A Few More Birds!!

 Since my last post, Jayne and I have been out and about, and have managed to add another 6 species to the "Year List!.

The first new species was Pied Flycatcher (155), a single male heard singing at Linacre on 24th April. Several other were also seen and heard at Padley Gorge today. The next species, Garden Warbler (156), was special, as it was a female bird, with a brood patch, that was caught and ringed at Linacre on 26th April. Fingers crossed for successful breeding this year.

The other new species were all seen or heard at Padley Gorge and Big Moor this morning. Cuckoo , 1 heard (157), Redstart, several heard, but none seen - annoying leaves!! (158), Tree Pipit, 1 seen and heard singing (159) and finally, Whinchat - 1 male seen on Big Moor (160).

Tree Pipit

Whinchat

One new butterfly was also seen at Padley Gorge, namely, Green Hairstreak.

Green Hairstreak

Whixall Moss - 1st June 2023

 Today Jayne and I visited the Fenn's, Whixall and Bettisfield Mosses in Shropshire. We  went in search of two insects, the Large Heath butterfly and the White-faced Darter dragonfly.

Unfortunately, we didn't see the former species (perhaps a little early in the season??), but we did have fantastic views of the darter, including a pair "in tandem".

White-faced Darter (male)

Other wildlife spotted included: Four-spotted Chaser, Common Blue Damselfly, Azure Damselfly, Large Red Damselfly, Large Skipper, Brimstone, Green Hairstreak, Common Blue Butterfly, Orange Tip, Green Tiger Beetle, Meadow Pipit, Reed Bunting, Stonechat and Sundew.

Four-spotted Chaser

Sundew

Deep Dale - 14th May 2023

 The weather played ball today (20 degrees and sunny) so Jayne and I set off up Deep Dale for a walk.

Whilst there, we spotted 4 species of butterfly, including our first Green Hairstreaks of 2023. Species seen were: Orange Tip (15+), Green Hairstreak (c.10), Brimstone (1 male) and  Red Admiral (1).

Green Hairstreak

Birds were far and few between, but we did see 1 male Redstart, Jackdaw, Carrion Crows, Goldfinch, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Blackcap and, best of all, a single Spotted Flycatcher - my 163rd species of the year.

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.

White-faced Darter

Today Jayne and I spent two hours in the sunshine on the Natural England Chartley Moss reserve in Staffordshire, looking for a very rare dragonfly called the White-faced Darter (see link here for details of this species). We were there as part of a guided tour with a Natural England site manager, and the British Dragonfly Society's conservation officer, as this is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), with access allowed on just one day a year.

The walk started at 2pm, and the first sighting was a Barn Owl (!) flying through the fields by the entrance to the site. It even sat and posed for a photo.

Barn Owl

We were soon out on the bog, where we spotted a male Brimstone butterfly and a male Green Hairstreak. We walked across to the two pools where the darters are seen, and spent about one and half hours watching and photographing them. Here are my best efforts.

Male

Teneral (newly emerged dragonfly)

Male showing white face

As well as the White-faced Darters, we also saw Four-spotted Chasers, a Large Red Damselfly and a couple of blue damselflies, which were unfortunately, too far out to identify to species. A couple of Common Lizards were also spotted.

Common Lizard

Bird wise, it was quite quiet, but we did see a male Mallard, and heard Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler and Blackcap singing.

Deep Dale

Last May I visited Deep Dale to see the Early Purple Orchids and Cowslips that grow there. This weekend Jayne and I had a return visit to see them again.

Early Purple Orchids and Cowslip

 Whilst there, we also spotted a few butterflies, including this male Orange Tip and a beautiful Green Hairstreak.

Orange Tip (male)

Green Hairstreak