Bit of Slimbridge then Rodbrough Common

Date:
 12/05/2016

Location: 
Slimbridge/Rodbrough Common

Weather: 
Hazy to Blue Skies then bit Cloudy 10mph wind at Rodbrough.

Other Species:

Lesser Whitethroat, Buzzard, Kestrel, Sedge Warbler, Chiffchaff plus normal Slimbridge goodies.

Butterflies: 

Holly Blue, Orange Tip, Small White, Brimstone, Red Admiral, Green Veined white, Green Hairstreak, Dingy Skipper.

Observation:

Bit of good weather forecast and still down on last years Butterfly count so Rodbrough Common was on the cards. But first Slimbridge, well it is on the way! 
First hide and the Common Cranes this year have decided to nest right in front the Rushy Hide! Maybe a safer option than last year attempts? 
This is Sedge the female tending to the nest and 2 eggs. 

While watching a Buzzard soared overhead causing some commotion !

Was only a quick visit but in the Knott Hide, Cygnets looking very cute, following mum.

Also heard a unfamiliar call and song and a Lesser Whitethroat popped up or it didn't, kept its distance at back showed briefly then hid again !

Fly past Mute looking stunning with some great light !

At the South Hide this pair of Avocets in full on mating mode.

Ooo er !

Starting to heat up now even the Flamingos feeling the heat,

Mind you water in there stinks !

After my whistle stop tour round, well 2 hours called back in to Rushy and Sedge sat on eggs now being a good mum. I'll come back soon to see hows she doing around 26th/27th May.

About to leave and a Holly Blue appeared!! My first of the year whoohoo !!

In fact saw 2 on Ivy.

Also at Slimbridge I saw Green-Veined White, Small White and Orange Tips.

With the Sun and Blue Skies now headed off to Rodbrough, on arriving the wind was quite strong at around 10/14 mph! Not good for Butterflies but headed off anyway hardly any butterflies on the wing. In the many dips and troughs at Rodbrough found a Green Hairstreak, also first of the year!

 In same area found this Small Purple Barred and one more very speedy Hairstreak.

There's that sound again! Another Lesser Whitethroat 2 in one day, excellent.

Walked the complete circuit around Rodbrough checking out usual spots but drew a blank nothing, headed back to where I saw Green Hairstreak and found a Dingy Skipper that was it! Maybe a mixture of heavy rain night before and the wind?

Orchids looking good with many cowslips covering the Common.

Thanks For Looking !

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Adonis Blue makes it 41 !

Date: 27/08/2015

Location: Rodborough Common & Slimbridge

Weather: There wasn't snow! But rain, wind, thunder temp 12-20c

Other Species:

Rodborough: Redstart, Kestrel - Chalkhill Blue, Adonis Blue, Tortoiseshell, Small White.

Slimbridge: Common Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper, Greenshank, Buzzard, Ruff, Snipe.

Observations:With my trusted BBC Weather app saying sunshine thought I'd drive up Rodborough Common as Adonis Blue here day before, thanks to Twitter ! 

But the drive up soon turned wet and grey! On arriving a gap in the cloud and I was off over the Common saw a lovely Redstart but lens cap on camera !

Almost the first butterfly I saw was a Adonis Blue hiding in grass but now its raining !! 

Back to Van for coffee after 20 mins it stopped so back to where I saw Adonis, very few butterflies not surprising windy and the odd rumble of thunder !

Didn't find any more Adonis Blues but that one puts my Butterfly life list to 41 !

 Around 20 Chalkhill blues all landing low in grass :(

Clouding over again.

 Jumped in Van and started to drive to Slimbridge, that coffee I left on side has just fallen into my walking bag! Nice ;(

But it's now sunny, car park very full. Headed to Rushy Hide and a Common Sandpiper was scurrying in front of hide.

A Greenshank standing still looked nice in the sunshine.

Green Sandpipers of which there were 10+ were buzzing all over the place 

Also Ruff, Snipe, Lapwing, Greylags from the Rushy hide.

Last shot was Wednesday went for a walk there on My Site Here, while there thought I'd look for Silver Spotted Skipper, yeah right good job Met Office ! Again .

Thanks For Reading !