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 :)

Newton St Loe Patch Walk

Date: 29/06/2015

Location: Newton St Loe - Patch Walk

Observation: A beautiful day and on leaving the front door the male Bullfinch was on our tree, over the last week we've seen 2m 1f and and Juvenile.

Also late news Saturday night around 2am while wasting hours on the computer heard a Tawny Owl very close, on looking out window, right next to me it called again it was perched on top the feeder tree! Magpies were calling and squawking, after the female Tawny Owl yelped a few more time it flew of. That takes our feeder tree count to 34 not bad for a urban car park ! 

 Weather: Hot Temp 23c, Blue Skies + Bright Sunshine!

Other Species: Bullfinch, Chiffchaff, Kingfisher, Green Woodpecker, Little Owl, Buzzard, Blackcap, Treecreaper, Whitethroat, Swifts, Barn Swallow, House Martins.

Butterflies: Red Admiral, Comma, Ringlet, Small Tortoise, Marbled Whites, Large Skipper, Small White.

 Comma Butterfly this must be second brood as not seen on patch since 6th April 2015.

Always a great looking butterfly the Small Tortoiseshell.

And the Ringlet never quite keeping still today.

After walking through Village saw a Buzzard looking and hoping no doubt that he could catch one of the many hundrines soaring over farm shop, out through church and to lakes few fisherman on Lake and the we heard the screech of a Little Owl couldn't locate but 100% first time heard or seen since April 16th. Fingers crossed they've had a good breeding year as last year saw 5! Also at Lake Mute Swan still with 4 youngsters few Dragonflies not stopping though.

Then the star a Male Kingfisher dived into lake giving me chance to get a bit closer I took the opportunity and stealthy waded through the grass.

Giving his sultry over the shoulder look !

On walking back saw his mate on lower lake, then at Fisherman's car park a Mrs Blackcap just popped up not 5m in front of me !! So intent on filling her beak up don't think she noticed us.

Lacewings and caterpillars cour de bleu  for birds ! :)

 Check Back Soon !

Patch Walk - Newton St Loe

Date: 23/06/2015

Location: Newton St Loe - Patch Walk 

Observation: Headed out from home, seeing 3 Bullfinch on our tree, M/F and Juvenile, then a Greenfinch landed nice start to the walk. 

Rather Smart Looking Eh ?!

Not had the Greenfinches much this year had 4/5 last year .

Out through the campsite, busy,noisy and dusty. On Dog Walk Wren, Blackbirds, Robin were chirping and hiding in now overgrown woodland path. 

While watching the Skylark soar spotted these caterpillars they are European Peacocks Caterpillars.

Large Skippers about I noticed them going into Japanese Knot weed flowers 

this one on Red Clover.

First one of the year Cinnabar Moth 

Meadow Browns around 5/6 and 2 Ringlets

After all the work at campsite thought we wouldn't see Marbled White again but further up towards Seven Acre woods there were 4 not stopping much but managed to capture this one, Nice !

After chatting with some other like minded people this Yellowhammer popped up surrounded by flies !

Out through Village into churchyard seen this Goldcrest thought at first Hummingbird !!

 but no punk rocker Goldcrest !

Lots of hidden Juveniles about just peeping out !

Grey Heron high on tree overlooking lake.

On Top Lake Mute Swan family seem to have lost one Cygnet only 4 left now .

Weather: Cloudy, Some Sunshine + Warm 

Other Species: Bullfinch, Kestrel, Buzzard, Grey Wagtail, Grey Heron, Mute Swan, Greenfinch, Goldcrest, Blackcap, Yellowhammer, Skylark, Swift, Pied Wagtail.

Butterflies: Small Tortoiseshell, Marbled Whites x4, Red Admiral, Meadow Brown, Ringlet, Large Skipper.

Thanks For Looking !