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

Thanks For Looking !

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Collared Pratincole at Ham Wall RSPB

Date: 12/07/2016

Location: Ham Wall, RSPB

Weather: Cloudy but some Blue Skies

Other Species: 
Great White Egret, Bittern, Marsh Harrier, Collared Pratincole, Little Egret, Lapwing, Little Bittern (heard), Glossy Ibis - Plus many more. 

Observation: 
A Collared Pratincole turned up on Sunday at Ham Wall so only being 25 miles away had to go! Never seen one before and a cracking bird it was too. On arriving joined the 40 or so people on platform 2 looking and watching, only took about 2 mins for it to take to the skies, this my first effort! But a life tick!

It generally stayed at a distance hunting with the many Swift's never coming closer than about 150 meters my 400mm just about capturing it .

Best effort ! 

There were many large lenses there but i'm very happy with this f8 1250 640 iso.

Here's a tighter crop. 

The Collared Pratincole are unusual among waders they hunt their insect prey on the wing like swallows and Swifts although they can also feed on the ground. They are normally found in warmer areas of Europe like Spain.

While there saw the 2 Glossy Ibis, Bittern, Marsh Harrier and also Great White Egret's. Also at Ham Wall at the moment and breeding is the Little Bittern, a bit further along and into the reserve I walked along waited for hour & 15 mins, I did hear it bark, it really does sound like a little dog barking! But unfortunately didn't see.

While walking back to car park got a brief view of Marsh Harrier hunting.

 An Excellent reserve and well worth the effort!

Thanks For Looking !

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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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76 Year Ticks

Date: 07/07/2016

Location: 
Al-sorted Bugs and Patch - Newton St Loe

Weather: Mostly Cloudy but warm.

Other Species: 

Green Woodpecker, Buzzard, Raven, Yellowhammer, Whitethroat, Swift, House Martin, Barn Swallow, Chiffchaff, Skylark, Goldcrest, Kingfisher, Stock Dove, Pied Wagtail, Grey Wagtail, Spotted Flycatcher - 40 Species

Butterflies: 

Comma, Small White, Large White, Large Skipper, Small Skipper, Meadow Brown, Marbled White, Ringlet

Observation: 

Did the normal rounds of Bannerdown for butterflies but very little there few Marbled Whites and Meadow Browns, then Browns Folly @ Bathford but also not much about.

On getting home checked my pond out and had a Broad Bodied Chaser 

female buzzing about the males were a week earlier? 

Check that wing structure out! 

Amazing!

Also a few Common Darters also female. 

This one really small but notice white lines on legs .Common darters very similar to Ruddy Darter but white line say Common Darter.

That was earlier in week it's now Thursday and a Patch walk is in order!

As usual out through Bath Mill and the Grey Wagtail family present with this juvenile posing nicely. I think that's 2 little ones this year.

Up on to fields and fewer Whitethroats about but Yellowhammer seem to be everywhere doing the

 " Little bit of bread and no cheese! " call, sort of.

Apart from a fly over A400M Plane and 2 Ravens very little else until village. Barn Swallows numbers good this year with at least 50 Juveniles seen with House Martins also doing well. Seems quiet today grey clouds but still warm. At Lakes saw Kingfisher on Lower Lake, Top Lake normal stuff Mallard, Mute Swan with 7 Cygnets still, Jackdaw seem to be absent from lakes, none! Carried on up through Dog Kennel Wood by Sports Field towards ponds and saw a Spotted Flycatcher!! 

Excellent year total now 76 not a new tick as seen 2010/2014 but where I saw it makes sense as in 1970's as in report they were nesting there so possibly still nesting will check again soon.

On the small ponds a few dragons around with Four Spotted Chasers, Common Darters and Emperor Dragonflies.

Also a lonely looking Stock Dove perched looking towards Stanton Prior.

Headed back a slightly different way today, through Stanton Prior and back across fields through Wooden House Convert Woodland then returned back the way I'd come but saw this crop?

Turns out it's Flax or Linseed, looked amazing very pretty.

Nothing new or old seen on rest of walk, back at Village a group of 25 Starlings were perched up, a few Juveniles mixed up too. Then returned home, 7.5 miles just mapped it didn't seem that long, O well a lovely walk all the same.

Thanks For Looking !

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