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!

Thanks For Looking !

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Butterflies & Peregrines

Date: 26/06/2016

Location: Bannerdown > Brown's Folly > Bath Peregrines

Weather: Cloudy but becoming Wet

Other Species: Marbled White, Ringlet, Meadow Brown, Six Spotted Burnet, Large Skipper, Peregrine Falcons.

Observation:
Slightly better weather today so headed up to Bannerdown on the eastern side of Bath hoping for a few Butterflies on arriving the small car park full, managed to squeeze in on end! Weather very cloudy now not looking good, but started walk anyway not much in the way of butterflies lots of Orchids about, Early Purple I think?

Walked the whole path almost at end a a few Marbled Whites appeared! But very tricky as long grass kept hiding them.

A few Six Spot Burnets were easier.

Nice to see a few females never noticed the brown edging before.

Then saw my first Ringlet of the year, even a open wing shot.

Next Brown's Folly, Batheaston almost the same here but fewer of everything, grass a bit shorter so bit easier to snap.

Like this shot, so furry.

The view from Browns Folly is great, with the whole of Bath in front.

Then headed down to Bath Center and St. John's Church for Peregrines saw all 3 Juveniles but no adults, this Juv enjoying Pigeon Pie.

Weather turning nasty now with showers and almost totally grey skies so headed to where I'd parked to go home and looked back to Church from across the other side of river and spotted this chap!

Much nicer light from this side, he was watching the Lesser Black Backed Gulls who were squawking as they flew past.

Giving them the evil eye!

Such amazingly pretty birds when you get a good view of them.

Now it's raining harder so I'll leave them to it. A lovely day even though no sun at all !

Thanks For Looking !

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Draycott & Priddy Mineries

Date: 28/07/2015

Location: Draycott Sleights then Priddy Mineries

Weather: Windy some sunshine later

Other Species Butterflies: Silver Washed Fritillary, Dark Green Fritillary, Small Copper, Marbled Whites, Meadow Browns, Ringlets, Red Admiral, Small White, Large White, Large Skipper, Small Skipper, Chalkhill Blue = 12

Observation: 

Sunny spells forecast but wind not good for butter-flying :( but headed to Draycott Sleights anyway saw around 6/7 Chalkhill Blues all hiding in grasses not really posing so headed up slope came to this Silver Washed Fritillary had another wander round but still to windy, wind was gusting at 15mph.

Thought maybe Priddy Mineries would be better, it was a bit,so headed into Stockhill Wood first and saw this lovely looking Large White.

Bit further on surprised to see this large skipper in the woodland .

Dark Green and Silver Washed Fritillary's Soaring through the glades. Also birds saw Goldcrest and Coal Tit and unknown bird of prey calling thought maybe kestrel.

Out on to the Mineries path, windy again. But this Small Copper stopped briefly.

Lots of mostly Small Skippers with Marbled Whites, Burnet Moths, Meadow Browns making the numbers

I really liked this shot, thought he was smiling I was as well ! :)...I'am now ! :)

Last thing of the day Common Darter landed on path, Nice :)

Thanks For Looking :)

Blue Skies + Some Butterflies

Date: 16/06/2015 - 18/06/2015

Location: Collard Hill & Greylake - Tuesday - 
Draycott and Black Rock, Cheddar - Thursday

Observation: Sunshine was forecast so headed to Collard Hill in search of Large Blue, but hardly any butterflies Marbled Whites and lot of Meadow Browns were the dominate species a few Common Blue and Large Skippers as well.

While looking for butterfly's looked up and there was a Kestrel in hunting mode. No one seemed to notice !

Small Heath's in small numbers

After a disappointing but lovely walk down ...then up... down ...then up again, felt like the Duke of York! Headed towards Greylake.

A Hobby was first spot hawking across reserve with Oystercatcher, Redshank & chicks in front hide. A lot of tall grass and reeds now. On Window was this Small Magpie Moth, looks like a marbled white butterfly !

Outside hide a beautiful Red Admiral perched nicely unusual I thought !

Then the Hobbies prey Dragonfly's only seen 3 but this one perched well.

  Four Spotted Chaser Female 

Walking day Wednesday check my other site out HERE

So Thursday more sunshine, Headed to Draycott second time here some great views nice place to sit and wonder ! 

Not many butterflies Marbled Whites, Common Blues, Large Skippers saw this Dragon near top its a Anax imperator or Emperor Dragonfly, latin better ! Superb thing against Green Grass !

