Butterflies : Speckled Woods abundant in the wooded areas and Meadow Browns numerous around the grassy bits.
Also 3 Commas and just 1 Small Tortoiseshell.
Odonata : 1 Brown + 1 Southern Hawkers. Common Blue damselflies numerous around the pools.
A single Brown Silver Line moth rested on bracken alongside Pumphouse Pool.
Andy Bissitt said
Sun Jul 4 11:00 PM, 2021
Handforth Dean fields - Cheshire.
A pretty good score of 9 species of odonata this p.m. included 5 species of damselfly, the best of which were 4 of the red-eyed kind. A female banded demoiselle was unexpected, 3 brown hawker, at least 7 emperors and 12+ 4-spoted chasers, all great to watch. A shaded braod bar was the best moth, and there were butterflies aplenty, although nothing noteworthy.
P.S. A bug that I photographed turned out to be something I'd not seen before, and still quite a rarity in Cheshire; closterotomus trivialis. A relative newcomer to the UK.
Another afternoon at Newchurch Common for inverts, sunny and hot.
The best butterfly was a Painted Lady by the main track. Also seen were Green-veined White, Large White, Small Skipper, Large Skipper, Ringlet, Meadow Brown and Speckled Wood. This means over the last 2 afternoons I have recorded 12 species of butterfly.
The best odonata species was a Downy Emerald still. Also seen Broad-bodied Chaser (pictured), Southern Hawker, Brown Hawker, Azure Damselfly, Blue-tailed Damselfly and Common Blue Damselfly. This gives a 2 day total of 10 species of odonata in one tiny area of my patch.
The only new invert added for the year on patch was Brown China-mark moth.
Hairy Bindweed was found on Sandy Lane.
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Friday 2nd of July 2021 10:31:00 PM
A pretty good score of 9 species of odonata this p.m. included 5 species of damselfly, the best of which were 4 of the red-eyed kind. A female banded demoiselle was unexpected, 3 brown hawker, at least 7 emperors and 12+ 4-spoted chasers, all great to watch. A shaded braod bar was the best moth, and there were butterflies aplenty, although nothing noteworthy.
John Williams said
Thu Jul 1 11:57 PM, 2021
Whixall Moss 10.00-15.00
Butterflies :- 6 Large Skippers, 7 Meadow Browns and lots of Ringlets.
What looked like a Large Heath butterfly flew across the path at one point, but the creature did'nt settle despite fluttering through
the trackside vegetation for a while, so I can't be 100% sure of the ID.
Moths : 3 Purple Bordered Gold (All seen around heather), 1 Brown Silver Line and several Common Heaths.
Dragonflies : Black Darters appear to have emerged en-masse, no other species came close enough to get an ID.
Damselflies : 2 Emeralds, 2 Large Reds and several Azures.
Lots of grasshoppers around the pathways, the ones I got close enough to ID appeared to Meadow Grasshoppers.
No reptiles were seen and only 1 Common Frog.
Doc Brewster said
Thu Jul 1 9:18 PM, 2021
Watching the weather all day I decided on an afternoon visit to Newchurch Common for my first in July 2021!
A 10 species of butterfly day today with a new species for the year in the shape of Small Skipper. a large hatch of this species had happened and they were frequenting the meadow north of Big Pool. Also seen were Large Skipper, my first Comma for ages, 2 Red Admirals, Small Tortoiseshells, Ringlets, Meadow Browns, a male Brimstone, Large White and Speckled Woods.
A cracking female Emperor dragonfly caught a Small Tortoishell right in front of me. Also seen were Brown Hawker, Four-spotted Chaser and an immaturemale Common Darter. Other odonata were Common Blue Damselfly and Blue-tailed Damselfly.
Doc Brewster said
Sun Jun 27 11:03 PM, 2021
Two visits over the weekend looking for inverts, sunny intervals and warm but not ideal conditions.
Sat 26th June: A dead Common Shrew was found near Small Pool. The usual butterflies were seen with high numbers of Ringlets in several locations. Lots of Peacock Caterpillars were seen. At least 2 Brown Hawkers were seen too as well as a Downy Emerald and a Four-spotted Chaser. The best news was of 3 new species of moth for the year, Yellow Shell and Narrow-bordered 5-spot Burnet were in meadows north of Big Pool and a Green Oak Tortrix was by Shemmy Moss. Rutpella maculata, a yellow and black Longhorn Beetle was on the main track near the entrance. The harvestman Mitopus moriowas on Abbot's Moss.
Sun 27th June: A new damselfly for 2021 was a lone Emerald Damselfly, right on cue at the beginning of their flight period, on Abbot's Moss. Lots of Common Heath moths here too as well as a few Grass Waves still. Another Green Oak Tortrix was found, this time near Small Pool. A small mushroom on Abbot's Moss could be Collared Parachute but that is to be confirmed.
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Sunday 27th of June 2021 11:04:58 PM
John Williams said
Sat Jun 26 8:22 PM, 2021
Sandbach Flashes (Mid afternoon)
Butterflies : 3 Red Admirals (All seen along side of Elton Hall Flash) and 1 Small Tortoiseshell.
Doc Brewster said
Thu Jun 24 9:57 PM, 2021
Another short afternoon trip to Newchurch Common to see if any scoters had dropped in (they hadn't!) and a few invrt sightings were made.
My first Ringlet butterflies of the year were seen, and at 3 sites around Big Pool too which is good news.
The hoverfly Myathropa floreawas photographed as was Eristalis intricarius.
A 7-Spot Ladybird larva was found, this species has had 2 good years on patch with very few Harlequins despite the bad forecasts about species interaction favouring the latter.
Common Field Grasshopper was recorded for 2021, although present previously.
Doc Brewster said
Wed Jun 23 11:26 PM, 2021
On Newchurch am after several days at work. Sunny intervals and warm but not baking!!
A new dragonfly for the year was a Brown Hawker on the east side of Big Pool where at least 3 Southern Hawkers were seen. A Four-spotted Chaser and a Downy Emerald were still flying. Just Common Blue Damselfly, Red-eyed Damselfly and Blue-tailed Damselfly were seen.
Several Meadow Browns and Large Skippers were now on the wing. An increase in Small Tortoiseshells was noted and Peacock caterpillars were found. Speckled Woods were the only other species seen.
The hoverfly Epistrophe grossulariae was numerous and the fly Tachina ferawas also on umbellifers with them.
A nice Nursery Web spider was guarding its nursery web in the nettlebeds.
Doc Brewster said
Wed Jun 16 10:10 PM, 2021
Hot and sunny and 2 very succesful visits to Newchurch Common.
I found my first Painted Lady of 2021 on Abbot's Moss, after none on patch in 2020. Other vanessids included 2 Red Admirals and 2 Small Tortoiseshells. Meadow Brown and Large Skipper were again seen but in very small numbers so far. Small White was seen as well as Large White, Brimstone and Speckled Wood.
I also saw my first 2 Emperor dragonflies, one on Abbot's Moss and one on Small Pool. Another new species for 2021 was a male Common Darter on Abbot's Moss. A single Downy Emerald was seen on Shemmy Moss and a lone Southern Hawker was on Abbot's Moss. Lots of Four-spotted Chasers were still over the mosses. The usual 5 common damselflies made it a 10 Odonata day, my best of the year.
