Pleasley Dragons and Butterflies

 Yesterday, the temperatures hit 23 degrees, with lots of sun and blue skies, so Jayne and I drove across to Pleasley Pit to see if there were any dragon and damselflies about. In total, we saw 5 species and 6 species of butterfly.

The first damselflies we saw were Large Red Damselflies. In total, we saw a minimum of 15 pairs "in tandem" and ovipositing. Next up, were Azure and Blue-tailed Damselflies, with just 1 of each seen. 

Two species of dragonfly were seen: Broad-bodied Chaser (1 male seen) and Four-spotted Chaser (2 seen).

Four-spotted Chaser

After the dragonflies, we had a quick check on the Small Blues. 10+ were seen, along with 1 Common Blue,  1 Holly Blue, 1 Orange Tip, 1 Brimstone, Large White and a single Burnet Companion (day-flying moth). 

First Dragons and Butterflies

 Last week, Jayne and I went to RSPB Old Moor (see last post). Whilst there we had our first damselflies of 2024. The two species seen were: Large Red and Blue-tailed Damselfly.

Today I went to Pleasley Pit to look at the colony of introduced Small Blue butterflies. There were 6 flying around, and landing on my feet!

Small Blue

My foot (and a Small Blue)

Small Blue

Whilst there, I also saw Large Red (c.5) and Blue-tailed Damselfly (1 male), but, by far the biggest surprise, was a female Hairy Dragonfly ovipositing!! I put the record on IRecord, and it appears that it's only the second record of the year for Derbyshire! In addition, it's my first record for this site.

Hairy Dragonfly

The Gulls are Back!!

 Late this morning, I had a drive across to Rufford for the first visit since March, looking for the returning Black-headed Gulls.

I was in luck, with 20 birds (all adults) seen on the main lake, including the first darvic-ringed bird of the autumn, 293A! This bird was ringed at Center Parcs, as an adult, in December 2021, and was last seen in February 2022. No breeding season sightings have been reported, yet.

293A

Whilst there, Jayne and I had a walk around and spotted some good insects as well: Common Dater (1, my first of the year), Blue-tailed Damselfly, Emerald Damselfly (1, also my first of the year), a Hawker sp, Comma (4), Small White (10+), Red Admiral (1), Peacock (1) and Gatekeeper (1 being eaten by a female Blackcap!). We also had Swallows and House Martins over the lake.

Common Dater

Linacre 8th July 2023 - a new species!!

I had news yesterday that the first Silver-washed Fritillaries and White-letter Hairstreaks of the year had been reported at Linacre (thanks  Pete). I set out this morning (6.15am - 9.15am) to see if I could spot either species. Unfortunately, the weather wasn't quite as good today (20 degrees, instead of 26 degrees yesterday), and the cloud cover was much higher, so I "dipped" on both species.

Luckily for me, however, I did manage to spot a new species of butterfly for Linacre - a female Dark Green Fritillary!! This species does seem to be on the increase in Derbyshire, and today's individual was spotted feeding on thistles in the hay meadow by the top reservoir.

Dark Green Fritillary

Whilst there, I also spent some time in the field just beyond the top reservoir, where I spotted: Meadow Brown (c.10), Ringlet (c.5), Red Admiral (1), Large White (1), Small Skipper (3), Large Skipper (1), 2 Volucella pellucens (hoverfly) and a couple of 7-spot Ladybirds. 

Small Skipper

Large Skipper (patterned wings and hooked antennae)

Back on the top reservoir, the sun had come out again, and the number of damselflies had increased. Only two species were seen: Common Blue and Blue-tailed (first Linacre record of 2023), but both species were seen "in tandem", proving breeding. A Common Lizard was also seen by the top reservoir, but it was disturbed by 3 joggers (!!) before I could get a photo.

Blue-tailed Damselflies

Common Blue Damselfly

Hoverfly numbers were better today, with Volucella pellucens (2), a Sphaerophoria sp, Marmalade Hoverflies, and a Syrphus sp seen.

