The Levels - Westhay, Shapwick & Ham wall

Date: 09/07/2015

Location: Westhay, Shapwick, Ham wall 

Weather: Started bit cloudy,Afternoon sunshine and blue 23c 

Other Species: Chiffchaff, Whitethroat, Hobby, Bittern, Great White Egret + Grass snake

Butterflies: Brimstone, Speckled Wood, Red Admiral, Small Tortoiseshell, Gatekeeper, Green Veined White, Comma, Silver washed Fritillary, Ringlets

Dragonflies & Damselfly: Four Spotted Chaser, Ruddy Darter, Black Tailed Skimmer, Blue Tailed Damselfly, Small Red Damselfly

Observation:

Headed down the the levels today and first Westhay, lots of Black Tailed Skimmer about all landing on drove, bit of sun then up again.

Ponies doing a good job down there roaming wherever they like, got about 30 ft from them and they disappeared into wooded bit. Few Brimstones about.

Then my first of year Green Veined White almost on Black Background !

Further along drove spotted this great looking Red Admiral, Stunning. Seemed to pose as I took some more shots, spinning around on flower head !

Birds not many seen, Reed Warblers, Whitethroat and this Chiffchaff catching flies.

Next headed to Shapwick from car park went round new path, Board-walk. Had a fleeting glimpse of a Silver Washed it never stopped :(

Walk across road to Ham Wall and up to View point 2, Saw 2 Great White Egrets, Bittern at distance and 2 Hobbies. Walked back along Waltons Loop heard a splash and saw a grass snake! Unfortunately disappearing into Grass Bank. But Cool !

On heading back to car park there were a few Marsh Frogs in the newly dug ponds this the male the female is 3 times bigger.

Also in ponds were these Small Red Eyed Damselflies laying next years crop !

And finally a  Four Spotted Chaser and home .

Thanks for looking, If you did  :) 

Wet Village Walk - Newton St Loe Patch

Date: 5th July 2015 - 12PM
Location:  Newton St Loe Circular

Observation:  With 1/2 of NSL-Birding suffering with a bad neck, we stayed local and wandered out the Village in the hope we would miss the incoming storm (which was due to start at 2pm!) Through the campsite, it was busy once again with workmen but its due to finish in around 6 weeks, so should start to see wildlife returning soon we hope! On the Dog Walk, there were abundant supplied of butterflies and bugs, the majority being Small Skipper (first of the year for our patch) and Comma butterflies.

This year, we have seen 20 species of butterfly on our patch the record being 21 for us so not bad! The 21 species we have seen are: European Peacock, Red Admiral, Small Tortoiseshell, Small White, Large White, Green Veined White, Brimstone, Small Skipper, Large Skipper, Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper, Comma, Ringlet, Speckled Wood, Holly Blue, Small Copper, Clouded Yellow, Marbled White, Orange-Tip, Common Blue and the Painted Lady. The only butterfly we haven't seen on our patch this year is the Common Blue!

Has anyone seen more than 21 on their patch?!

The Buzzard was calling from his tree in Seven Acre Woods, as we approached (we couldn't actually find him!) he flew off and circled for a short while but landed in Seven Acre Woods as the wind started getting stronger. At the crossroads a quick, glimpse of the Yellowhammer before he hid in the hedgerow away from us (as always!).

Into the Village, it started to rain (the weather is wrong once again!) there were a few Barn Swallows and singles of Swift flying above us. In the Village junction there were alot more younger Swallows and House Sparrows grounded on surrounding wires. The rain and wind was coming in heavy and fast now, so we took a few shots of the Swallows and headed home (very quickly!).

Along the last stretch of the rain, with the rain and wind still slamming down, were some squawking young Magpies in the tree, they flew off before we could see what they were squawking at! This ended our walk and arrived home VERY wet and cold!

Weather:  Cloudy, Sunny Intervals, Warm - Incoming Storm

Other Species: Buzzard, Yellowhammer, House Sparrow, Barn Swallow, Swift, Crow, Magpie - Of Note

Butterflies: Small White, Small Tortoiseshell, Red Admiral, Gatekeeper, Small Skipper, Large Skipper - Of Note

Thanks For Reading !

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 !

Hirundines + Cygnets!

Date: 27th June 2015 - 1PM

Location:  Newton Park Lake Circular

 Observation:  Went for a quick wander out to the Lake this morning, didn't have binoculars or camera on me (all pictures were from Thursday evening walk). I went the Lake way rather then through the campsite, as they were busy on site again. A Buzzard was being mobbed by a Crow up the Lane, the Buzzard joined another one above the field which was being cut by the farmer.

I then moved on to the Village and the Hirundines were out in full force catching flies, landing on the surrounding wires and picking up grit off the road.

At the Lake, the was no sign of the Little Owl (hasn't been seen since 16th April), it doesn't normally disappear around April time and return June, with chicks (after fledging the nest), I did hear a sound of young birds whilst walking around the Lake, just looked at young Owl calls and is very similar so fingers crossed they have been successful this year!

The Mute Swan family were doing well, with still 4 cygnets remaining, and they look like there doing well with both parents staying close, and the young feeding.

Weather:  Blue Sky, Hot, Sunny

Other Species: Swift, Barn Swallow, House Martin, House Sparrow, Buzzard, Kestrel, Crow, Jackdaw, Robin, Mute Swan (+4 Cygnets) - Of Note

Butterflies +  Dragonflies: Ringlet, Speckled Wood, Small Tortoiseshell, European Peacock, Broad-Bodied Chaser - Of Note

Thanks For Reading !