse Fly sunning himself on bench, looks like he's got shades on !

On Lake Swan still with 4 young, spotted the Heron family with one juvenile.

On out through college no sign of Little Owls :( 

Saw around 10 Linnets couple of Yellowhammers and many Goldfinch on thistle heads.

Terrible sky raining at this point of walk :(

Saw 2 Whitethroat again juveniles .On way back 3 Ravens feeding in roadside field .

Thanks For Looking :)