Last, and by no means least (!), were the birds. Waterbirds were: Mallard (147), Moorhen (19), Coot (24), Mandarin Duck (43), Tufted Duck (26), Grey Heron (1), Cormorant (1), Great-crested Grebe (13; 6 adults and 7 juveniles), Grey Wagtail (2; 1 adult and 1 juvenile), Lesser Black-backed Gull (1), Black-headed Gull (1 heard - an unusual July record), Little Grebe (1 adult heard), Buzzard (1), Chiffchaff (4 singing), Blackcap (3 birds seen and 3 heard),  Swallow (3), House Martin (3) and Swift (1 - my first Linacre record of 2023!!!).

21st May 2022 - First Dragons and Damsels

 Jayne and I had a walk around Seymour Ponds yesterday, and saw our first Damsel and Dragonflies of the year.

The first species seen was Blue-tailed Damselfly, followed closely by Large Red and Azure Damselflies. Several Four-spotted Chasers were also seen flying around.

Four-spotted Chaser

In addition to the damselflies, we also saw a few butterfly species: Orange Tip, Brimstone, Green-veined White, Small Heath and one of my favourites, Brown Argus.

Brown Argus (underwing)

Brown Argus (upperwing)

Shaded Broad-bar and Tawny Owl

 I popped down to Linacre this afternoon to fill the feeders for a ringing session. It was 24 degrees when I arrived at 3.45pm and very sunny. As I walked down to the feeders, I spotted my first Cinnabar moth caterpillars, along with two Shaded Broad-bar moths, Soldier beetles, Swollen-thighed beetles, a male Blue-tailed Damselfly, several Common Blue Damselflies and a single Black and Yellow Longhorn Beetle.

Shaded Broad-bar

When I got to the feeding station I  spotted something perched low on one of the trees. I couldn't quite tell what it was, as it was preening and had its face down. Luckily, it hadn't seen me, so, as it looked up, I managed to get this photo and saw that it was a juvenile Tawny Owl - lovely and a great breeding record!

Tawny Owl

Yorkshire Sculpture Park - 10th July 2021

 Jayne and I were at Yorkshire Sculpture Park today. After a misty start, the sun came out and we ended up with a few insect species. By far the most numerous butterfly seen was the Ringlet butterfly, with 20+ present, including one breeding pair. The other butterfly species species seen were Large Skipper and  Meadow Brown. Common Blue and Blue-tailed Damselflies were also seen as was a male Black-tailed Skimmer.

Common Blue Damselflies

Large Skipper

Black-tailed Skipper

As well as the insects, we also saw a Little Egret, a Kingfisher and a darvic-ringed Mute Swan (Y736). The swan was paired and appeared to have at least 4 cygnets. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to see see the legs of the other swan to see if it was ringed. I know that the bird was ringed by Sorby Breck ringing Group, and I'll update when I get details of where and when it was ringed.

Mute Swan Y736

Linacre - 12th August 2020

 The temperature was a cracking 27 degrees again today, so I decided to have a couple of hours down at Linacre to see which insects I could see. I started off in the ringing site and saw 4 Gatekeepers, 1 Comma, 2 Peacock, 2 Small Coppers, 1 Red Admiral, 2 Silver Y moths, and 3 Shaded Broad Bars. 

Silver Y

Small Copper

Walking around the reservoirs, I added Common Blue Damselflies (including pairs ovipositing), 4 Brown Hawkers (my first Linacre record of 2020), a couple of male Blue-tailed Damselflies, and, very nicely, a male Banded Demoiselle flying over the top reservoir (my first Linacre record since 2015, and only my second ever record here). Another hawker, possibly Southern, was seen hunting along one of the paths by the middle reservoir. 

There were plenty of hoverflies around the site, including 1 Volucella pellucens a.k.a. Great Pied Hoverfly, and a single Myathropa florea a.k.a. "Batman hoverfly".

Myathropa florea

Birdwise, it was quite quiet, as is to expected, but I did have 2 Black-headed Gulls on the bottom reservoir (a very unusual August record), 11 Great-crested Grebes (2 family parties with 4 and 3 chicks, and 4 adults) and 2 Kingfishers on the bottom reservoir.

