I barely believe that I am typing this, possibly my best sighting of this year, and most other years to boot! As I was seawtching today (25th Oct 2020) I noticed a flock of large gulls dipping down over the sea mobbing something so instinctively turned my scope to that area. As I did I wasn't exactly sure what I was looking at,certainly nothing that I had ever seen before! So I cranked the zoom up a little and there was a reptilian head poking up out of the waves and a ridged back behind it, a really large creature moving slowly along with the stream of gulls in tow. Unbelievably I was watching a turtle, here in the North Sea As I watched the turtle slowly, majestically sank beneath the suface and disappeared from view, escaping the attention of the harranging gull flock. I then watched the area for a good 20 minutes but no further sign, turtles can dive deep and for long periods so it was more in hope than expectation that I continued my search.
Not having much turtle knowledge at my fingertips I wasn't 100% on species ID but I had inklings that it may be a particular species and once home my research revealed that it was the one I had thought, the commonest one in the North Sea (although still extremely rare) and that pictures and videos fitted what I had seen absolutely perfectly, it was a Leatherback Turtle. To say that this was unexpected would be an understatement and it eclipsed the lifer Stejneger's Stonechat that I had just been watching. On site I hastily found other birders to relay my sighting too, knowing that it is a birders nature to be cynical about sightings I never expected thenm to be as excited as me, but I had to tell someone. I also rang Chris at RBA and chatted to him regarding the sighting. I had plans to do other sites after South Gare and had plenty of time but this had just blown me away so much that I decided to head home, almost shaking with excitement at what had happened. This really was a sighting of a lifetime, what a day
John Williams said
Thu Oct 22 5:48 PM, 2020
Burtonwood (Cheshire)
A single Common Darter dragonfly was seen flying around a bramble patch.
Doc Brewster said
Wed Oct 21 9:18 PM, 2020
John Watson wrote:
Culcheth house (Cheshire) - had to remove a queen wasp - is that an odd time of year ?
To quote Tom Jones - It's not unusual New queens hatch in Autumn and then hibernate over winter to emerge and start a new nest in Spring
John Watson said
Wed Oct 21 6:29 PM, 2020
Culcheth house (Cheshire) - had to remove a queen wasp - is that an odd time of year ?
Doc Brewster said
Wed Oct 14 9:52 PM, 2020
At my Newchurch patch pm, rain, sun and dull bits all intermingled!
A new moth was added to the patch list in the birch woods next to Big Pool - a male Mottle Umber (pic 2). A male Vapourer moth was near the oaks east of Big Pool. A Speckled Wood was seen too, by the entrance track.
A new fungus for me ever was a Blackening Waxcap in the meadow near Big Pool Island Cut (pic 1).
3 Migrant Hawker dragonflies near the bench overlooking Ashtons Flash.
1 Peacock Butterfly by Neumanns Flash.
1 Red Admiral and 1 Comma butterflies attracted to Ivy flowers on Dairyhouse Meadow.
Doc Brewster said
Wed Oct 7 9:01 PM, 2020
Another morning at Newchurch, sunny today though.
The sun had an effect with a late male Common Darter dragonfly.
An Enoplognatha latimana Comb-footed Spider was on Abbot's Moss.
Lots of fungi again with some new ones IDed. White Saddle (Helvella crispa) was near Small Pool. The minute Grass Oysterling (Crepidotus epibryus) was near Big Pool. A Shaggy Inkcap was by Abbot's Moss. An Iodine Bonnet (Mycena filopes) and several False Chantarelles (Hygrophoropsis aurantiaca) were by Gull Pool. A revised cound of Collared Earthstars revealed 9 today!
Pixie Cup lichen (Cladonia chlorophaea) was on Abbot's Moss. Lots of Bittersweet (Nightshade) was near Shemmy Moss adorned with gorgeous red, poisonous berries.
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Wednesday 7th of October 2020 11:08:34 PM
Doc Brewster said
Tue Oct 6 10:52 PM, 2020
Had a walk on Newchurch Common and surrounds today in wet, dull eather with occasional sunny spells.
I found Smooth Newt and Common Toad under logs in one wet area. In the same location was a Carabus violaceous Violet Ground Beetle.
Lots of fungi were seen, photos were taken and I'm still IDing them now. Ones that I have IDed are Collared Earthstar, a nice group of 7 were found by Shemmy Moss (picture attached) Then the following 5 species were all by Gull Pool, namely Mycena cornephora on moss on a tree, Brown Birch Bolete, Common Earthball, Tawny Grisette and Glistening Inkcap Coprinellus micaceus.
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Tuesday 6th of October 2020 11:19:38 PM
Just found a Peppered moth caterpillar on my roses, which is a garden first here.
Doc Brewster said
Fri Oct 2 11:17 PM, 2020
Cold and autumnal at my patch, Newchurch Common, but still a few non-birdy things of note.
