RSPB Pagham Harbour and Kithurst Hill - 29th May 2024

 Today, Jayne and I visited RSPB Pagham Harbour and Kithurst Hill. The first site was a new reserve for us, where we set out to find some terns. The second site, also a new place to visit, was visited in search of butterflies.

We arrived at Pagham and found out that the tern colony had been badly hit by Bird Flu for the last few years. As a result, there weren't any birds nesting this year! The ranger did say, however, that there still a few birds flying around, so we set off on the on the 1.6 mile walk down to the beach. On the way, we spotted many small birds, including Cettis Warbler, Linnet, and Whitethroats. The tide was out, but we still managed to see a few water birds: Shelduck, Dunlin (c.30), Bar-tailed Godwit (6), Redshank, Mediterranean Gull (2 adults flying over), Black-headed Gull, Little Egret, Sandwich Tern (1 flew over - 174), Whimbrel (2 birds - 175) and Little Tern 3 birds - 176).

Back at the centre, we had a look around the Discovery Area, where a juvenile Tawny Owl was sitting in a tree near the nestbox. We also saw several Broad-bodied Chasers (males and females ovipositing), Common Blue Damselflies (in tandem) and a single male Emperor dragonfly.

Broad-bodied Chaser

After Pagham, we drove across to Kithurst Hill, in search of Duke of Burgundy butterflies. Unfortunately, we seemed to be a little late in the year, but we did spot: Dingy and Grizzled Skipper, Common Blue Butterfly, Small Blue, Cinnabar Moth, Vapourer moth caterpillar, Common Carpet and Common Lizard.

Grizzled Skipper

Dingy Skipper

Common Lizard

Fineshade Wood - 3rd June 2023

 Jayne and I joined a Butterfly Conservation walk around Fineshade Wood today, in search of the Chequered Skipper. Unfortunately, despite walking around the site for approximately 3 hours, we didn't find any today.

We did, however, record other species, including a "lifer" in the shape of Grizzled Skipper.

Grizzled Skipper

Other species seen were: Red Admiral, Common Blue, Brimstone, Dingy Skipper and Painted Lady.

A couple of day-flying moths were also seen: Mother Shipton and Burnet Companion.

Burnet Companion

A Lackey moth caterpillar was also seen, along with a Green Tiger Beetle. 3 Hairy Dragonflies were spotted and a single Azure Damselfly was also seen.

Lackey caterpillar

Birdwise, it was quite quiet, but we did see/hear Red Kites, Buzzards, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Blackcap, Wren and Robin.

Small Blue and Dingy Skipper - 20th May 2023

 After seeing details on social media earlier in the week, Jayne and I spent a couple of hours at Pleasley Pit searching for a colony of introduced Small Blue butterflies.

We arrived at the car park, and after walking just 200m, saw our first butterflies (they really are small!!), 3 males, one of which posed beautifully.

Small Blue (male)

We walked on to the area where previous sightings had come from, where we managed to watch both males and females, including this mating pair. At one point there were 11 on the ground together!!

Small Blues (male on the left, I think)

Whilst there, we also spotted several other species: Peacock (2), Comma (2), Orange Tip (1 male) Large White (2) and, best of all, a Dingy Skipper.

Dingy Skipper

Linacre Update - 20th May 2020

I had a walk around Linacre with my nephew, Luke, on 20th May. The weather was warm and sunny and we got some great views of some of the insects and birds, including one species last reported in 2011!!!

I'd better start with the bird not recorded since 2011 - SPOTTED FLYCATCHER. Our last sighting was back in June 2011 (see here). This year's sighting was in a different part of the woods that I don't normally visit, so it's possible it has been present in previous years and not spotted.

Spotted Flycatcher

Insect wise it was also a good visit. The first sighting was a Wall Brown. This was very nice, as I had my first Linacre record of this butterfly last year. Next up was a Green Shieldbug, followed by a Small Copper, a Dingy Skipper (my first sighting since 2014!) and a Speckled Wood.