Linacre - 22nd July 2020

I had a couple of hours at Linacre this afternoon. When I arrived at 12.30pm it was grey, overcast and just 17 degrees. I started down at the bottom reservoir where I was very lucky to see a Kingfisher fly up from the river, over the wall and along the water. Also on the water were 20+ Mallards and a breeding plumaged Black-headed Gull. This gull was a very unexpected sighting, as the first ones don't usually return until September or October! One adult Lesser Black-backed Gull was also present on the top reservoir.

Black-headed Gull

About half way round, the sun came out, and so did the insects! 8 species of butterfly were seen: Large White (1), Small White (2), Green-veined White (1), Ringlet (2), Meadow Brown (c.10), Gatekeeper (2), Comma (2) and Peacock (1). A new species of day-flying moth, 6-spot Burnet Moth (3), was also seen, as were 2 species of damselfly: Common Blue Damselfly (c.3 pairs in cop and ovipositing) and Blue-tailed Damselfly (1 male and 1 female of the "rufescens" form).

Common Blue Damselflies in cop

Blue-tailed Damselfly (female)

Other insects seen included my first Volucella pellucens (Great Pied Hoverfly) of the year (2), 2 Black and Yellow Longhorn Beetles and several species of bumblebee and droneflies.

Great Pied Hoverfly

Black and Yellow Longhorn Beetle

Linacre Insects - 30th May 2020

I was down at Linacre this morning, checking the nestboxes and ringing some of this year's pulli (more on that in a future blog). With the temperature being around 19 degrees whilst there, I also managed to get some good insect records, including a new species for me at Linacre.

Insects seen today were: Large Red Damselfly (1 male), Common Blue Damselfly (c5 males), Blue -tailed Damselfly (1 male, the first Linacre record of 2020), Broad-bodied Chaser (1 female, my first Linacre record since 2014!), Swollen-thighed Beetle, Red and Black Froghopper, Cinnabar Moth (1), Silver Y moth (1), Silver-ground Moth (1), a long-horned moth, Nemophora degeerella, bees including Tree, Red-tailed and Common Carder,  and a couple of yet-to-be identified micro moths.

Broad-bodied Chaser

The new species was Britain's largest species of Crane fly, Tipula maxima. It was very big indeed! Apparently, it can have a leg span of up to 100mm.

Tipula maxima

Seymour Ponds - 18th May 2020

On Monday, I visited a set of ponds called Markham Vale or Seymour Ponds in Staveley, Chesterfield. It was my first visit to this site, after spotting a Facebook post about the presence of Hairy Dragonflies there. Unfortunately, I didn't manage to spot any, but I did find an excellent site for dragonflies, damselflies and other insects.

1 of the 4 ponds on site

The first species spotted was Large Red Damselfly. This species was very common, with 30+ individuals seen, including many pairs "in tandem". Blue-tailed Damselflies were also present and mating, whilst 1 male Azure Damselfly was also seen.

Whilst on site, I spotted 2 species of dragonfly, namely Four-spotted Chaser and Broad-bodied Chaser. The "Four spots", at least 10 individuals, were all newly emerged and hanging around in the long grasses around the ponds. The Broad-bodied Chasers, 1 male and 1 female, were also newly emerged and also "warming up".

Four-spotted Chaser

Other insects seen included: Small Heath (very common, 30+), Peacock (1), Common Blue Butterfly (3+ males and at least 1 female), Mother Shipton moth (3 individuals), a Thick- or Swollen-thighed Beetle and a stunning Spiny Mason Wasp, Odynerus spinipes.

Mother Shipton moth

Swollen-thighed Beetle

Spiny Mason Wasp

I spoke to another photographer whilst there, and he mentioned there being Dingy Skippers and Brown Argus butterflies on site as well. I didn't see either species on my visit, but it will definitely be worth another trip here, later in the year, to try and catch up with them, along with some of the other summer-flying insects.

Bird wise it was quite quiet, but I did see and hear Reed and Sedge Warblers (year ticks), as well as Swifts (5), Swallows (1), Skylark, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Willow Warbler ( all heard singing) and Common Buzzard (1).