A new fly species for the recording area was found, Phaonia subventa, which is in the House Fly family but with a bright orange abdomen and striped grey thorax and red eyes. It was nectaring on ivy flowers north of Big Pool in the company of hordes of Commmon Wasps.
In autumn I look especially for fungi and saw a few today. These included The Deceiver in the meadows east of Big Pool. Also I found the small white Inocybe geophylla in the birch woodland near Big Pool Island Cut. The tiny discoid, white fungus Polydesmia pruinosawas found on dead wood near Big Pool island Cut as was the slime mould that looks like a fungus : Wolf's Milk Slime Mould.
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Saturday 3rd of October 2020 10:05:27 PM
John Williams said
Tue Sep 29 11:30 AM, 2020
Callands Warrington
A very much alive Hedgehog was on my front lawn last night, when even the sad remains of squashed ones on local roads has
become a rare sight in recent times. The nearby Sankey Valley Park still contains large areas of woodland and scrub that are
well away from busy roads thankfully, plus traffic has been lighter on local roads during the pandemic, so hopefully I'll get more
nocturnal visits from our little friends.
bernard hooley said
Mon Sep 28 9:03 AM, 2020
Whilst visiting Holme N R in Norfolk I went to the N.O.A observatory.When I arrjved the warden immediately put me onto a Humming Bird Hawk moth on the buddleia
Mark Jarrett said
Sun Sep 27 11:09 AM, 2020
Basking Shark and Harbour Porpoise off the headland at St Ives, this morning.
Doc Brewster said
Tue Sep 22 10:21 PM, 2020
On Newchurch Common this afternoon, warm with sunny intervals.
One interesting find was a Hedgehog dropping - my first proof of the species on patch.
A new spider was found by Small Pool - male and female Lesser Garden Spider (Metallina segmentata). Only Small Whites were seen. Migrant Hawker and Common Darter were seen.
Fly Agaric fungi were found as well as Birch Milkcap.
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Wednesday 23rd of September 2020 03:16:28 PM
John Williams said
Mon Sep 21 4:50 PM, 2020
Moore NR 11.00-15.00
Butterflies : Speckled Woods still numerous in the woodlands, they seem to be very much attracted by ivy.
2 Peacocks also seen.
Dragonflies : 1 Southern Hawker seen near Pumphouse Pool, Common Darters encountered in small numbers throughout.
Doc Brewster said
Sun Sep 20 10:06 PM, 2020
A text had me heading to Elton Hall Flash, Sandbach this afternoon to meet a patch regular there. He lives just over the border in Staffs and had caught a mega moth overnight. He kindly brought it up to show it to us all. It was a Clifden Nonpareil (or Blue Underwing) which was a lifer moth for me. A huge, impressive beast and so far none caught in Cheshire this year, but at 0.5mls over the border this is the closest yet. He allowed photos but inside his van (didn't want to lose it, who can blame him!) under artificial light, hence the strange lighting on my picture attached.
Surprise find was a fine male Ruddy Darter resting on the grass by the bench overlooking Ashtons Flash, this is around
a month late when compared with other records of ths species in the area.
A couple of Southern Hawkers patrolled the birch scrub, and small numbers of Common Darters were to seen throughout.
The only butterflies seen were a few Large Whites.
Doc Brewster said
Sun Sep 13 9:47 PM, 2020
A morning walk on my Newchurch Common Patch, warm & sunny.
A dead Mole was my first sighting of one here although the plethora of molehills shows there's a healthy population under my feet! Broke my record with 11 Common Lizards (at least) inc 3+young from this year. A Common Toad was seen.
I had my first Hornet here for the year, seen near where the Hornets nest was a few years ago. Lots of Four-spotted Orb-weaver Spiders. A Vapourer moth was nice to see. Southern Hawker, Brown Hawker, Black Darter and Common Darter were seen. Just a Red Admiral to add to yesterdays butterflies.
**
John Williams said
Sun Sep 13 4:34 PM, 2020
Burtonwood (Cheshire) 11.30-14.30
Sankey Valley Trail Causey Bridge to Newton Brook.
Then along paths from Alder Lane to Dial Post Farm and return via Causeway Bridge Farm and alongside Sankey Brook.
Dragonflies : 1 Southern Hawker, 2 Brown Hawkers and 3 Migrant Hawkers.
Common Darters still numerous throughout. All hawkers seen along the Sankey Valley Trail.
Butterflies : 6 each of Painted Lady, Red Admiral and Comma, and all seen around areas of bramble blossom.
Also 3 Small Tortoiseshells, a few Small White and lots of Large Whites.
A single Silver Y moth was another visitor to the bramble flowers.
Doc Brewster said
Sat Sep 12 5:41 PM, 2020
A morning walk on my Newchurch Common Patch, sunny and warm.
My target species were seen in the shape of a Grass Snake and 7 Common Lizards on the mosses.
Surprisingly poor for butterflies with only Small Copper, Large White and Small White seen. Similarly few species of odonata were seen, just 1 Migrant Hawker, 4 Common Darters and at least 12 Black Darters. The latter species seemingly having had a hatch and several individuals were males and a pair were seen 'in cop'.
