Newton St Loe - My Patch

Date: 08/08/2017

Location: Newton St Loe

Weather: Grey, Overcast but Warm

Species Highlights: 
Spotted Flycatcher, Bullfinch, Kingfisher, Grey Heron.
Silver Washed Fritillary
Spreadsheet

Observation: 
With no Butterflies to chase another patch walk this morning and as the norm out though Bath Mill.
Seem to be a few Butterflies about to my surprise with 3 Common Blue and a single Brown Argus on Sunny Bank.

All seem to be a bit worn.

With a juvenile Grey Wagtail on brook, 
Plus adult who flew on down brook as soon as I saw her.

On up to dog track track and a Greater Spotted Woodpecker and Bullfinch feeding by kissing gate, through gate and onto dog track I could hear a Chiffchaff calling. Through the small woodland and a Buzzard above calling like a squirrel, strange. In clearing just out of wood a Silver Washed Fritillary! 
WOW! 
First one ever in 10 years of walking round these parts.

Takes my Patch butterfly tick list to 23, although this year only on 18 as I have been elsewhere on my great butterfly challenge this year!   ICYMI
Missing 
1. Small Copper
2. Painted Lady
3. Clouded Yellow
4.Essex Skipper
5. Small skipper
6. Large White
Hope to get some of these before year end on patch.

Along byway not a lot going on, village More House Martins in skies only 1 Barn Swallow seen. On return trip this would change. Village Green and 2 Greenfinch 1 adult 1 juvenile. Very quiet in to Send a Cow woodland and onto bottom lake, Billy still present.

Top Lake all Swans preening on far bank, nothing unusual except 5 Grey Herons all looking for a good fishing spot with a adult keeping them mobile.

  A juvenile making their burbling call from tree top. I tried to record sound but noise from college drowned it out!

While watching noticed a Kingfisher sat watching the Herons, you'll need binoculars for this one!

2 Buzzards flew past calling to each other, was gonna go up to check on Spotted Flycatchers but noticed above me 2 were catching flies in trees alongside lake, so sat and watched a bit longer.

After trying to get better pictures with much success headed towards top of lake 2 more were feeding with a group of 3 Chiffchaff. 

Juvenile Wren checking reeds out.

Few more Grey Heron shots and then carried on back towards village. 

The numbers of hirundines seen to have reversed with many more Barn Swallows in the skies and sat on wires, plenty of Juveniles.

Lots of House Sparrow feeding in horse fields I'd estimate 30+ in one group, a good year. 

With Kestrel, Buzzard on way back, that was my lot, Collared Dove, Coal Tits and 6 Bullfinch on my tree when I got home. Filled feeders again and end.
Species count of 39. 

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Wood White Success At Haugh Wood

Date: 8th August 2016

Location: Haugh's Wood - Hereford + WWT Slimbridge
Weather: Blue Sky, Patchy Cloud + Warm
Other Species: 
(Haugh Wood - Hereford)
Birds: Marsh Tit, Buzzard, Raven - 3 Species - Of Note
Butterflies: Painted Lady, Common Blue, Silver Washed Fritillary, Red Admiral, Ringlet, Speckled Wood, Green Veined White, Wood White, Small White, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown - 11 Species.
(Slimbridge)
Birds: Pied Wagtail, Little Egret, Lapwing, Blackcap, Green Sandpiper, Shelduck, Tufted Duck, Canada Goose, House Martin, Grey Heron, Starling, Goldfinch, Black-Tailed Godwit, Greenfinch, Willow Warbler, Teal, Wigeon, Wren, Chiffchaff, Mediterranean Gull, Barnacle Goose, Gadwall, Pochard, Great-Crested Grebe, Cormorant, Ruff, Kingfisher, Collared Dove, Feral Pigeon - Of Note - 51 Species Total

Observation: The weather was looking promising for a trip to Haugh Wood in Hereford so off we headed. We arrived for around 11am, weather was slightly cloudy but in good spirits we tried the Red Trail initially with no luck. Pretty poor on all species of Butterfly but there were plenty of Marsh Tits around. After a quick stop-off back at the Van we tried the Green Trail, this was already better with more open spaces and plenty of Brambles, Bugle and Ragged Robin. Around 10 minutes into the Green Trail we spotted a smaller White butterfly. 

Bingo! A Wood White!
Better pictures to come once Wayne has edited his.

We walked a bit further but this was the only Wood White we could locate but great to see nonetheless.

It wouldn't be a Butterfly blog without a few of the common species!

Common Blue

Painted Lady

After a successful trip at Haugh Wood we drove back via Slimbridge for a few hours here.

We started at the Rushy to get some shots of the Green Sandpipers. Within minutes of arriving the Black-Headed Gulls were fighting off a Herring Gull who had taken a Tufted Duck chick. 

The adult Herring Gull carried it onto Peter's Scott roof and the Juvenile gulped the poor thing down in one!