A special moth species for the area and a Cheshire scarcity was Grass Wave, up to 20 being seen on one small area of mossland. They look superficially similar to Brown Silver-line moths in flight which were also abundant. On the Big Pool Meadows 2 Silver-Y moths were new for the year too.
An orange/brown lacewing species, Hemerobius micans, was new for patch. Green Tiger Beetles were again seen. The cranefly Tipula fascipenniswas new for the year.
Doc Brewster said
Tue Jun 15 10:35 PM, 2021
On Newchurch Common in the sun two species of butterfly were firsts here for the year, namely Meadow Brown and Large Skipper, 2 of each being seen. Other butterflies seen were Large White, Green-veined White, Brimstone, Holly Blue, Small Copper and Speckled Wood.
The common 5 damselflies were seen as well as ovipositing Four-spotted Chasers.
Silver-ground Carpet moth was new for 2021.
Volucella bombylans hoverfly (var. plumata) was recorded.
Common Spotted Orchids were now in flower. Nettle Rust fungus was seen.
John Williams said
Mon Jun 14 7:21 PM, 2021
Early afternoon Burtonwood (Cheshire)
Farmland West of Sankey Brook : 2f Black tailed Skimmer dragonflies.
2 Spikes of Bee Orchids just coming into flower.
Marsh Orchids (all looked like Northern Marsh) fully out, maybe 20 or 30 spikes, some very tall.
Much less extensive mowing here than last year seems to have suited the plants.
John O'Neill said
Sat Jun 12 10:55 PM, 2021
Gatewarth( Penketh )
4 March Orchids out on site today. Three by canal were Southern Marsh type and a Northern Marsh on sloping field down to Fiddlers Ferry pub
John Watson said
Fri Jun 11 11:06 PM, 2021
Cheshire, Risley, Silver Lane Pools
A birding chum found Bee Orchid "on the hill" at 2+ locations; precise location not known to me, but quality photo provided privately
First for the site? How on earth did the seeds get there !?!
Doc Brewster said
Tue Jun 8 10:04 AM, 2021
Doc Brewster wrote:So I headed down to Tenby Harbour, just a 15min stroll, and onwards to the Lifeboat Station where about 3 people were already assembled. Not a massive crowd so it can't have been anything special could it?! After 3mins my quarry appeared, surfacing after a feeding dive, just a few metres off the Lifeboat launch ramp, and it was special, very very special - a Walrus
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Sunday 25th of April 2021 09:58:18 PM
Updates since it left Tenby. The Walrus was seen off a pelagic trip off Cornwall and next turned up in France. Here it was hit by a boat and treated in care briefly. Understandably it left France pretty quickly after that and yesterday was reported in Spanish waters at Santander
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Tuesday 8th of June 2021 10:06:03 AM
Doc Brewster said
Mon Jun 7 3:21 PM, 2021
In my Moulton garden Mothtrap last night I had a Cheshire scarcity - Broad-barred White (pictured). Not usually more than 2 caught per year in Cheshire and the last one in my 10km square was in 1979.
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Monday 7th of June 2021 03:22:49 PM
Newchurch Common again this morning in hot sunshine. With the prospect of new species of insect I just can't keep away!
The same mix of 9 species of odonata, which included the Southern Hawker again in the same area.
Fewer butterfly species but nothing new. A new moth was recorded, a single Garden Carpet in Big Pool Meadow.
Doc Brewster said
Fri Jun 4 9:13 PM, 2021
I was back on my local patch, Newchurch Common for a visit am and pm in the sunshine.
A new butterfly for 2021 was Small Copper, a worn individual was in Big Pool Meadows. On a 7 butterfly day the other species were Large White, Small White, Green-veined White, Brimstone, Speckled Wood and Peacock.
A new odonata species was seen too, an early Common Hawker, patrolling Big Pool Meadows, where 4(1m) Broad-bodied Chasers and a Four-spotted Chaser were also seen. Two Downy Emeralds were also recorded. The usual 5 damselflies : Common Blue, Azure, Red-eyed, Large Red and Blue -tailed were all seen on a 9 species of odonata day, my best of 2021.
Moths included new for year Common Wave and Common Nettle-tap, both in Big Pool Meadow.
A Cockchafer was a new species as was Red and Black Froghopper. Also new was Common Earwig. A new spider was the orb-weaver Larinioides cornutus, a striking spider with a pale body colour and dark markings.
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Saturday 5th of June 2021 03:28:46 PM
Doc Brewster said
Tue Jun 1 9:54 PM, 2021
A morning dragonflying in the hot sunshine again. This time just in Wales, on the Welsh bank of the River Dee at Holt. Park under the Wrexham Road and walk south.
I finished up with 6 Club-tailed Dragonflies (attached), most were teneral or semi-teneral individuals with just on in full adult colours including the pterostigma in the wing. Two of these flew over onto the Cheshire bank too, so I had them in two countries!! There were also lots of Banded Demoiselles here as expected.
Had several requests on my Wildlife Whatsapp Group regarding the Downy Emeralds so I headed down to Newchurch Common relatively early to meet up eventually with 6 'wild-lifers'. Cold and overcast at first it later turned sunny and hot.
Over 2 visits I had 7 Downy Emeralds minimum. 6 were on the edge of Shemmy Moss again with a pair 'in cop' already, they don't mess around once emerged and get down to mating straight away! The seventh one was in a ride near Small Pool on Newchurch Common itself. In the afternoon I visited a liely looking area and achieved another target with 2 Broad-bodied Chasers too. I also saw over 20 Red-eyed Damselflies on Small Pool with some ovipositing. Also seen were Large Red Damselfly, Azure Damselfly, Common Blue Damselfly and Blue-tailed Damselfly.
Butterflies seen were the usual ones. As were the moths apart from one new for year - Cinnabar, at least 3 seen near Big Pool island cut. Other new species were Swollen-thighed Beetle and at least four 14-spot Ladybirds. Two more new species of beetle were the Wireworm Click Beetle Agriotes obscurus and the Soldier Beetle Cantharis nigricans. The hoverfly Helophilus pendulus was recorded for the first time this year.
Wolf's Blood Slime Mould (Lycogala epidendrum) (also called Wolf's Milk) was seen on Shemmy Moss.
Doc Brewster said
Sun May 30 8:59 PM, 2021
On my patch at Newchurch Common this morning in hot sunshine and was rewarded with the first (2) Downy Emeralds of the year. Two were on the edge of Shemmy Moss (pictured). Also seen were Four-spotted Chaser, Large Red Damselfly, Azure Damselfly and Common Blue Damselfly.
All butterflies were species seen before in May with 7 species seen today.
Two Green Tiger Beetles were on Abbot's Moss.
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Sunday 30th of May 2021 08:59:52 PM
Finally better weather and it shows with the inverts starting to be seen! Last night my moth trapping produced the first Hawkmoth of the season - male Lime Hawk-moth, a cracker (pictured).
A hot and sunny day drew me to my Newchurch Common Patch all day.
It was especially good for Odonata with 6 species seen, 4 of which were new for 2021. The dragonflies were represented by c.8 Four-spotted Chasers, all over on Shemmy and Abbot's Mosses (pictured). A hatch of over 100 Common Blue Damselflies had occurred especially near Big Pool where amongst these 2 Red-eyed Damselflies were found as well as 4 Blue-tailed Damselflies, all 3 being new for the year. Other species already seen but present were 50+Large Red Damselflies and 50+Azure Damselflies.