A new species for my patch was recorded on Abbot's Moss, the Swamp Crab Spider Xysticus ulmi.
**
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Saturday 12th of September 2020 05:41:36 PM
Doc Brewster said
Fri Sep 11 10:43 PM, 2020
An afternoon walk on my Newchucrh Common Patch, warm and dry but overcast.
On the mosses 3 Common Lizards and a Common Frog were seen. Butterflies recorded were Small Copper, Red Admiral, Comma, Small White, Green-veined White and Speckled Wood. Odonata were a Brown Hawker, 3 Common Darters, a male Black Darter and Common Blue Damselflies.
A Common Nettle Tap Moth was seen as well as a Green Shieldbug nymph.
**
John Williams said
Tue Sep 8 8:05 PM, 2020
Tatton Park 10.00-14.00
Numerous Migrant Hawker dragonflies along the edge of Tatton Mere, also 3 Brown Hawkers there too.
Common Darters most numerous around the northern end of the park and the swampy bits alongside Melchett Mere.
Small White butterflies plentiful along the edge of Tatton Mere, although they appear to be easy pickings for the numerous
large spiders that have their webs covering the areas of tallish sedge. After walking through such an area I emerged with
half a dozen Garden Spiders and "Aranus quadratus" arachnids attached to me. The latter species are especially colourful,
and well worth checking out, I witnessed one catching and processing a Small White butterfly, truly gruesome.
Singles of Small Tortoiseshell and Small Copper butterflies were also seen, together with a couple of Silver Y moths, and a
Two Spotted ladybird.
Doc Brewster said
Sat Sep 5 5:17 PM, 2020
A walk on my Newchurch patch am, mild and dull with sunny intervals.
The only reptiles were 2 Common Lizards, in seperate areas.
Odonata included a Migrant Hawker, 4 Black Darters (going over), a Common Darter and several Common Blue Damselflies.
Butterflies were Peacock, Comma, Speckled Wood, Small White, Large White and Green-veined White.
A Flesh Fly (Sarcophagia sp.)was photographed as well as a new fly species for my patch - Awkward Clusterfly (Pollenia rudis).
Brown Birch Bolete Fungus was on the mosses too.
**
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Saturday 5th of September 2020 05:23:43 PM
Doc Brewster said
Tue Sep 1 7:44 PM, 2020
Warm and sunny so back this morning onto my Newchurch area patch for photography.
In one small area that I have discovered recently I had at least 8 Common Lizards and 2 Grass Snakes!
Elsewhere c.10 Black Darters, a Ruddy Darter, 5 Common Darters a Brown Hawker and a Southern Hawker.
Butterflies were scarcer; Large White, Small White, Speckled Wood, Small Tortoiseshell, Red Admiral and Comma. Lots of Silver-Y moths again.
Had a Tetragnatha extensa Long-jawed Orb-Weaver spider.
A dead Common Shrew was also recorded!
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Tuesday 1st of September 2020 07:52:34 PM
Doc Brewster said
Mon Aug 31 3:11 PM, 2020
A fabulous morning walk again on my patch Newchurch Common and adjacent Mosslands. Very cold when I started out but I finished in warm sunshine
A massive highlight was a new moth species and a rarity in Cheshire to boot, Lunar Hornet (Clearwing) Moth, initially I did think that I had a Hornet (which I haven't seen on patch this year), but on closer inspection (I love Hornets so always try to get up close to them!) I discovered it was this species of clearwing moth. Previously one of my mothing pals had said he though some oval holes in stumps neaby were emergence holes for this species - well this has proved he was correct! There were at least 18 Silver-Y moths too, an amazing number and just in one samll area of my patch too.
It was a very good reptile day too as I hit the temperatures warming everything up just perfectly. I had 4 Common Lizards in one basking area and then on the way back a Grass Snake was on it too. In an area I have surveyed before I had a Palmate Newt and 2 medium sized Common Toads.
Butterflies recorded were Peacock, Comma, Red Admiral, Large White, Small White and Speckled Wood. 30 Black Darters were seen along with 6 Common Darters and a Brown Hawker.
A nice yound specimen of Four-spotted Orb Weaver Spider was found along with Cross Orb Weaver Spiders. Lots of wasp-mimic Sericomyia silentis hoverflies were on the wing. A Devil's Coach-horse Beetle and a queen Buff-tailed Bumblebee completed the list of noted species.
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Monday 31st of August 2020 03:30:01 PM
Jeff Gorse said
Mon Aug 31 2:18 PM, 2020
A brief visit to Rixton Claypits and departed before it had warmed up too much but plenty of common darter throughout, also 1 x emerald damsel and some four-spotted orb weaver spiders but my highlight was this magnificent poplar hawkmoth caterpillar
After a break at least 15 years off moth trapping I was generously given a brand new trap by a mate and started my garden moth trapping survey on Aug 1st this year. It's been brilliant getting up very early to sort through my nights catch, and to identify and release the moths, all before breakfast! Rather than post a daily digest here I resisted but last night I caught a Cheshire Rarity and feel so chuffed I wanted to post here
The moth in question is the Small Ranunculus (Hecatera dysodea), a species that probably went extinct in the UK but then slowly recolonised starting in Kent. It has now spread north and more reports are being gathered. There are only 49 documented records for Cheshire and weirdly (given the fact that they are increasing) in 2019 none were reported. A picture is attached.