UPDATE: I returned to this site today (21st May) in much sunnier weather, and managed to spot 2 Hairy Dragonflies. LIFER!!! I got great views as they flew around two of the ponds, chasing the Four-spotted Chasers. Unfortunately no photos, as they never stood still, so here's a link to see what one looks like.

Herring Gull EPM

Jayne and I were in Llandudno over the weekend. Whilst there we spotted a Herring Gull with a colour ring, EPM. I recognised it straight away as a bird I'd seen there before, in December 2016 (see here for details and ringing and subsequent re sightings).

EPM

I sent the record off, and saw that it had now been reported on the sea front at Llandudno another 6 times since my sighting. All sightings range from September to April, with mine being the earliest "winter" record, so we still don't know if it breeds elsewhere, and winters in Llandudno. It is now  9 years and 255 days since it was ringed.

Whilst in North Wales, we visited the National Trust's Bodnant Gardens again, and saw Azure and Blue-tailed Damselflies, Common Darter (mating pairs) and several Southern Hawkers. Butterflies seen were: Painted Lady (10), Red Admiral, Peacock, Speckled Wood, Small Tortoiseshell and Common Blue.

Common Darter

Azure Damselflies

Linacre WeBS - July 2019

Luke and I were down at Linacre this weekend to carry out July's WeBS count. As usual for this time of the year there were lots of young birds about, including our first Tufted Duck ducklings of 2019 (one brood of 3 birds).

Tufted Duck

Totals for the day were: Grey Wagtail (8; 2 adults and 6 juveniles), Moorhen (24; 8 adults and 16 juveniles), Coot (11; 4 adults and 7 juveniles), Mandarin Duck (32; 15 adults and 17 ducklings), Tufted Duck (17;14 adults and 3 ducklings), Great-crested Grebe (4; 3 adults and 1 juvenile), Mallard (48; all adults or well grown juveniles) and Lesser Black-backed Gull (4 adults). 6 House Martins were also seen, but there no records of Swift or Swallow.

As well as the birds, we also saw several insects, including 2 new moths and a new caddisfly species. The new moths were, Celypha lacunana and Chrysoteuchia culmella and the caddisfly was Mystacides longicornis. Other insects seen were, Yellow Shell (1), Volucella pellucens hoverfly (3), Meadow Brown (1), 1 Black and Yellow Longhorn Beetle, male Common Blue Damselfly and a female Blue-tailed Damselfly.

Blue-tailed Damselfly (form rufescens)

RSPB Old Moor

Jayne and I spent a few hours at RSPB Old Moor yesterday. The weather wasn't great, but we still managed to see some good insects (and a few birds too!).

The first insect of the day was a Dingy Skipper. 2 were seen including this individual.

Dingy Skipper

Other butterflies seen were: Common Blue and Green-veined White.

Common Blue Butterfly (female, above and male, below)

We also saw 3 damselfly species: Common Blue, Blue-tailed and Red-eyed and 2 dragonflies: Black-tailed Skimmer and Emperor.

Black-tailed Skimmer (immature)

Birdwise, we saw Black-headed Gulls (many chicks), Black-tailed Godwit (10), Pochard, Mallard, Canada and Greylag Geese, Swifts, Great-crested and Little Grebes and Mute Swan, including this colour ringed individual with 4 cygnets.

UPDATE: The Mute San 087 was ringed as a young bird at Ulley, 15km away, in September 2013, making it 6 years old this year. It has spent its entire life within South Yorkshire, being reported in Aldwarke, Rotherham, Thrybergh and Wath, before being reported at Old Moor in 2017 for the first time. Has it been here ever since??

Mute Swan 089 and Family

Back in February I blogged about a darvic ringed Mute Swan (ringed by Sorby Breck Ringing Group) that had taken up residence at Holmebrook Valley CP in Chesterfield (see post here). At the time I mentioned that he had set up a territory with a female bird. Well, as the title suggests, the pair have been successful, and last week I went down to see the birds with their 3 cygnets.

089

089's partner and cygnets

As well as the swans there was also a pair of Greylag Geese with 4 goslings.

Greylag Geese

Two species of damselfly were also seen, namely: Blue-tailed and Common Blue Damselflies.