A new butterfly species added on patch for me was Holly Blue (2), but my wife had had one here whilst riding the horse recently. Both mine were seen near Shemmy Moss. Another new butterfly species was Large White. In total 8 species were seen, the others being Green-veined White, Orange-tip, Brimstone, Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell and Speckled Wood.
A new moth for the year was Common Carpet (7). Also seen were 30+Brown Silver-lines and 15+Common Heaths.
Early Bumblebee was recorded for the first time, over on Shemmy Moss. A totally new species was Field Cuckoo Bumblebee, again on Shemmy Moss.
Beetles included a couple of new species for site: the tiny green weevil Pachyrhinus lethierryi, a species introduced from the Mediterranean and spreading north with cultivated conifers. This was found on the mosses next to the conifer nursery!! Also found was the Leaf Beetle Plateumaris sericea, on Abbot's Moss, a species found near acid water bodies, so again perfect habitat. A Nettlw Weevil was also seen. Possibly the best find was a Green Tiger Beetle after zero records in 2020. This was again on Abbot's Moss.
A single male Scorpion Fly was seen, in Big Pool meadow.
An afternoon walk in warmer weather at Newchurch Common, with sunny intervals too!
My second damselfy species was seen and photographed, a couple of Azure Damselflies near the start of the path leading up the west side of Big Pool.
At least 3 Green Hairstreaks were seen in territorial flight on the edge of Shemmy Moss. Other than these just Speckled Woods and a Peacock were seen.
A new moth for patch, Green Long-hornMoth (Adela reaumurella) was seen in the same area as the damselflies. Also here was a new beetle for patch in the shape of a Green Leaf Weevil.
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Friday 14th of May 2021 10:57:07 PM
Doc Brewster said
Tue May 11 4:30 PM, 2021
A morning at Newchurch Common, mainly for visitors to the Ring-necked Duck. Not very warm but a couple of inverts recorded. The new one found was another Bibionidae fly - Bibio varipes. Lots of the common Bibio, the St Mark's Flies were everywhere too!
John Watson said
Fri May 7 11:59 AM, 2021
Tenby, Pembrokeshire
Decided I would be kicking myself if I didn't make a 2nd attempt for the Walrus at Tenby, so an early start was essential for the 400 mile round trip. There's a direct route via Welshpool & Newtown, taking 4 1/4 hours. Mobile speed cameras in places
On arrival, I parked at the North Bay CP - seemed like a good base. The Walrus feeds just offshore from the lifeboat station on shellfish, then rests on the new lifeboat ramp. Eat & sleep - typical young male. Last week, ihe ramp had to be used, so they scared him off with a sound-horn. Unfortunately, that was the day before my first trip, and he didn't return for a week. Hence the 2nd trip. There's a narrow footpath around the headland, and most visitors seem to think Covid is on holiday too
I did some digiscoping, but I'm too embarrassed by the results
At one point, an adult Grey Seal swam past the Walrus - the size difference was impressive!
There are birds there too: Rock Pipit at Eyeball-to-Eyeball range picking up crumbs at people's feet, several Gannet, Guillemot & Fulmar offshore, and a Siskin over. En route, Red Kite is easy - especially if you're forced to take the considerably longer Lampeter-Tregaron route home because the A40 was closed
If you fancy seeing "Wally" without the drive, there's always this: https://www.parkhoteltenby.com/tenby-webcam-live
Some hotels are open, but room service only (though most seem to open their restaurant, perhaps illegally). Fortunately, "Wally" was showing well but distant. Local shops have expensive souvenirs with Wally images. Not to your taste? I thought not
Mark Jarrett said
Wed May 5 1:27 PM, 2021
I was on patch early this morning at Carey Park, Northwich. This is adjacent to Neumanns Flash and south west of Anderton Nature Park, forming part of our overall Marbury Patch. Came across this vixen and her two cubs.
A walk in the sun on Newchurch Common trying for a specific species, see below.
I went onto Abbot's Moss with a pheromone lure to try for Emperor Moth, which I have never seen here but the habitat is right. Conditions were OK, it could have been a tad warmer, but none were attracted. I think I have to conclude that they are not here. I did record two new moths for the year though, both on Abbot's Moss. These were a single Brown Silver-line and 5 Common Heaths. Eight species of butterfly included 8 Green Hairstreaks, 2m Brimtones, m+f Orange-tips, Small White, Green-veined White, Peacock and Small Tortoiseshell.
At least 50 Large Red Damselflies were on Abbot's Moss and were still the only odonata species seen.
A Red-tailed Bumblebee was new for the year, found on Abbot's Moss. New hoverflies for the year were on Shemmy Moss: Leucozona lucorum, Syrphus ribesi and Dasyrphus tricinctus. Lots of St.Mark's Flies were flying but another Bibio species was a new find, Bibio lanigerus, again on Shemmy Moss. Another new fly added was the Caddisfly Glyphotaelius pellucidus.
I found my first Harlequin Ladybird anywhere for 2021, of the form spectabilis.
Yellow Archangel was seen as well as Spanish Bluebell and Forget-me-not.
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Sunday 2nd of May 2021 10:37:18 PM
Doc Brewster said
Fri Apr 30 4:43 PM, 2021
Newchurch Common : a summary from the last week.
A male Smooth Newt was watched in one of the private ponds where this species breeds.
New insects were Alder Fly (Sialis lutaria (probably)), St.Mark's Fly (Bibio marci), the hoverfly Syrphus ribesii and Early Mining Bee (probably ) (Andrena haemorrhoa).
Plants in flower included Native Bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta), Alkanet (Pentaglottissempervirens), Herb Robert (Geranium robertianum) and Meadow Buttercup (Ranunculus acris).
Doc Brewster said
Sun Apr 25 9:35 PM, 2021
A late report from yesterday, delayed because I was exhausted after being up for 21hrs in the last 24hr period!!
After finding the Ring-necked Duck on Gull Pool last Friday I should really have been down early on Saturday to look for it as I knew that lots of folk were travelling to see it BUT I had already made plans, and so I stuck to them! I was awake and up at 2am on Saturday morning, getting everything ready and packing the car for a 2.45am departure. I then made a diagonal journey through Wales in a SW direction ending up in Pembrokeshire. An easy route, devoid of traffic at that unearthy hour, I made it to Tenby my destination in a tad under 4hrs. The routefinder had said 4hrs 18mins, so I was happy with my journey. I drove around the town a couple of times before finding a suitable car park, which got even better when I saw that it was free up until 9am..... and it was 7am at the moment!!
So I headed down to Tenby Harbour, just a 15min stroll, and onwards to the Lifeboat Station where about 3 people were already assembled. Not a massive crowd so it can't have been anything special could it?! After 3mins my quarry appeared, surfacing after a feeding dive, just a few metres off the Lifeboat launch ramp, and it was special, very very special - a Walrus
This impressive beast had been present for a few weeks but since Wales had now opened up for travel in and out I decided to go see this 'once in a lifetime' mammal for the UK. I watched as he floated around pretty close offshore and dived to feed regularly, 'he' because he has been identified as a first-year male. He showed very well through the scope but digiscoping was very hard. I was pleased when home to see that I'd got a few decent record shots Just to see it was my aim so photos were a bonus. A few more folk arrived but by the time I had to go to move my car to another free parking space only around 8 were present. Later numbers had risen to over 30 on a narrow path and I decided that it was becoming a wee bit crowded for 'COVID times' and headed back to the car.