To summarise the figures so far, just to show how numerous moths are: I have been trapping for 20 nights, totals so far are 1350 moths caught and released and 57 species of macro moths caught. Given that my back garden, where I trap, is tiny and surrounded on all sides by houses, and that we are in the centre of the village, I am amazed. Added to that I use a very low power Actinic trap (the blacklight kind not mercury vapour which catches lots more moths), which will be less invasive for any neighbours.
The Small Ranunculus is being kept at a low temperature and will be released in more safety at dusk, so if anyone did want to see it just inbox me!!
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Friday 21st of August 2020 02:23:54 PM
Poor for butterflies but good for odonata, for unknown reasons!
Lots of Migrant Hawkers were seen ( 2nd pic attached) as well as Brown Hawkers (1st pic attached) and an Emperor. Both Ruddy Darter and Common Darter were present. Red-eyed Damselfly, Common Blue Damselfly and Blue-tailed Damselfly were seen.
Butterflies recorded were Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper, Speckled Wood, Large White, Small White, Green-veined White and Small Tortoiseshell.
A new moth here was a Vapourer whilst a Straw Dot was also seen.
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Thursday 20th of August 2020 10:59:15 PM
12 species of butterflies, noteworthy were a Holly Blue, a Red Admiral (first this week) and a Purple Hairstreak in another new oak. This makes 15 butterfly species seen this week
Andy Bissitt said
Tue Aug 11 10:08 PM, 2020
A dark-green fritillary was in my brother's garden in Disley this evening.
Doc Brewster said
Tue Aug 11 9:06 PM, 2020
Newchurch Common - predictably given the sunshine there were 13 species of butterfly including Purple Hairstreak still.
A new odonata species for the year - Migrant Hawker, otherwise the same as usual.
John Williams said
Mon Aug 10 6:28 PM, 2020
09.00-15.00
White Coppice area (Lancs)
Walked along Black Brook, across Great Hill, then over Wheelton Moor towards Brinscall, and returned via
the path along the edge of the moor to White Coppice.
Butterflies : Gatekeepers and Small Heaths numerous, surprised to see so many Gatekeepers around areas of bracken, I'm
used to just finding them close to bramble thickets.
Also seen 4 Meadow Browns, 2 Speckled Woods (Near beech copse), 4 Peacocks and 1 Small Copper.
The only odenata species seen were a couple of Brown Hawkers chasing each other along Black Brook.
A Plain Golden Y moth was on bracken near Wheelton Plantation, 3 Silver Y moths were also seen on the moor,
and a single 4 Dotted Footman was accidently flushed by the small beech wood.
Doc Brewster said
Mon Aug 10 4:27 PM, 2020
Not much on Newchurch am, sunny & warm.
Was fascinated to watch tiny lumps of detritus move around on tree leaves. A bit of investigation and they are colloquially known as 'Junk Bugs' but are in fact Green Lacewing larvae. They cover themselves in the uneaten exoskeletons of previous prey to camoflage themselves!! You learn something new ebery trip! Piccy attached.
Also Green Shield Bug; new adult plus nymph.
Same butterflies and odonata as yesterday give or take a few.
Thanks for this suggestion David about Colletes species. It seems very likely to be what I saw considering their flight season and so on. To Mike's point, I am just delighted to have seen such a thing in the first place and next time I hope I can give myself a better chance to try and ID them properly.
David Walsh said
Mon Aug 10 7:52 AM, 2020
Simon Gough wrote: The thing I saw that I cannot identify, based on some impatient work on google, is a species of bee that was swarming around in the dozens at one spot. They were small and very busy zipping around lots of burrows along the edge of a mud path coming down the hill towards the reservoir. They were quite dull in colour, sandy-grey in tone on the bits that weren't quite dark grey, if not black. I hope something that someone will be able to ID from that rudimentary description. I didn't take a photo which was probably a bit stupid, but I had assumed it would be easier to find an ID online to be honest. The most notable thing was probably their size, I can't recall seeing a bee before that was significantly smaller than a common honey bee. I did wonder about Ashy Mining Bee but they seem to fly earlier in the season than August.
If anyone has any thoughts would be great to hear them.
Simon,
I am no expert, but it sounds like a possible Colletes sp., otherwise known as Plasterer bees.
If there is moorland nearby, then Colletes succinctus, The Heather Plasterer, could be an option. They are very common around moorland edges.