Wall Brown

Dingy Skipper

Wednesday's trip was also the first time in 2020 that we were able to record any damselflies, with two species seen: Large Red and Common Blue. These two species are recorded annually at Linacre, but this visit was the first time that I've actually seen Large Red Damselflies ovipositing (egg laying) on site. One pair was seen laying eggs in vegetation on the bottom reservoir. Exuviae of this species, and of Common Blue Damselfly were also found for the first time. The Large Red exuviae were in the ringing site, and the Common Blue (1) was found on the top reservoir.

Large Red Damselfly

Deep Dale - 19th May 2020

Jayne and I had a few hours walking in the Plantlife reserve in Deep Dale on Tuesday. We go most years to see the orchids and Cowslips. This year, due to the lockdown, we were a little late for the flowers, but we did manage to see some of the other specialities of this reserve.

First up was the Green Hairstreak butterflies. We saw 3 whilst on site. We also spotted a new species for us at Deep Dale, the Dingy Skipper. Again, we managed to see three different individuals. Other butterflies seen were: Wall Brown (1), another new species for us here, Orange Tip (2 males) and Large White (1).

Green Hairstreak

Dingy Skipper (and friend!)

Birdwise it was quite quiet, but we did get great views of a female Redstart, and heard Blackcaps, Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs.

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??

RSPB Old Moor

Luke and I spent 4 hours at RSPB Old Moor on Thursday. It was warm with sunny spells and we walked all around the hides and ponds.

The first area we visited was the so called "Bittern bus stop", an area overlooking the large reedbed. As the name suggests, this is a great area to spot the Bitterns (3 breeding pairs this year apparently), and we got very lucky, seeing our first bird within 10 minutes of arriving. We also recorded Common Tern here. On the walk here we also got excellent views of both male and female Dingy Skipper.

Dingy Skipper (female top, male below)

We next walked down to Wath Ings hide where we were very surprised to find 2 Pink-footed Geese in amongst the Greylags and Canada Geese. 

Walking back to the Visitors' Centre we popped into Wader Scrape and Family Hide adding a very nice breeding plumaged Mediterranean Gull to the list.

The best part of the day, however, was still to come, as we managed to record some super new insects, namely Mother Shipton (a day-flying moth), Common Blue, Azure and Blue-tailed Damselflies, Orange Tip, Brimstone butterfly and 3 beautiful Four-spotted Chasers, including one very obliging individual.

Mother Shipton

Four-spotted Chaser

Year List update:
152 - Common Tern
153 - Bittern

May WeBS and a new butterfly species

Yesterday 3 members of the Chesterfield RSPB Group carried out the monthly WeBS walk around Linacre (thanks you 3).

As always, the May walk can be quite quiet, but yesterday's outing was livened up by the first broods of Mandarin Duck; 3 broods of 4, 5 and 6. Along with 9 adult birds that brought the total to 24. 35 adult Mallards were also seen with ducklings (2, 3, 5 and 7). The Coots, 11 adults, had 4 broods of 2, 3, 4, and 6, and the Great -crested Grebes on the middle reservoir had 3 young! Adult Moorhens were seen, but no young yet. 2 Grey Wagtails were the last water birds reported this month.

The usual woodland birds were reported in the woods, along with 3 Swallows, and singing Blackcaps, Chiffchaff and Willow Warblers.

Before the WeBS walk and the nest box checking I had a walk down to the ringing site to fill the feeders. Whilst there, I also had a walk around in search of insects. The first ones I saw were a Peacock and a Small Tortoiseshell.  Just as I walking back I noticed a small, brown butterfly flying low over the ground. I watched as it landed and crept up to get a better view and a photo. As I got closer I noticed that it was a DINGY SKIPPER!!!

Dingy Skipper

Not only is this a new species for me and Linacre (unless anyone else has seen one before?), but it is also a pretty uncommon species within Derbyshire. As such it is included in Derbyshire's Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) . I've sent the record to the butterfly recorder for Derbyshire, so I'll update on any further developments.