Having chatted to locals, and a Marine Life observer, the Walrus has been feeding well and looks to have put on weight since arriving. Its habit of sitting on the Lifeboat ramp had stopped when it had to be scared off to launch the boat a few days before I went. Maybe it will get over this and start to haul out again, or maybe it will depart, who knows?! A long 21hr day as I said, but 100% worth it. If anyone considers going and wants parking tips /directions etc, just PM me on here
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Sunday 25th of April 2021 09:58:18 PM
Again sunshine so local patching on Newchurch Common.
A new butterfly species was added - Speckled Wood, on the main track between the pools. Also c.6 Green Hairstreaks were again on the mosses along with male and female Orange-tips, Green-veined White, Small White, Peacock and Small Tortoiseshell. This gave me 9 species of butterfly in the last 2 days here.
Doc Brewster said
Thu Apr 22 9:36 PM, 2021
In warm sunshine at Newchurch Common again this pm.
The most striking thing was a big hatch of at least 40 Large Red Damselflies, I sat by one pool and they were landing all over my yellow South African Rugby shirt!!
By Shemmy Moss I recorded my first Green-veined White of the year on patch or anywhere. In a 7 butterfly species day the others were 3m Brimstones, 4Green Hairstreaks, Small White, Orange-tip, Peacock and Comma.
Most other insects were as before but Pond Skaters (prob. Gerris lacustris) were new, seen on Abbot's Moss.
Doc Brewster said
Tue Apr 20 8:33 PM, 2021
I was at Newchurch Common this morning in warm sunshine most of the time.
Over on the mosses 11 Green Hairstreaks were seen along with a male Orange-tip (SM), a Small White, a male Brimstone (SM) and lots of Peacocks and Small Tortoiseshells.
My first odonata of 2021 were 4 Large Red Damselflies on the mosses, newly emerged and still partially teneral.
(and just an addition for info on the post for 14/4/21 : Regarding the possible ichneumon species, after consultation with a world expert it has been IDed as a spider-hunting wasp species, a member of the Pompilidae, but this is as far as ID can go for now!!)
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Tuesday 20th of April 2021 09:46:06 PM
Ian McKerchar said
Sun Apr 18 9:40 PM, 2021
Originally posted today by Chris Harper:
Best sighting for me personally at Inner Marsh Farm, Cheshire today was a Water Vole. My first for 33 years I think.
Doc Brewster said
Fri Apr 16 2:13 PM, 2021
This morning in warm sunshine on Newchurch Common there were no Green Hairstreaks in yesterdays location on the mosses. But I chanced upon 1 Green Hairstreak in an area well away from here, but still on the mosslands. I also recorded Common CarderBee. An unidentifiable Ichneumon species was also found. Dark-edged Bee-fly was seen on Shemmy Moss.
Of great interest was that a fisherman, I was chatting to, had seen a live Polecat yesterday. It was in the Pine Belt to the NE of Big Pool.
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Friday 16th of April 2021 10:23:51 PM
Doc Brewster said
Thu Apr 15 9:36 PM, 2021
With warm, sunny weather this afternoon had to be spent at my Newchurch Patch looking for insects!!
The highlight was a hatch of around 18 Green Hairstreak butterflies on the mosses. I watched the very active individuals chasing and spiralling in the hot sun, being very flighty and hard to photograph. Other new butterflies for my patch included a male Orange-tip and a Small White, both also on Shemmy Moss. Completing the 5 butterfly day were Small Tortoiseshell and Peacock.
The only other new species added today was Tree Bumblebee.
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Thursday 15th of April 2021 09:59:27 PM
The afternoon was spent mainly looking for inverts at Newchurch Common again.
The highlight though wasn't an invertebrate but a mammal. Probably my first record of Field Vole was a single individual that ran from the gorse on the north side of Big Pool into the grass meadow there.
At least 15 Dark-edged Bee-flies were watched and photographed in the same area as yesterday near Big Pool Island Cut. A queen White-tailed Bumblebee was the first of the year as was a Common Carder Bee.
Doc Brewster said
Fri Apr 2 8:49 PM, 2021
Got sunny and warm this afternoon in Cheshire, so I popped to Newchurch on an invert hunt again.
I added a species that I'd wanted to see at Newchurch for ages, but had previously never found - Dark-edged Bee-fly(Bombylius major), found in the 'meadow' by Big Pool Island Cut. Another new species, this time just for 2021 was Tawny Mining Bee (Andrena fulva) found north of Big Pool.
Other sightings were all species found previously this year.
Doc Brewster said
Thu Apr 1 10:09 PM, 2021
Newchurch Common am, overcast but not too cold, not invert weather really.
Highlight was a juvenile Palmate Newt. Lots of frogspawn too and one mass of it was hatching today, just in time as the shallows in which it is was receding fast. Also seen again, the Clarke's Mining Bee colony, showed to a visitor.
Doc Brewster said
Tue Mar 30 9:56 PM, 2021
At Newchurch Common for inverts pm in the sunshine, very warm!
My best butterfly day of 2021 so far with 17 individuals of 4 species. My first male Brimstone of the year in Gull Pool Wood whizzed straight through. For patch I had my first 3 Small Tortoiseshells. I also had 3 Commas and an amzing 10 Peacocks.
A Smooth Newt and a Common Toad were both in ponds rather than under logs!
The first Alder Leaf Beetles were found. I also found the black carabid beetle Abax parallelepipedus, which I have found in previous years on my patch.
The mining bees previously IDed as Gwynne's I now think are Clarke's Mining Bees, having got better pictures today. Today their nest holes were being investigated by Common Bee Wasps (Nomada ruficornis).
John O'Neill said
Mon Mar 29 4:22 PM, 2021
Penketh
First butterfly of year in my back garden in the sunshine this morning, a m Brimstone
John Williams said
Mon Mar 29 4:02 PM, 2021
Neumanns Flash and Haydn Pool area.
Butterflies : 2 Brimstones and 1 Small Tortoiseshell.
Doc Brewster said
Thu Mar 25 10:46 PM, 2021
At Newchurch Common in the sun this afternoon.
The best butterfly day so far with 3 Commas (new for 2021) and 4 Peacocks. Two colonies of Gwynne's Mining Bees were found, one north of Big Pool and the other in the usual sandy soil bank east of Small Pool. Yellow Dung Fly was recorded for the first time in 2021 too along with probably thousands of Lesser Dung Flies still on the run off from the dung piles north of Big Pool.
Plants in flower included Lesser Celandine, Red Dead-nettle, Dandelion and Daisy.
John Williams said
Thu Mar 25 4:49 PM, 2021
Burtonwood (AM walk)
Farmland between Sankey Brook and Tanhouse Lane : 3 Small Tortoiseshell butterflies.
Doc Brewster said
Wed Mar 24 4:35 PM, 2021
Another Newchurch walk am, calm & mild to start, with sunshine and warmth later!