Doc Brewster said
Sun Aug 9 11:15 PM, 2020
My Newchurch area patch (locations and some species now withheld):
Purple Hairstreak, Brimstone, Small Tortoiseshell, Small Copper, Peacock, Small White, Green-veined White, Large White, Speckled Wood, Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper and Common Blue.
Common Blue Damselfly,Red-eyed Damselfly, Brown Hawker, Common Darter, Black Darter.
Micromoths: Diamond-backed Moth, Udea lutealis & orange & white tortix Celypha rivulana. Also Silver-Y Moth.
The Brown Heath Robberfly Machimus cingulatus.
Common Frog, Common Toad, Common Lizard (3).
Yellow Stagshorn Fungus.
Also in Cheshire - Long-winged Conehead cricket.
Also in Cheshire double Figures of Six-belted Clearwing Moths andBordered Beauty Moth.
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Monday 10th of August 2020 04:18:37 PM
Mike Chorley said
Sat Aug 8 9:08 PM, 2020
Hi Simon
The Mason bees I saw were all around burrows too so that might not matter; unless my brain flipped Mining and Mason in the short time it took to walk from where I was chatting to the two experienced guys who told about them and the actual site. I don't know enough either to be sure, but I do remember that they said they were males waiting for the females to emerge. Yes, certainly an interesting sight, which most people were walking past without even noticing, despite them being right next to the main path around the reservoir.
Tony Koziol said
Sat Aug 8 3:53 PM, 2020
Shropshire:Whilst out angling
One Grass Snake swam past, very welcome.
Field Vole, only one at any one time but over a dozen sightings.
Banded Demoiselle, Brown Hawker and Common Blue Damselfly again lots of sightings but never more than one at a time.
Simon Gough said
Sat Aug 8 12:59 PM, 2020
Mike Chorley wrote:
Hi Simon. The description of the behaviour sounds like the Solitary Mason Bees I watched at Dove Stones a week ago. The guys who told me about them said something about them being late. Maybe weather related?
Hi Mike, thanks for the suggestion. I'm not sure about Mason Bees given they were using earth burrows rather than something they constructed. Burrows sounds more like Mining Bees, but to be fair if I knew what I was doing I probably wouldn't have asked in the first place! The point about late emergence is interesting though. In any event a great little bit of nature to enjoy.
Doc Brewster said
Fri Aug 7 10:09 PM, 2020
Please note that as per my post on the Newchurch thread that Abbot's Moss is strictly permit ONLY. I can take people on but please anyone else do not go on here without a permit. I may be told to not post any further sightings from the mosses from my survey work by CWT if unauthorised visits are publicised on this Forum, sorry.
So Please PM me on here & I will arrange a visit when we can
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Friday 7th of August 2020 10:27:31 PM
Andy Bissitt said
Fri Aug 7 9:39 PM, 2020
Hi-jacked the Doc's local patch (Newchurch Common) for the day, mainly to try and connect with the superb bog bush-cricket, and it did not disappoint. Pretty easy to see once you got your eye in and, despite their small size, still spectacular in their own way. Other insects seen pretty much as seen by the Doc recently, but with even more black darters (20+). Also a couple of common darter, c8 brown hawkers, 1 emerald damselfly, many red-eyed damsels and plenty of common ones too. I thought the two species of sheildbugs I found might be interesting, but on checking they appear to be Summer generation of gorse shieldbug (different from the Spring generation), and a nymph spiked shieldbug. Best find was probably a conops sp. fly, which is maybe flavipes. Further scrutiny required.
Hi Simon. The description of the behaviour sounds like the Solitary Mason Bees I watched at Dove Stones a week ago. The guys who told me about them said something about them being late. Maybe weather related?
Simon Gough said
Fri Aug 7 5:47 PM, 2020
Had a walk around Errwood Hall and up to Shining Tor today, first time I've been up there. Saw lots of butterflies when the sun was out, mainly Gatekeepers and Meadow Browns, also some Small Heaths and a smattering of Peacocks, Red Admiral, Large Skipper.
The thing I saw that I cannot identify, based on some impatient work on google, is a species of bee that was swarming around in the dozens at one spot. They were small and very busy zipping around lots of burrows along the edge of a mud path coming down the hill towards the reservoir. They were quite dull in colour, sandy-grey in tone on the bits that weren't quite dark grey, if not black. I hope something that someone will be able to ID from that rudimentary description. I didn't take a photo which was probably a bit stupid, but I had assumed it would be easier to find an ID online to be honest. The most notable thing was probably their size, I can't recall seeing a bee before that was significantly smaller than a common honey bee. I did wonder about Ashy Mining Bee but they seem to fly earlier in the season than August.
If anyone has any thoughts would be great to hear them.
Mark Jarrett said
Fri Aug 7 5:17 PM, 2020
Anderton Dragonfly Pond, early afternoon:-
Emperor Dragonfly Brown Hawker Common Darter Common Blue Damselfly Blue-tailed Damselfly Red-eyed Damselfly
Tetton Lane Pool, Warmingham, mid afternoon:-
Small Red-eyed Damselfly. Saw around eight of these damselflies at this nice little pond, south of Middlewich. Its range appears to be rapidly expanding since first being noted in England in 1999.