Mum taken the last remaining 6 ducklings to safety.

After all the action, in flew a single Green Sandpiper in perfect light!

 A Grey Heron spotted the Ducklings and tried his luck with no avail.

This Black-Tailed Godwit was also against the lovely green reflection of the water.

When the sun shines, the water gives stunning reflections of the Rushy Pool.

Running out of time we headed for the Holden walkway not alot from the hides along to the Holden Tower. We stopped for a few minutes at the Willow hide as feeders are back up after breeding season. We had 12 species just in this hide along with a Rat and young Rabbit feeding on the dropped seed.

The families of Great Tits and Blue Tits were having a nice dinner on all the seed.

Such cute little Mammals.

 The Mediterranean Gull was still present in the Eider pool feeding with the Black-Headed Gulls.

I suspect he wanted some peace and quite as the Black-Headed Gulls colony were making a right racket fighting for the seed!

We headed back to the Van after a very successful day, here's some final pictures from the day.

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Week 30 - Mostly Damp!

Date: 27 + 28th July

Location: Mendips & Dorset

Weather: 
27th - Overcast + Windy, 
28th - Very Overcast, Drizzle + Windy.

Other Species:

(Mendip Hills) - Chalkhill Blue, Grayling, Small Heath, Red Admiral, Whites, Small Skipper, Dark Green Fritillary.

(Fontmell - Alners Gorse) - Silver Washed Fritillary, Gatekeepers, Red Admiral + Marsh Tit - Of Note!

Observation:

Normally do my walk on Wednesday but rain forecast so headed down to Priddy and Draycott Sleights for a few Butterflies as when walking up weather not as bad as predicted, well overcast with no sun and a bit windy but what the hell!

Very few Butterflies about a couple of Dragonflies buzzing around saw Emperors and this nice Common Darter. 

Plenty of Grasshoppers, this I think Meadow Grasshopper.

Green Veined Whites still collecting minerals in good numbers, with Gatekeepers being the most abundant closely followed by Meadow Browns and Small Skippers.

Saw 1 Dark Green Fritillary briefly and still a few Marbled Whites, wind making it hard to get a steady focus.

Next down to Draycott a stunning views from up here,Cheddar Reservoir, Crook Peak then Brean Down  and Steep Holme out into Bristol Channel, Wales beyond.

A fair few Chalkhill Blues around being the most abundant! I'd estimate numbers to be 30+.

This the female of the species again weather making it difficult to shot well.

Was returning back down hill and a Grayling caught my eye, just the one but nice all the same.

Was slightly sheltered here and manage a couple of half decent shots.

Above making a right racket a Buzzard and Crow battle, the Buzzard won!

28th July 
Weather forecast was worse today so decided it might be wrong and headed down to Fontmell Down for the Silver Spotted Skipper, Weather not wrong got out van it rained and very windy did the route anyway NOUT! Well Gatekeepers, Meadow Browns was about it. 
So carried on with plan and to Alners Gorse for Brown Hairstreak. It rained on way down but turned to drizzle so walked around, no one there surprise!
Did see this distant Marsh Tit, again Gatekeepers lots, few Whites and Red Admiral's but little else.

Couple of Marbled Whites on far side trying to hide in grass.

Decided to call it a day and managed this shot of a Red Admiral on way back to van. Hope next week better. My butterfly total this still stands at 44.

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Bentley Wood + Alners Gorse

Date: 14/07/2016

Location: Bentley Woods + Alners Gorse

Weather: 18-21 Temp, Sunny with some Cloud

Other Species: 
Purple Hairstreak, Silver Washed Fritillary, Ringlets, Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper, Marbled White, Red Admiral, Comma, Large White, White Letter Hairstreak, Large Skipper.

Observation:

In my pursuit of Butterflies headed to Bentley Wood in search of the Purple Emperor, but apart from a tree top pass, silhouetted which I just can't count I drew a blank!

Stayed for 2hrs 30mins, Donkey Corpse best hope as others had all the gear, Shrimp Paste and alike but nothing, in fact not alot Silver Washed Fritillaries and some high level Purple Hairstreak the best.

Gatekeeper

So sun still shining headed across to Alners Gorse, on arriving saw White Letter Hairstreak perched in Brambles but head buried and didn't move, apart from higher up into bush.

Headed on round to Buckthorn and must have been 20 Purple Hairstreaks at least in small tree.

Got a few nice shots and lots of nice people there full of information!

Got plenty of closed wing shots had to wait for a few individuals to open up and show the 

Purple.

Walked around reserve a couple of times Marbled Whites and a few Silver Washed Fritillaries, Meadow Browns making up the majority.

On the Buckthorn bush saw this Brimstone Caterpillar, a first for me!

So monday morning weather permitting its the 2hr 50min drive to Fermyn wood for the Purple Emperor! Fingers crossed

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