Butterflies & Birds along the way.

Date: 
13/05/2019 - 30/05/2019

Location: 
Somerset Levels, Cirencester Woods, Forest of Dean, Isle of Wright, Frys Hill, Priddy, Newton St Loe, Halse Combe, Haddon Hill, Cotley Hill.

Weather: 
Mixed Bag, Mostly Clear and Dry.

Species Highlights: 
Blackcap, Garden Warbler, Bittern, Hobby, Tree Pipit, Wood Warbler, Bullfinch, Firecrest.
Adder,
Small Pearl+Pearl Bordered Fritillary, Wood White, Glanville Fritillary, Green Hairstreak, Marsh Fritillary, Heath Fritillary.

Observation: 
On the 13th Monday me & Lauren headed to Ham Wall, the place was alive with the songs of Blackcap & Garden Warbler, never seen so many.

Of course we also saw Hobby, Bittern & Great White Egrets.

On the 15th, I went to Cirencester Woods with Allan Chard, I've been trying to check other places out for Butterflies, expanding my portfolio as it were. Finding a fair few Pearl Bordered Fritillaries although as the day got warmer the Frits started to flit not staying still for long, but managed some decent shots.

While searching I also found a Crab Spider looking amazing under my 100 mm Macro.

There were plenty of Wood Ants having epic battles, its not until you look closer you see the struggles of the tiny.

The Wood Ant measures 4.5–9 mm in length.

The rest of that day we had arranged to meet Ben Locke in the Forest of Dean for some Wood White action, Ben didn't disappointed and I was really pleased getting some great shots and saving a fair few miles as normally I'd go to Monks Wood or Haugh Wood.

We went back at dusk and found a few roosting giving us more opportunities.

Work, then on the 19th I went to Cotley Hill & Battlesbury but no new species on my butterfly list to add, but did get this Linnet with a Rape seed backdrop.

At home I spotted this stunning Ruby Tiger Moth.

Lauren took these with my Macro lens, brilliant eh!

After getting better shots than I was getting, I took it off her!!

Monday morning came the 20th. 
Lauren wanted to go to Forest of Dean so off we went, Pied Flycatcher and Redstart's then back to the Wood White spot with Wood Warblers singing and yet more Wood White butterflies.

From here we took the long way home and across to Prestbury Hill in Gloucestershire another new spot for me and the Duke of Burgundy showed nicely.

Along with Brown Argus and stunning views across into Cheltenham.

Small Blues were plentiful and also this great Common Heath Moth.

While I was photographing Small Blues at the bottom of the hill, Lauren phoned me to say she'd spotted some Tree Pipit displaying, I tried to run up the hill failing miserably ending in a crawl to where she was stood. Great to watch the Tree Pipit at close quarters and worth the climb.

On the 21st, I'd planned a trip to see the Glanville Fritillary and to off set the miles I do, me & Allan Chard rode our bikes from Lymington to Freshwater Bay, Isle of Wright a beautiful day and plenty of my favourite butterflies to see.

Along with Green Hairstreak, Small Heath & Small Blues it was stunning.

I found a little friend who let me gently place him where ever, Allan did try but it flew off only to come back to me! 

Even found the Larva of a Glanville.

If you've never been to see this butterfly at its real home I can recommend, it's a £8.50 ferry ride and only a smallish hill to ride up and with fish n chips to end, a perfect day.

On the 23rd I made the short trip to Fry's Hill, Cheddar for the Small Pearl Bordered Fritillary a small colony but with thanks to Ross & Jen for keeping me informed of its emergence. 

24th and work that night I stayed close to home and visited Box for the Marsh Fritillary great to see this small little field with 15+ Marsh Frit's thriving. After here I returned to my push bike and visited Tucking Mill only to find no butterflies. 
But at work that night I picked up a local lepidopterist who told me that 2 weeks earlier it was full of Marsh Fritillary, so I was too late. I've changed my dairy and I'll visit a week or so earlier next year.

After Lauren doing so well with my Macro thought I'd try for some Dragons in our garden, none were to be seen but did spot this tiny Zebra jumping spider.

At 5/6 mm it really is micro.