A new moth was added to the overall site list when I found and rescued another moth that had just fallen into a pond. I got it out really quickly and it was fine, a nice specimen of Common Quaker. A new hoverfly was added to the patch list in the shape of Syrphus torvus, one of 3 almost identical species but identified when I got home looking at the photos, as it is clinched by the presence of hairs on its eyes!! In all likelihood the previous Syrphus species was this one too (same area). Another addition to the yearlist for hoverflies was Eristalis pertinax, the Tapered Drone Fly, identified by completely pale front legs. Another new addition was found in a dead stump, 2 'wireworms' which are Click Beetle larvae, but have to go down as Elateridae sp. as I can't ID them further.
Doc Brewster said
Mon Mar 22 10:43 PM, 2021
At Newchucrh today, sunny pm so looked for inverts then!
At last I added Rabbit to the patch 2021 List, locally they seem to be in a population crash, almost certainly due to myxomatosis.
On the meadows lots of Pardosa sp. wolf spiders were seen. A Syrphus sp. hoverfly was seen but no pictures so the exact species could not be determined. Other species seen previously but again seen today were Peacock butterfly, Gorse Shieldbug, 7-Spot Ladybird and Buff-tailed Bumblebee.
John Williams said
Fri Mar 19 10:27 PM, 2021
Burtonwood
On the 8th March and on my morning walk again today, I witnessed some unusual behaviour by what appeared to be
worker Honey Bees. At a point where the farmer drives his tractor onto a field alongside Alder Lane at least 2 dozen bees
appeared to be drinking the moisture from a patch of well rotted manure.
Doc Brewster said
Fri Mar 19 3:33 PM, 2021
On Newchurch Common am:
The moth I saved was gone and given where I'd put it it must have flown off rather than have been predated. The first frogspawn was found with several clumps in the shallows of Gull Pool. These shallows may dry out so I'll keep an eye on it and move it into water if it gets stranded!
Butterflies : Speckled Woods abundant in the wooded areas and Meadow Browns numerous around the grassy bits.
Also 3 Commas and just 1 Small Tortoiseshell.
Odonata : 1 Brown + 1 Southern Hawkers. Common Blue damselflies numerous around the pools.
A single Brown Silver Line moth rested on bracken alongside Pumphouse Pool.
Handforth Dean fields - Cheshire.
A pretty good score of 9 species of odonata this p.m. included 5 species of damselfly, the best of which were 4 of the red-eyed kind. A female banded demoiselle was unexpected, 3 brown hawker, at least 7 emperors and 12+ 4-spoted chasers, all great to watch. A shaded braod bar was the best moth, and there were butterflies aplenty, although nothing noteworthy.
P.S. A bug that I photographed turned out to be something I'd not seen before, and still quite a rarity in Cheshire; closterotomus trivialis. A relative newcomer to the UK.
Another afternoon at Newchurch Common for inverts, sunny and hot.
The best butterfly was a Painted Lady by the main track. Also seen were Green-veined White, Large White, Small Skipper, Large Skipper, Ringlet, Meadow Brown and Speckled Wood. This means over the last 2 afternoons I have recorded 12 species of butterfly.
The best odonata species was a Downy Emerald still. Also seen Broad-bodied Chaser (pictured), Southern Hawker, Brown Hawker, Azure Damselfly, Blue-tailed Damselfly and Common Blue Damselfly. This gives a 2 day total of 10 species of odonata in one tiny area of my patch.
The only new invert added for the year on patch was Brown China-mark moth.
Hairy Bindweed was found on Sandy Lane.
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Friday 2nd of July 2021 10:31:00 PM
Handforth Dean fields - Cheshire.
A pretty good score of 9 species of odonata this p.m. included 5 species of damselfly, the best of which were 4 of the red-eyed kind. A female banded demoiselle was unexpected, 3 brown hawker, at least 7 emperors and 12+ 4-spoted chasers, all great to watch. A shaded braod bar was the best moth, and there were butterflies aplenty, although nothing noteworthy.
Butterflies :- 6 Large Skippers, 7 Meadow Browns and lots of Ringlets.
What looked like a Large Heath butterfly flew across the path at one point, but the creature did'nt settle despite fluttering through
the trackside vegetation for a while, so I can't be 100% sure of the ID.
Moths : 3 Purple Bordered Gold (All seen around heather), 1 Brown Silver Line and several Common Heaths.
Dragonflies : Black Darters appear to have emerged en-masse, no other species came close enough to get an ID.
Damselflies : 2 Emeralds, 2 Large Reds and several Azures.
Lots of grasshoppers around the pathways, the ones I got close enough to ID appeared to Meadow Grasshoppers.
No reptiles were seen and only 1 Common Frog.
Watching the weather all day I decided on an afternoon visit to Newchurch Common for my first in July 2021!
A 10 species of butterfly day today with a new species for the year in the shape of Small Skipper. a large hatch of this species had happened and they were frequenting the meadow north of Big Pool. Also seen were Large Skipper, my first Comma for ages, 2 Red Admirals, Small Tortoiseshells, Ringlets, Meadow Browns, a male Brimstone, Large White and Speckled Woods.
A cracking female Emperor dragonfly caught a Small Tortoishell right in front of me. Also seen were Brown Hawker, Four-spotted Chaser and an immature male Common Darter. Other odonata were Common Blue Damselfly and Blue-tailed Damselfly.
Two visits over the weekend looking for inverts, sunny intervals and warm but not ideal conditions.
Sat 26th June: A dead Common Shrew was found near Small Pool. The usual butterflies were seen with high numbers of Ringlets in several locations. Lots of Peacock Caterpillars were seen. At least 2 Brown Hawkers were seen too as well as a Downy Emerald and a Four-spotted Chaser. The best news was of 3 new species of moth for the year, Yellow Shell and Narrow-bordered 5-spot Burnet were in meadows north of Big Pool and a Green Oak Tortrix was by Shemmy Moss. Rutpella maculata, a yellow and black Longhorn Beetle was on the main track near the entrance. The harvestman Mitopus morio was on Abbot's Moss.
Sun 27th June: A new damselfly for 2021 was a lone Emerald Damselfly, right on cue at the beginning of their flight period, on Abbot's Moss. Lots of Common Heath moths here too as well as a few Grass Waves still. Another Green Oak Tortrix was found, this time near Small Pool. A small mushroom on Abbot's Moss could be Collared Parachute but that is to be confirmed.
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Sunday 27th of June 2021 11:04:58 PM
Butterflies : 3 Red Admirals (All seen along side of Elton Hall Flash) and 1 Small Tortoiseshell.
Another short afternoon trip to Newchurch Common to see if any scoters had dropped in (they hadn't!) and a few invrt sightings were made.
My first Ringlet butterflies of the year were seen, and at 3 sites around Big Pool too which is good news.
The hoverfly Myathropa florea was photographed as was Eristalis intricarius.
A 7-Spot Ladybird larva was found, this species has had 2 good years on patch with very few Harlequins despite the bad forecasts about species interaction favouring the latter.
Common Field Grasshopper was recorded for 2021, although present previously.
On Newchurch am after several days at work. Sunny intervals and warm but not baking!!
A new dragonfly for the year was a Brown Hawker on the east side of Big Pool where at least 3 Southern Hawkers were seen. A Four-spotted Chaser and a Downy Emerald were still flying. Just Common Blue Damselfly, Red-eyed Damselfly and Blue-tailed Damselfly were seen.