Neumanns Flash & Marbury Country Park (10.00-14.00)
Butterflies : Gatekeepers noticeably abundant througout, especially near brambles.
Meadow Browns still plentiful too. A patch of knapweed on Dairyhouse Meadow attracted a single Common Blue and 4 Peacocks.
The wildflower area by the Haydn Pool also produced a few Peacocks, plus 1 Ringlet, 1 Green Veined White, 1 Red Admiral and 1 Comma.
At least 10 Brown Hawker dragonflies were seen around the area, and a pair of Common Darters rested on fencing at Neumanns.
A couple of Common Green Shield Bug nymphs were on nettles by Budworth Mere.
John O'Neill said
Tue Aug 4 10:11 AM, 2020
Gatewarth
03/08/20 8.30pm
Young Fox patrolling the far Riverbank agitating the flocks of Canad Geese
John Williams said
Sat Aug 1 1:18 AM, 2020
31.07.2020 17.00-20.30
Neumanns Flash : 1 Brown Hawker dragonfly, whilst 2 Common Darters were by the bench overlooking Ashtons Flash.
The only butterfly seen Neumanns was a single Large White, which was by the mound, where a single Common Carpet moth was also noted.
Marbury Country Park : A group of Buff Tip moth caterpillars were gorging on oak foliage near the childrens play area.
The only butterfly seen at MCP was a single Meadow Brown, seen around the pond alongside Big Wood.
Doc Brewster said
Fri Jul 31 10:20 PM, 2020
A morning walk, started before 8am due to the forecast very high temperatures!! This did in fact happen, it got very sunny and very hot, very quickly!!
Some real highlights again though despite and some because of the sun! Firstly my first Great Crested Newt for around 4 years here, one found under a log in a damp woodland area. Not far away 2 Palmate Newts were found too, both again under logs. These were my first Palmates on my patch, they were expected due to the acid pools, but always nice to get them and 'complete' the set of newts here! In the same area a Violet Ground Beetle Carabus violaceus (usually get Carabus problematicus here) was found as well as a black carabid Abax parallelepipedus. The former was new for patch, the latter I find annually. Again under the same logs Black Slug, Arion ater agg. was added for the year.
Odonata were good again with my first (male) Emperor of the year and second (male) Banded Demoiselle, the former on Small Pool the latter on Big Pool. Also had Southern Hawker, Brown Hawker, Red-eyed Damselfly, Common Blue Damselfly and Blue-tailed Damselfly. That meant 12 species in my last 2 days/visits!
Butterflies were again out in force, the best being a Purple Hairstreak in a new oak, that's three different oaks I've had them in this year, this one was by the main track quite a distance from the others. The 9 other species seen were regular ones: Red Admiral, Comma, Peacock (inc 9 together in a small area of thistles), Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown, Speckled Wood, Large White, Small White and Green-veined White. Also had a new moth for the year Ermine agg. - Yponomeuta agg.
Aninteresting addition was Perch to the fish species, two were seen in the shallows of Small Pool.
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Friday 31st of July 2020 10:36:19 PM
Doc Brewster said
Thu Jul 30 10:43 PM, 2020
Had an afternoon walk in hot bright sunshine today concentrating on the mosslands.
Fantastic highlight was up to 7 Bog Bush Crickets which are a real scarcity, probably rarity, in Cheshire. They were pretty active in the sun but seen well and one even jumped onto my arm! Got a piccy too (attached), what a beast! Another highlight was a new moth for my patch, again on Abbot's Moss - Chevron, again photographed. Another Beautiful Yellow Underwing moth was seen but again eluded me for a picture.
3 Common Lizards were seen along with numerous Toadlets.
10+Black Darters were seen on Abbot's Moss including black males today rather than females and tenerals as previously. A female Ruddy Darter was on Shemmy Moss. A very worn Four-spotted Chaser was on Abbot's Moss as well as a few Common Darters. Brown Hawkers and Common Blue Damselflies were numerous. A single male Emerald Damselfly was on Abbot's Moss. Large numbers of Red-eyed Damselflies were on Sandiway Small Pool. Southern Hawker dragonflies were by Small Pool and by Shemmy Moss, 3 being seen in total. Making 9 species of odonata, my best day total this year.
A total of 11 species of butterfly were seen, 10 over on the mosslands. The mosslands sightings were : Comma, Red Admiral, Peacock, Large White, SmallWhite, Green-veined White, Small Copper, Speckled Wood, Meadow Brown and Gatekeeper. In addition a Holly Blue was by Small Pool.