A return to patch on the Sunday the 26th with very little going on apart from constant drizzle, and this Whitethroat being the highlight.

27th and Lauren away I headed down to Priddy another spot for Small Pearl Bordered Fritillary, weather not perfect being very windy I managed to find a couple plus a single Marsh Fritillary not been reported here for 10 years!
Found this Six Spot Burnet Moth Larva.

Here's a Small Pearl bordered Fritillary.

28th Weather was looking good and with Heath Fritillaries out, on yet another new spot for me, Halse Combe near Porlock, Somerset. With a good ideal where to look thanks to Roger. I made the 2 hour trip, I found the Butterflies within a few minutes of arriving.

Apart from Heath Fritillaries, I also found ticks one had attached itself to my stomach! I used my tick remover and a antiseptic wipe but continued to itch for the rest of the day.

With great views out to sea I decided to have a wander and came across a Adder a melanistic one, (development of dark-colored pigment in the skin or its appendages and is the opposite of albinism) all black and apparently quite rare. I was well chuffed.

Exmoor on a summers day.

I dropped into Haddon Hill on way back my normal spot for Heath Frit's but none on the wing here, Redpoll, Chiffchaff and this smart Tree Pipit kept me company.

30th a patch walk and blue skies to start a real bumper day with some great birds, Bullfinch, Stock Dove, Jay, Yellowhammer, Kestrel, Buzzard, Sparrowhawk, Red Kite, Skylark, Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, Green Woodpecker, Greater Spotted Woodpecker, Barn Swallow, House Martin, Swift, Whitethroat. 
And this Buzzard displaying.

Gliding then stooping in a territorial display.

But the real highlight apart from seeing my first Large Skipper of the year was this beautiful tiny Firecrest!! A patch first and Newton St Loe, 102nd tick.

I heard it calling and it reminded me of my time in Mallorca so when I spied it my finger pushed the shutter far to many times, but come on a Firecrest!!

I walked the rest of the way home smiling to myself, on Sunnybank 50 yds from home, I spotted these Common Blues in a lovers clinch. A bit worn and a slight aberration.

Once home and waiting for my son to get off computer so I could see what i'd captured this bullfinch landed on our tree, so from the bathroom window I managed so nice shots of I think one of UK's best looking birds. 

Wayne Year bird List: 174
Lauren Year Bird List: 170

Butterflies now 30 species

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Dips, Ticks and lifers

Date: 

Location: 
Farmoor, Aston Rowant, Sand Point, Newton St Loe, Frys Hill, Crook Peak, Chew Valley, Cotswold Water Park, North Meadow- Cricklade, Chipping Sodbury, Goldcliff

Weather: 
Mixed bag but mostly dry.

Species Highlights: 
Black Tern, Common Tern, ring Ouzel, Red Kite, Nightingale, Garden Warbler, Snakes Head Frittilary, Lesser Whitethroat, Bar Tailed Godwit, Spotted Redshank, Whimbrel. Green Hairstreak, Dingy Skipper, Grizzled Skipper.

Observation: 

Its been a busy couple of weeks, i was ill for 5 days in bed so when we could get out we made the the most of it!.
Starting on the 14th April we went to Farmoor.
Our first spot of the day was a stunning male Sparrowhawk checking out one of the birds we came to see, Yellow Wagtail, he was unsuccessful.

Only saw 2 Yellow Wagtails and a bit jumpy too.

We walk around both Reservoirs at Farmoor, very windy but Common Terns were fishing way out into the middle.

On the far side a large group of Feral free flying Snow Geese around 30+ birds, Tickable ....just.

Also a group of around 9 Little Gulls, best shots we could get, Farmoor pretty big, need a boat!

After spending the afternoon there Lauren trolled through Twitter and saw that Aston Rowant had a few Ring Ouzel, well as you may remember these seem to be our boogey birds we always seem to miss them. So as only a few miles away we headed to my Silver Spotted Skipper hunting grounds, it was opposite side of the M40 a much quieter. traffic noise.
Red Kites were plentiful in the skies above, we must have counted 30+.

 Finally after seeing a few birders on a hillside opposite we spotted Ring Ouzel, not one but at least 4 birds!