Several Meadow Browns and Large Skippers were now on the wing. An increase in Small Tortoiseshells was noted and Peacock caterpillars were found. Speckled Woods were the only other species seen.
The hoverfly Epistrophe grossulariae was numerous and the fly Tachina fera was also on umbellifers with them.
A nice Nursery Web spider was guarding its nursery web in the nettlebeds.
Hot and sunny and 2 very succesful visits to Newchurch Common.
I found my first Painted Lady of 2021 on Abbot's Moss, after none on patch in 2020. Other vanessids included 2 Red Admirals and 2 Small Tortoiseshells. Meadow Brown and Large Skipper were again seen but in very small numbers so far. Small White was seen as well as Large White, Brimstone and Speckled Wood.
I also saw my first 2 Emperor dragonflies, one on Abbot's Moss and one on Small Pool. Another new species for 2021 was a male Common Darter on Abbot's Moss. A single Downy Emerald was seen on Shemmy Moss and a lone Southern Hawker was on Abbot's Moss. Lots of Four-spotted Chasers were still over the mosses. The usual 5 common damselflies made it a 10 Odonata day, my best of the year.
A special moth species for the area and a Cheshire scarcity was Grass Wave, up to 20 being seen on one small area of mossland. They look superficially similar to Brown Silver-line moths in flight which were also abundant. On the Big Pool Meadows 2 Silver-Y moths were new for the year too.
An orange/brown lacewing species, Hemerobius micans, was new for patch. Green Tiger Beetles were again seen. The cranefly Tipula fascipennis was new for the year.
On Newchurch Common in the sun two species of butterfly were firsts here for the year, namely Meadow Brown and Large Skipper, 2 of each being seen. Other butterflies seen were Large White, Green-veined White, Brimstone, Holly Blue, Small Copper and Speckled Wood.
The common 5 damselflies were seen as well as ovipositing Four-spotted Chasers.
Silver-ground Carpet moth was new for 2021.
Volucella bombylans hoverfly (var. plumata) was recorded.
Common Spotted Orchids were now in flower. Nettle Rust fungus was seen.
Farmland West of Sankey Brook : 2f Black tailed Skimmer dragonflies.
Clockface Road
Grass verge outside Swinton Commercials
2 Spikes of Bee Orchids just coming into flower.
Marsh Orchids (all looked like Northern Marsh) fully out, maybe 20 or 30 spikes, some very tall.
Much less extensive mowing here than last year seems to have suited the plants.
4 March Orchids out on site today. Three by canal were Southern Marsh type and a Northern Marsh on sloping field down to Fiddlers Ferry pub
A birding chum found Bee Orchid "on the hill" at 2+ locations; precise location not known to me, but quality photo provided privately
First for the site?
How on earth did the seeds get there !?!
Updates since it left Tenby. The Walrus was seen off a pelagic trip off Cornwall and next turned up in France. Here it was hit by a boat and treated in care briefly. Understandably it left France pretty quickly after that and yesterday was reported in Spanish waters at Santander
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Tuesday 8th of June 2021 10:06:03 AM
In my Moulton garden Mothtrap last night I had a Cheshire scarcity - Broad-barred White (pictured). Not usually more than 2 caught per year in Cheshire and the last one in my 10km square was in 1979.
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Monday 7th of June 2021 03:22:49 PM
Newchurch Common again this morning in hot sunshine. With the prospect of new species of insect I just can't keep away!
The same mix of 9 species of odonata, which included the Southern Hawker again in the same area.
Fewer butterfly species but nothing new. A new moth was recorded, a single Garden Carpet in Big Pool Meadow.
I was back on my local patch, Newchurch Common for a visit am and pm in the sunshine.
A new butterfly for 2021 was Small Copper, a worn individual was in Big Pool Meadows. On a 7 butterfly day the other species were Large White, Small White, Green-veined White, Brimstone, Speckled Wood and Peacock.
A new odonata species was seen too, an early Common Hawker, patrolling Big Pool Meadows, where 4(1m) Broad-bodied Chasers and a Four-spotted Chaser were also seen. Two Downy Emeralds were also recorded. The usual 5 damselflies : Common Blue, Azure, Red-eyed, Large Red and Blue -tailed were all seen on a 9 species of odonata day, my best of 2021.
Moths included new for year Common Wave and Common Nettle-tap, both in Big Pool Meadow.
A Cockchafer was a new species as was Red and Black Froghopper. Also new was Common Earwig. A new spider was the orb-weaver Larinioides cornutus, a striking spider with a pale body colour and dark markings.
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Saturday 5th of June 2021 03:28:46 PM
A morning dragonflying in the hot sunshine again. This time just in Wales, on the Welsh bank of the River Dee at Holt. Park under the Wrexham Road and walk south.
I finished up with 6 Club-tailed Dragonflies (attached), most were teneral or semi-teneral individuals with just on in full adult colours including the pterostigma in the wing. Two of these flew over onto the Cheshire bank too, so I had them in two countries!! There were also lots of Banded Demoiselles here as expected.
Had several requests on my Wildlife Whatsapp Group regarding the Downy Emeralds so I headed down to Newchurch Common relatively early to meet up eventually with 6 'wild-lifers'. Cold and overcast at first it later turned sunny and hot.
Over 2 visits I had 7 Downy Emeralds minimum. 6 were on the edge of Shemmy Moss again with a pair 'in cop' already, they don't mess around once emerged and get down to mating straight away! The seventh one was in a ride near Small Pool on Newchurch Common itself. In the afternoon I visited a liely looking area and achieved another target with 2 Broad-bodied Chasers too. I also saw over 20 Red-eyed Damselflies on Small Pool with some ovipositing. Also seen were Large Red Damselfly, Azure Damselfly, Common Blue Damselfly and Blue-tailed Damselfly.
Butterflies seen were the usual ones. As were the moths apart from one new for year - Cinnabar, at least 3 seen near Big Pool island cut. Other new species were Swollen-thighed Beetle and at least four 14-spot Ladybirds. Two more new species of beetle were the Wireworm Click Beetle Agriotes obscurus and the Soldier Beetle Cantharis nigricans. The hoverfly Helophilus pendulus was recorded for the first time this year.
Wolf's Blood Slime Mould (Lycogala epidendrum) (also called Wolf's Milk) was seen on Shemmy Moss.
On my patch at Newchurch Common this morning in hot sunshine and was rewarded with the first (2) Downy Emeralds of the year. Two were on the edge of Shemmy Moss (pictured). Also seen were Four-spotted Chaser, Large Red Damselfly, Azure Damselfly and Common Blue Damselfly.
All butterflies were species seen before in May with 7 species seen today.
Two Green Tiger Beetles were on Abbot's Moss.
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Sunday 30th of May 2021 08:59:52 PM
Finally better weather and it shows with the inverts starting to be seen! Last night my moth trapping produced the first Hawkmoth of the season - male Lime Hawk-moth, a cracker (pictured).
A hot and sunny day drew me to my Newchurch Common Patch all day.
It was especially good for Odonata with 6 species seen, 4 of which were new for 2021. The dragonflies were represented by c.8 Four-spotted Chasers, all over on Shemmy and Abbot's Mosses (pictured). A hatch of over 100 Common Blue Damselflies had occurred especially near Big Pool where amongst these 2 Red-eyed Damselflies were found as well as 4 Blue-tailed Damselflies, all 3 being new for the year. Other species already seen but present were 50+Large Red Damselflies and 50+Azure Damselflies.