Marbled Whites very mobile.

After couple of hours headed to Black Rock - Cheddar.

 Could hear Redstart's saw juvenile Wren scrabbling up bank and over head a Raven calling. 

On first sunny slope I came to this Dark Green Fritilary soared over grasses, Initially thought Silver Washed but Doh ! On looking its Dark Green Fritilary.

Still a cracking Butterfly only 2.

 Also Large Skippers, Small Heaths, Green Hairstreak and Grizzled Skippers here.

Then on way back a Redstart saw male and female superb looking bird, shame couldn't make the most of it camera setting clicked up to F29 ! 

I've no ideal ....0/30 shutter !

Weather: Warm, Sunny Skies - Temp around 20c 

Other Species: Kestrel, Meadow Pipits, Skylark, Hobby, Oystercatcher, Redshank, Linnet, Redstart, Raven, Buzzard, Sparrowhawk.

Butterflies: Dark Green Fritilary, Brimstone, Common Blue, Small Heath, Large Skipper, Marbled White, Red Admiral, Green Hairstreak, Grizzled Skipper, Speckled Wood.

 Thanks For Looking :)

Painted Lady's at Seven Acre

Date: 15/06/2015

Location: Newton St Loe Patch 

Observation: Headed out through Campsite or Bath Mill Lodge Retreat still lots of ground works going on with grass being ripped up and trees being cut down, although planting more. Finished in August ! 

Carried on up to dog track with Robins, Wrens and Blackbird Fledglings bobbing around.

This Yellowhammer almost let me get a clean shot !

At Seven Acre 2 Buzzards circling and mewing above,

Also Large Skippers on track.

Then a Painted Lady flitted past ! My first this year and on patch, Nice.

Noticed it was lowering abdomen into thistle, when it took off there where small black dots on plant ? Eggs ?

Carried on along track and hid in field for 10 mins trying to get photo of Whitethroat !! 

That's the best i could do !

Village and walk to Lake not much else, but Mute Swan and 5 Cygnets seem to be well. Back along Newton Park Drive notice a juvenile Kestrel in field at distance squawking for Mum. 2 more Buzzards over Stanton Prior and home .

Weather: Blue Skies, Some Cloud 18c 

Other Species: Yellowhammer, Whitethroat, Skylark, Buzzard, Kestrel + Many Fledglings.

Butterflies: Painted Lady, Red Admiral, Small Tortoiseshell, Large White, Peacock, Large Skipper, Ringlet, Meadow Brown.

Check Back Tomorrow Butterflies Hopefully

Meanwhile Back On Our Patch !

Date: 04/06/2015

Location: Patch - Newton St Loe 

Observation: With all the excitement of Bempton and our Yorkshire trip fading time to do a patch walk.

Work still hectic at Newton Mill with workmen everywhere ! Not many butterflies on Bank, don't think we'll see Marbled Whites this year :( Walking through could here lots of birds though mostly Robins, Blackbirds, Chaffinch on up to Dog Walk there was Blackcap high in trees and well hidden but not much else. On lanes to Seven Acre Yellowhammer and as usual get about 25ft distance and off they go ! 

While watching 4 Skylark's soared in sky all singing frantically,

This another terrible shot of sky bound lark !

This female Yellowhammer let me get a bit closer, Cheers !

Pheasant making a break for it !

Then todays Highlight a Large Skipper on Stony Lane! Only managed a couple of shots before it disappeared. Seen last year on 26th June 2014.

Barn Swallows at Village with young around 40 swallows, also a charm of Goldfinch feeding in road, quiet out through church yard and to fishing lake which was full of fishermen and 4 Mute Swans, Carp looked like they were spawning on Top Lake.

On Top Lake the Mute Swan sat on nest  ! 

1 Egg !! Was wondering where the rest have gone and then ........

After I watched her stand up and really sort nest out by pulling large bits of reed and grass on top of nest she sailed off to reveal 5 cygnets !! No ideal where they were hiding was watching for around 10 minutes never saw any signs of cygnets, will check on last egg next week, but think its a dud :(  still 5 out 6 not bad ! :)

Weather: Blue Skies + Sunny 

Other Species: Blackcap, Yellowhammer, Whitethroat, Buzzard, Goldcrest - Plus the usual.

Butterflies: Large Skipper, Large White, Small White, Brimstone, Peacock, Tortoiseshell.

 Thanks For Looking !