Female.

Finally, we watched them feed on the steep hillside. A delight after Cleeve hill, Portland and a few other places.

15th April.
We went to Sand Point hoping for a windfall of migrants that didn't happen, but a nice walk was had.
Had this cruising Peregrine.

The Wheatear that i'd seen a few days before were almost in same spots, still looking stunning.

17th April.
On the 16th i had a rather large tooth out so had to take it easy but 17th the sunshine was shinning and decided to have a small wander around Newton n St Loe with Macro lens, Orange Tip and Brimstone were on the wing, tried for a flight shot, tricky stuff.

Nursery Web Spider (I think)

Noon Fly always so obliging.

After i took this picture i stated feeling ill so stumbled home and then spent the next 4 days in bed, mainly sleeping, not nice as the sun was blazing outside and butterflies were appearing everywhere.

Sunday I awoke feeling much better so raced down to Frys Hill, Cheddar and within minutes had my very first Green Hairstreak of the year.

Dingy Skipper next and then this fresh Grizzled Skipper. 
My 10th on finger species.

A great morning and lovely to be outside.

I walked to the top of Frys hill just to prove to myself I was back to normal, I was!

Dingy Skipper.

Drove to Crook Peak but only 2 Grizzled Skipper seen.

 I met Lauren at a beautiful Chew Valley missed everything apart from this rather smart Ring Necked Duck.

Went looking for roosting butterflies around Newton but none found, Lauren did see her first Whitethroat of the year, and took the rather nice photo.

22nd April.

And the hope of Nightingales, these would be UK tick so looking forward to it, after some research and help, we headed to a secret spot near Cotswold Water Park.
We were greeted with at least 4 birds singing amazing. Couldn't quite get a clean shot but a brilliant tick all the same.

A great little spot with Sedge Warblers, Whitethroat all around us.

Another highlight were Garden Warbler again 4 or so birds a bird we rarely see.

Laurens last time was 2011 at Apex, Burnham 
and my last time was 2015 on the Somerset Levels.

Linnet buzzing about too.

 Still early and with local knowledge we checked out a few other spots in CWP, Close by was a place i'd been wanting to go North Meadow near Cricklade and the Snakes Head Fritillary meadow.

Beautiful and well worth a visit. 

From here and driving home a Red Necked Phalarope was seen at Goldcliff, Newport, it was only a few miles out our way so we went for it and failed! Dipped.

It was a Bank holiday so Lauren was off Tuesday and more birding was on the cards, Stitches out from my tooth first then Chipping Sodbury Common. A quick walk about and we could only Skylark displaying.

Great to watching the full display.

 After scanning tree and bushes we spotted a few Whitethroat nice to see these summer visitor returning.

I could also hear a Lesser Whitethroat and managed a few awful pictures.

Our plan to go to Slimbridge but that Phalarope was still being seen so you guessed it another trip to Goldcliff. On arriving mixed reports on yes its still...no its gone, It had gone on failing tide with its Dunlin friends!! AAAARRGGG.

A few bonuses were had like  Bar Tailed Godwits.

There had been loads flying in Portland reporting 211 birds and more coming up the Bristol channel so good to connect with a few.

Whimbrel too.

Avocets displaying, we left Goldcliff again with no RNP.

Almost done 25th April and a patch walk.
I'd spotted a Common Whitethroat,Willow Warblers & Red Legged Partridge on the 17/04/2019 but no picture so this the first of the year. ( their were hailstones at this part of the walk)

House sparrow in the rain.

Really happy to report the Lakes now all open, so hopefully it can all return to normal but I think its too late for the Grey heron to nest.

Got back to the Village and great to see some rather soggy Barn Swallow on wires, wishing they were somewhere warmer no doubt.

Even better news a loan Yellowhammer in cupcake ladies garden, hope this is the return to top fields, fingers crossed.

We leave for the USA on Tuesday so look out for our blog on return, 
very excited !!

Wayne Year bird List: 168

Lauren Year Bird List: 161

No change on Butterflies still 14 species

Thanks For Looking! 

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  Thanks For All Your Support!

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