A new butterfly species added on patch for me was Holly Blue (2), but my wife had had one here whilst riding the horse recently. Both mine were seen near Shemmy Moss. Another new butterfly species was Large White. In total 8 species were seen, the others being Green-veined White, Orange-tip, Brimstone, Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell and Speckled Wood.
A new moth for the year was Common Carpet (7). Also seen were 30+Brown Silver-lines and 15+Common Heaths.
Early Bumblebee was recorded for the first time, over on Shemmy Moss. A totally new species was Field Cuckoo Bumblebee, again on Shemmy Moss.
Beetles included a couple of new species for site: the tiny green weevil Pachyrhinus lethierryi, a species introduced from the Mediterranean and spreading north with cultivated conifers. This was found on the mosses next to the conifer nursery!! Also found was the Leaf Beetle Plateumaris sericea, on Abbot's Moss, a species found near acid water bodies, so again perfect habitat. A Nettlw Weevil was also seen. Possibly the best find was a Green Tiger Beetle after zero records in 2020. This was again on Abbot's Moss.
A single male Scorpion Fly was seen, in Big Pool meadow.
An afternoon walk in warmer weather at Newchurch Common, with sunny intervals too!
My second damselfy species was seen and photographed, a couple of Azure Damselflies near the start of the path leading up the west side of Big Pool.
At least 3 Green Hairstreaks were seen in territorial flight on the edge of Shemmy Moss. Other than these just Speckled Woods and a Peacock were seen.
A new moth for patch, Green Long-horn Moth (Adela reaumurella) was seen in the same area as the damselflies. Also here was a new beetle for patch in the shape of a Green Leaf Weevil.
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Friday 14th of May 2021 10:57:07 PM
A morning at Newchurch Common, mainly for visitors to the Ring-necked Duck. Not very warm but a couple of inverts recorded. The new one found was another Bibionidae fly - Bibio varipes. Lots of the common Bibio, the St Mark's Flies were everywhere too!
Decided I would be kicking myself if I didn't make a 2nd attempt for the Walrus at Tenby, so an early start was essential for the 400 mile round trip. There's a direct route via Welshpool & Newtown, taking 4 1/4 hours. Mobile speed cameras in places
On arrival, I parked at the North Bay CP - seemed like a good base. The Walrus feeds just offshore from the lifeboat station on shellfish, then rests on the new lifeboat ramp. Eat & sleep - typical young male. Last week, ihe ramp had to be used, so they scared him off with a sound-horn. Unfortunately, that was the day before my first trip, and he didn't return for a week. Hence the 2nd trip. There's a narrow footpath around the headland, and most visitors seem to think Covid is on holiday too
I did some digiscoping, but I'm too embarrassed by the results
At one point, an adult Grey Seal swam past the Walrus - the size difference was impressive!
There are birds there too: Rock Pipit at Eyeball-to-Eyeball range picking up crumbs at people's feet, several Gannet, Guillemot & Fulmar offshore, and a Siskin over. En route, Red Kite is easy - especially if you're forced to take the considerably longer Lampeter-Tregaron route home because the A40 was closed
If you fancy seeing "Wally" without the drive, there's always this:
https://www.parkhoteltenby.com/tenby-webcam-live
Some hotels are open, but room service only (though most seem to open their restaurant, perhaps illegally). Fortunately, "Wally" was showing well but distant. Local shops have expensive souvenirs with Wally images. Not to your taste? I thought not
A walk in the sun on Newchurch Common trying for a specific species, see below.
I went onto Abbot's Moss with a pheromone lure to try for Emperor Moth, which I have never seen here but the habitat is right. Conditions were OK, it could have been a tad warmer, but none were attracted. I think I have to conclude that they are not here. I did record two new moths for the year though, both on Abbot's Moss. These were a single Brown Silver-line and 5 Common Heaths. Eight species of butterfly included 8 Green Hairstreaks, 2m Brimtones, m+f Orange-tips, Small White, Green-veined White, Peacock and Small Tortoiseshell.
At least 50 Large Red Damselflies were on Abbot's Moss and were still the only odonata species seen.
A Red-tailed Bumblebee was new for the year, found on Abbot's Moss. New hoverflies for the year were on Shemmy Moss: Leucozona lucorum, Syrphus ribesi and Dasyrphus tricinctus. Lots of St.Mark's Flies were flying but another Bibio species was a new find, Bibio lanigerus, again on Shemmy Moss. Another new fly added was the Caddisfly Glyphotaelius pellucidus.
I found my first Harlequin Ladybird anywhere for 2021, of the form spectabilis.
Yellow Archangel was seen as well as Spanish Bluebell and Forget-me-not.
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Sunday 2nd of May 2021 10:37:18 PM
Newchurch Common : a summary from the last week.
A male Smooth Newt was watched in one of the private ponds where this species breeds.
New insects were Alder Fly (Sialis lutaria (probably)), St.Mark's Fly (Bibio marci), the hoverfly Syrphus ribesii and Early Mining Bee (probably ) (Andrena haemorrhoa).
Plants in flower included Native Bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta), Alkanet (Pentaglottis sempervirens), Herb Robert (Geranium robertianum) and Meadow Buttercup (Ranunculus acris).
A late report from yesterday, delayed because I was exhausted after being up for 21hrs in the last 24hr period!!
After finding the Ring-necked Duck on Gull Pool last Friday I should really have been down early on Saturday to look for it as I knew that lots of folk were travelling to see it BUT I had already made plans, and so I stuck to them! I was awake and up at 2am on Saturday morning, getting everything ready and packing the car for a 2.45am departure. I then made a diagonal journey through Wales in a SW direction ending up in Pembrokeshire. An easy route, devoid of traffic at that unearthy hour, I made it to Tenby my destination in a tad under 4hrs. The routefinder had said 4hrs 18mins, so I was happy with my journey. I drove around the town a couple of times before finding a suitable car park, which got even better when I saw that it was free up until 9am..... and it was 7am at the moment!!
So I headed down to Tenby Harbour, just a 15min stroll, and onwards to the Lifeboat Station where about 3 people were already assembled. Not a massive crowd so it can't have been anything special could it?! After 3mins my quarry appeared, surfacing after a feeding dive, just a few metres off the Lifeboat launch ramp, and it was special, very very special - a Walrus
This impressive beast had been present for a few weeks but since Wales had now opened up for travel in and out I decided to go see this 'once in a lifetime' mammal for the UK. I watched as he floated around pretty close offshore and dived to feed regularly, 'he' because he has been identified as a first-year male. He showed very well through the scope but digiscoping was very hard. I was pleased when home to see that I'd got a few decent record shots Just to see it was my aim so photos were a bonus. A few more folk arrived but by the time I had to go to move my car to another free parking space only around 8 were present. Later numbers had risen to over 30 on a narrow path and I decided that it was becoming a wee bit crowded for 'COVID times' and headed back to the car.