South Gare Breakwater, Cleveland:
I barely believe that I am typing this, possibly my best sighting of this year, and most other years to boot! As I was seawtching today (25th Oct 2020) I noticed a flock of large gulls dipping down over the sea mobbing something so instinctively turned my scope to that area. As I did I wasn't exactly sure what I was looking at,certainly nothing that I had ever seen before! So I cranked the zoom up a little and there was a reptilian head poking up out of the waves and a ridged back behind it, a really large creature moving slowly along with the stream of gulls in tow. Unbelievably I was watching a turtle, here in the North Sea As I watched the turtle slowly, majestically sank beneath the suface and disappeared from view, escaping the attention of the harranging gull flock. I then watched the area for a good 20 minutes but no further sign, turtles can dive deep and for long periods so it was more in hope than expectation that I continued my search.
Not having much turtle knowledge at my fingertips I wasn't 100% on species ID but I had inklings that it may be a particular species and once home my research revealed that it was the one I had thought, the commonest one in the North Sea (although still extremely rare) and that pictures and videos fitted what I had seen absolutely perfectly, it was a Leatherback Turtle. To say that this was unexpected would be an understatement and it eclipsed the lifer Stejneger's Stonechat that I had just been watching. On site I hastily found other birders to relay my sighting too, knowing that it is a birders nature to be cynical about sightings I never expected thenm to be as excited as me, but I had to tell someone. I also rang Chris at RBA and chatted to him regarding the sighting. I had plans to do other sites after South Gare and had plenty of time but this had just blown me away so much that I decided to head home, almost shaking with excitement at what had happened. This really was a sighting of a lifetime, what a day
A single Common Darter dragonfly was seen flying around a bramble patch.
To quote Tom Jones - It's not unusual New queens hatch in Autumn and then hibernate over winter to emerge and start a new nest in Spring
At my Newchurch patch pm, rain, sun and dull bits all intermingled!
A new moth was added to the patch list in the birch woods next to Big Pool - a male Mottle Umber (pic 2). A male Vapourer moth was near the oaks east of Big Pool. A Speckled Wood was seen too, by the entrance track.
A new fungus for me ever was a Blackening Waxcap in the meadow near Big Pool Island Cut (pic 1).
3 Migrant Hawker dragonflies near the bench overlooking Ashtons Flash.
1 Peacock Butterfly by Neumanns Flash.
1 Red Admiral and 1 Comma butterflies attracted to Ivy flowers on Dairyhouse Meadow.
Another morning at Newchurch, sunny today though.
The sun had an effect with a late male Common Darter dragonfly.
An Enoplognatha latimana Comb-footed Spider was on Abbot's Moss.
Lots of fungi again with some new ones IDed. White Saddle (Helvella crispa) was near Small Pool. The minute Grass Oysterling (Crepidotus epibryus) was near Big Pool. A Shaggy Inkcap was by Abbot's Moss. An Iodine Bonnet (Mycena filopes) and several False Chantarelles (Hygrophoropsis aurantiaca) were by Gull Pool. A revised cound of Collared Earthstars revealed 9 today!
Pixie Cup lichen (Cladonia chlorophaea) was on Abbot's Moss. Lots of Bittersweet (Nightshade) was near Shemmy Moss adorned with gorgeous red, poisonous berries.
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Wednesday 7th of October 2020 11:08:34 PM
Had a walk on Newchurch Common and surrounds today in wet, dull eather with occasional sunny spells.
I found Smooth Newt and Common Toad under logs in one wet area. In the same location was a Carabus violaceous Violet Ground Beetle.
Lots of fungi were seen, photos were taken and I'm still IDing them now. Ones that I have IDed are Collared Earthstar, a nice group of 7 were found by Shemmy Moss (picture attached) Then the following 5 species were all by Gull Pool, namely Mycena cornephora on moss on a tree, Brown Birch Bolete, Common Earthball, Tawny Grisette and Glistening Inkcap Coprinellus micaceus.
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Tuesday 6th of October 2020 11:19:38 PM
Just found a Peppered moth caterpillar on my roses, which is a garden first here.
Cold and autumnal at my patch, Newchurch Common, but still a few non-birdy things of note.
A new fly species for the recording area was found, Phaonia subventa, which is in the House Fly family but with a bright orange abdomen and striped grey thorax and red eyes. It was nectaring on ivy flowers north of Big Pool in the company of hordes of Commmon Wasps.
In autumn I look especially for fungi and saw a few today. These included The Deceiver in the meadows east of Big Pool. Also I found the small white Inocybe geophylla in the birch woodland near Big Pool Island Cut. The tiny discoid, white fungus Polydesmia pruinosa was found on dead wood near Big Pool island Cut as was the slime mould that looks like a fungus : Wolf's Milk Slime Mould.
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Saturday 3rd of October 2020 10:05:27 PM
A very much alive Hedgehog was on my front lawn last night, when even the sad remains of squashed ones on local roads has
become a rare sight in recent times. The nearby Sankey Valley Park still contains large areas of woodland and scrub that are
well away from busy roads thankfully, plus traffic has been lighter on local roads during the pandemic, so hopefully I'll get more
nocturnal visits from our little friends.
observatory.When I arrjved the warden immediately
put me onto a Humming Bird Hawk moth on the
buddleia
On Newchurch Common this afternoon, warm with sunny intervals.
