Our wildlife group was busy cutting back regenerating scrub this morning.
A pair of Little Grebes have at least 1 very very small young that was almost gobbled up by a Black Headed Gull, it just managed to dive to safety. 4 Teal and c40 Gadwall were amongst the wildfowl present.
Mixed flock of 50 Canad and Greylag on scrape, Kingfisher. A Snipe was on the wader scrape at 07.18hrs (Neil Lunn).
2m & 1f Small Red-eyed Damsel on the dike (CG).
A Green Sandpiper was on the wader scrape at 07.33hrs (K. Bannister).
Also 2 Goldcrest, 6 Red-legged Partridge (3 juvs), 2 Buzzard, Little Grebe.
4 Ruddy Darter, 6 Common Darter, 3 Common Blue and Nursery Web Spider (L & Corrall).
In the evening 2 Water Rail called, c75 Swallows roosted and 7 Swifts Flew west.
10 Purple Hairstreaks were flying around the tops of Oak (CG).
A snipe was on the wader scrape early this morning (K. Bannister)
Also present at least 3 juv. Sparrowhawks calling, Juv. Buzzard, 2 Greylags, 11 Canada Geese, and 3 Lapwing.
A butterfly survey produced 2 Comma, 13 Gatekeeper, 5 Green Veined White, 3 Red Admiral, 16 Common Blue, 1 Holly Blue, 1 Ringlet, 1 Painted Lady, c30 Meadow Brown, 1 Small Heath, 1 Brown Argus and 1 Small Copper.
3 Small Red-eyed Damselflies (1m 2f), and 2m Ruddy Darter (CG/C/ Parkin).
Butterflies encountered today were, Clouded Yellow, 6 Painted Lady, 231 Meadow Brown, 43 Small Heath, 102 Common Blue, 2 Holly Blue, 17 Brown Argus and 18 Small Copper (Chris Parkin).
Today's highlights were 2 Common Terns (1 juv being fed) from 07.10hrs until mid-day. They chased off a Herring Gull and a LBB Gull, but they were continually harassed by a Black Headed Gull all morning.
A Dunlin still in summer plumage was on the wader scrape at 07.30hrs but that was chased off by a Black Headed Gull (Keith Bannister/John Finch).
Also present 3 Lapwings, Kingfisher and a juv. Sparrowhawk was calling. (CG)
A common Sandpiper was on the wader scrape this evening (Dave Standish).
20 species of butterfly today included 3 male Silver Washed Fritillary, 5 Painted Lady, 1 Dingy Skipper, 102 Common Blue, 17 Brown Argus, 13 Small Heath, 1m Brimstone and 12 |Small Copper (Chris Parkin).
Coal Tit, Great Spot Woodpecker, Sparrowhawk, Buzzard.
Along with 2 Ruddy Darter, 3 southern Hawker, 8 Brown Hawker, 3 Small Red-eyed Damselfly (Les & Andrew Corrall).
Our wildlife group were busy again this morning strimming the path verges etc. We were joined by young Rueben, who is on school holiday at the moment.
A walk around with Gary Haywood produced a Grey Wagtail, Water Rail, and Buzzard.
Butterflies included 1 Holly Blue, 6 Common Blue, 4 Painted Lady and several Red Admirals.
Also 1 Small Heath, 4 Holly Blue, and 2 Migrant Hawkers (K. Bannister/L & A Corrall).
1m Small Red-eyed Damselfly, 2m 1f Ruddy Darter, Black-tailed Skimmer, Broad-bodied Chaser, 1m Banded Agrion and 2 Brown Hawker.
32 Mallard, the males in 'eclipse', and the family of Tufted Duck.
An additional 18 species of butterfly that included 12 Painted Lady, 34 Red Admiral, 28 Peacock, 15 Comma, 388 Meadow Brown, 206 Gatekeeper, 37 Common Blue, 6 Holly Blue, 8 Brown Argus, 12 Small Copper, 18 Large White and 108 unidentified White species.
Also 3 Ruddy Darter (Chris Parkin).
A male Silver Washed Fritillary was found on the embankment today by long time Carlton Martian - Peter Senior. This is only our 2nd record of it and the first since July 2021!
20 species of butterfly included a Silver Washed Fritillary on a Buddlea, 4 Purple Hairstreak, 10 Painted Lady, 63 Red Admiral, 42 Peacock, 88 Speckled Wood, 3 Brown Argus, and 8 Small Copper. Also Ruddy Darter male and 18 Banded Agrion (Chris Parkin).
Excellent counts of butterflies included 8 Painted Lady, 5 Red Admiral, 676 Meadow Brown, 455 Gatekeeper, 173 Common Blue, 32 Brown Argus and 3 Holly Blue. A total of 1,600 of 17 species.
Also of note here Emperor Dragonfly and the Hornet Mimic (Volucella zonaria) (Chris Parkin).
Butterflies included 15 Painted Lady, 9 Red Admiral, 26 Peacock, 465 Gatekeeper, 86 Common Blue, 22 Brown Argus and 10 Small Copper (Chris Parkin).
A Little Egret spent the day on the wader scrape and a Peregrine was seen there early morning (Neil Lunn).
Later a Goldcrest, 2 LBB Gulls, and a Yellow Wagtail with food.
Also 3m Black-tailed Skimmers, 1m Red-eyed Damselfly, 3 Painted Ladies, 3 Red Admirals and a report of a Grayling butterfly (Andrew Corrall/Melvyn White/CG).
Yellow Wagtail, Oystercatcher, 2 Lapwing, 1 LBB Gull, juv. Buzzard calling to adults.
Insects included 2m Small Red - eyed Damselfly, Emperor, Brown Hawker, 3m Ruddy Darter, 2m Broad-bodied Chaser, 2m black tailed Skimmer, 1m Common Darter, 1 Four Spot Chaser, 2 Red Admiral, 1 Comma, 6 Gatekeeper, 60 Ringlet, c60 Meadow Brown.
7 Little Egrets were on the wader scrape at 06.51hrs (Neil Lunn), but all had left by 07.30hrs (K. Bannister).
A Yellow Wagtail was still in the potato field and a Common Tern was feeding on the scrape (K. Bannister).