Having chatted to locals, and a Marine Life observer, the Walrus has been feeding well and looks to have put on weight since arriving. Its habit of sitting on the Lifeboat ramp had stopped when it had to be scared off to launch the boat a few days before I went. Maybe it will get over this and start to haul out again, or maybe it will depart, who knows?! A long 21hr day as I said, but 100% worth it. If anyone considers going and wants parking tips /directions etc, just PM me on here
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Sunday 25th of April 2021 09:58:18 PM
Again sunshine so local patching on Newchurch Common.
A new butterfly species was added - Speckled Wood, on the main track between the pools. Also c.6 Green Hairstreaks were again on the mosses along with male and female Orange-tips, Green-veined White, Small White, Peacock and Small Tortoiseshell. This gave me 9 species of butterfly in the last 2 days here.
In warm sunshine at Newchurch Common again this pm.
The most striking thing was a big hatch of at least 40 Large Red Damselflies, I sat by one pool and they were landing all over my yellow South African Rugby shirt!!
By Shemmy Moss I recorded my first Green-veined White of the year on patch or anywhere. In a 7 butterfly species day the others were 3m Brimstones, 4 Green Hairstreaks, Small White, Orange-tip, Peacock and Comma.
Most other insects were as before but Pond Skaters (prob. Gerris lacustris) were new, seen on Abbot's Moss.
I was at Newchurch Common this morning in warm sunshine most of the time.
Over on the mosses 11 Green Hairstreaks were seen along with a male Orange-tip (SM), a Small White, a male Brimstone (SM) and lots of Peacocks and Small Tortoiseshells.
My first odonata of 2021 were 4 Large Red Damselflies on the mosses, newly emerged and still partially teneral.
(and just an addition for info on the post for 14/4/21 : Regarding the possible ichneumon species, after consultation with a world expert it has been IDed as a spider-hunting wasp species, a member of the Pompilidae, but this is as far as ID can go for now!!)
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Tuesday 20th of April 2021 09:46:06 PM
Originally posted today by Chris Harper:
Best sighting for me personally at Inner Marsh Farm, Cheshire today was a Water Vole. My first for 33 years I think.
This morning in warm sunshine on Newchurch Common there were no Green Hairstreaks in yesterdays location on the mosses. But I chanced upon 1 Green Hairstreak in an area well away from here, but still on the mosslands. I also recorded Common Carder Bee. An unidentifiable Ichneumon species was also found. Dark-edged Bee-fly was seen on Shemmy Moss.
Of great interest was that a fisherman, I was chatting to, had seen a live Polecat yesterday. It was in the Pine Belt to the NE of Big Pool.
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Friday 16th of April 2021 10:23:51 PM
With warm, sunny weather this afternoon had to be spent at my Newchurch Patch looking for insects!!
The highlight was a hatch of around 18 Green Hairstreak butterflies on the mosses. I watched the very active individuals chasing and spiralling in the hot sun, being very flighty and hard to photograph. Other new butterflies for my patch included a male Orange-tip and a Small White, both also on Shemmy Moss. Completing the 5 butterfly day were Small Tortoiseshell and Peacock.
The only other new species added today was Tree Bumblebee.
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Thursday 15th of April 2021 09:59:27 PM
The afternoon was spent mainly looking for inverts at Newchurch Common again.
The highlight though wasn't an invertebrate but a mammal. Probably my first record of Field Vole was a single individual that ran from the gorse on the north side of Big Pool into the grass meadow there.
At least 15 Dark-edged Bee-flies were watched and photographed in the same area as yesterday near Big Pool Island Cut. A queen White-tailed Bumblebee was the first of the year as was a Common Carder Bee.
Got sunny and warm this afternoon in Cheshire, so I popped to Newchurch on an invert hunt again.
I added a species that I'd wanted to see at Newchurch for ages, but had previously never found - Dark-edged Bee-fly (Bombylius major), found in the 'meadow' by Big Pool Island Cut. Another new species, this time just for 2021 was Tawny Mining Bee (Andrena fulva) found north of Big Pool.
Other sightings were all species found previously this year.
Newchurch Common am, overcast but not too cold, not invert weather really.
Highlight was a juvenile Palmate Newt. Lots of frogspawn too and one mass of it was hatching today, just in time as the shallows in which it is was receding fast. Also seen again, the Clarke's Mining Bee colony, showed to a visitor.
At Newchurch Common for inverts pm in the sunshine, very warm!
My best butterfly day of 2021 so far with 17 individuals of 4 species. My first male Brimstone of the year in Gull Pool Wood whizzed straight through. For patch I had my first 3 Small Tortoiseshells. I also had 3 Commas and an amzing 10 Peacocks.
A Smooth Newt and a Common Toad were both in ponds rather than under logs!
The first Alder Leaf Beetles were found. I also found the black carabid beetle Abax parallelepipedus, which I have found in previous years on my patch.
The mining bees previously IDed as Gwynne's I now think are Clarke's Mining Bees, having got better pictures today. Today their nest holes were being investigated by Common Bee Wasps (Nomada ruficornis).
First butterfly of year in my back garden in the sunshine this morning, a m Brimstone
Butterflies : 2 Brimstones and 1 Small Tortoiseshell.
At Newchurch Common in the sun this afternoon.
The best butterfly day so far with 3 Commas (new for 2021) and 4 Peacocks. Two colonies of Gwynne's Mining Bees were found, one north of Big Pool and the other in the usual sandy soil bank east of Small Pool. Yellow Dung Fly was recorded for the first time in 2021 too along with probably thousands of Lesser Dung Flies still on the run off from the dung piles north of Big Pool.
Plants in flower included Lesser Celandine, Red Dead-nettle, Dandelion and Daisy.
Farmland between Sankey Brook and Tanhouse Lane : 3 Small Tortoiseshell butterflies.
Another Newchurch walk am, calm & mild to start, with sunshine and warmth later!
A new moth was added to the overall site list when I found and rescued another moth that had just fallen into a pond. I got it out really quickly and it was fine, a nice specimen of Common Quaker. A new hoverfly was added to the patch list in the shape of Syrphus torvus, one of 3 almost identical species but identified when I got home looking at the photos, as it is clinched by the presence of hairs on its eyes!! In all likelihood the previous Syrphus species was this one too (same area). Another addition to the yearlist for hoverflies was Eristalis pertinax, the Tapered Drone Fly, identified by completely pale front legs. Another new addition was found in a dead stump, 2 'wireworms' which are Click Beetle larvae, but have to go down as Elateridae sp. as I can't ID them further.
At Newchucrh today, sunny pm so looked for inverts then!
At last I added Rabbit to the patch 2021 List, locally they seem to be in a population crash, almost certainly due to myxomatosis.
On the meadows lots of Pardosa sp. wolf spiders were seen. A Syrphus sp. hoverfly was seen but no pictures so the exact species could not be determined. Other species seen previously but again seen today were Peacock butterfly, Gorse Shieldbug, 7-Spot Ladybird and Buff-tailed Bumblebee.
On the 8th March and on my morning walk again today, I witnessed some unusual behaviour by what appeared to be
worker Honey Bees. At a point where the farmer drives his tractor onto a field alongside Alder Lane at least 2 dozen bees
appeared to be drinking the moisture from a patch of well rotted manure.
On Newchurch Common am:
The moth I saved was gone and given where I'd put it it must have flown off rather than have been predated. The first frogspawn was found with several clumps in the shallows of Gull Pool. These shallows may dry out so I'll keep an eye on it and move it into water if it gets stranded!