One interesting find was a Hedgehog dropping - my first proof of the species on patch.
A new spider was found by Small Pool - male and female Lesser Garden Spider (Metallina segmentata). Only Small Whites were seen. Migrant Hawker and Common Darter were seen.
Fly Agaric fungi were found as well as Birch Milkcap.
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Wednesday 23rd of September 2020 03:16:28 PM
Butterflies : Speckled Woods still numerous in the woodlands, they seem to be very much attracted by ivy.
2 Peacocks also seen.
Dragonflies : 1 Southern Hawker seen near Pumphouse Pool, Common Darters encountered in small numbers throughout.
A text had me heading to Elton Hall Flash, Sandbach this afternoon to meet a patch regular there. He lives just over the border in Staffs and had caught a mega moth overnight. He kindly brought it up to show it to us all. It was a Clifden Nonpareil (or Blue Underwing) which was a lifer moth for me. A huge, impressive beast and so far none caught in Cheshire this year, but at 0.5mls over the border this is the closest yet. He allowed photos but inside his van (didn't want to lose it, who can blame him!) under artificial light, hence the strange lighting on my picture attached.
Surprise find was a fine male Ruddy Darter resting on the grass by the bench overlooking Ashtons Flash, this is around
a month late when compared with other records of ths species in the area.
A couple of Southern Hawkers patrolled the birch scrub, and small numbers of Common Darters were to seen throughout.
The only butterflies seen were a few Large Whites.
A morning walk on my Newchurch Common Patch, warm & sunny.
A dead Mole was my first sighting of one here although the plethora of molehills shows there's a healthy population under my feet! Broke my record with 11 Common Lizards (at least) inc 3+young from this year. A Common Toad was seen.
I had my first Hornet here for the year, seen near where the Hornets nest was a few years ago. Lots of Four-spotted Orb-weaver Spiders. A Vapourer moth was nice to see. Southern Hawker, Brown Hawker, Black Darter and Common Darter were seen. Just a Red Admiral to add to yesterdays butterflies.
**
Sankey Valley Trail Causey Bridge to Newton Brook.
Then along paths from Alder Lane to Dial Post Farm and return via Causeway Bridge Farm and alongside Sankey Brook.
Dragonflies : 1 Southern Hawker, 2 Brown Hawkers and 3 Migrant Hawkers.
Common Darters still numerous throughout. All hawkers seen along the Sankey Valley Trail.
Butterflies : 6 each of Painted Lady, Red Admiral and Comma, and all seen around areas of bramble blossom.
Also 3 Small Tortoiseshells, a few Small White and lots of Large Whites.
A single Silver Y moth was another visitor to the bramble flowers.
A morning walk on my Newchurch Common Patch, sunny and warm.
My target species were seen in the shape of a Grass Snake and 7 Common Lizards on the mosses.
Surprisingly poor for butterflies with only Small Copper, Large White and Small White seen. Similarly few species of odonata were seen, just 1 Migrant Hawker, 4 Common Darters and at least 12 Black Darters. The latter species seemingly having had a hatch and several individuals were males and a pair were seen 'in cop'.
A new species for my patch was recorded on Abbot's Moss, the Swamp Crab Spider Xysticus ulmi.
**
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Saturday 12th of September 2020 05:41:36 PM
An afternoon walk on my Newchucrh Common Patch, warm and dry but overcast.
On the mosses 3 Common Lizards and a Common Frog were seen. Butterflies recorded were Small Copper, Red Admiral, Comma, Small White, Green-veined White and Speckled Wood. Odonata were a Brown Hawker, 3 Common Darters, a male Black Darter and Common Blue Damselflies.
A Common Nettle Tap Moth was seen as well as a Green Shieldbug nymph.
**
Numerous Migrant Hawker dragonflies along the edge of Tatton Mere, also 3 Brown Hawkers there too.
Common Darters most numerous around the northern end of the park and the swampy bits alongside Melchett Mere.
Small White butterflies plentiful along the edge of Tatton Mere, although they appear to be easy pickings for the numerous
large spiders that have their webs covering the areas of tallish sedge. After walking through such an area I emerged with
half a dozen Garden Spiders and "Aranus quadratus" arachnids attached to me. The latter species are especially colourful,
and well worth checking out, I witnessed one catching and processing a Small White butterfly, truly gruesome.
Singles of Small Tortoiseshell and Small Copper butterflies were also seen, together with a couple of Silver Y moths, and a
Two Spotted ladybird.
A walk on my Newchurch patch am, mild and dull with sunny intervals.
The only reptiles were 2 Common Lizards, in seperate areas.
Odonata included a Migrant Hawker, 4 Black Darters (going over), a Common Darter and several Common Blue Damselflies.
Butterflies were Peacock, Comma, Speckled Wood, Small White, Large White and Green-veined White.
A Flesh Fly (Sarcophagia sp.)was photographed as well as a new fly species for my patch - Awkward Clusterfly (Pollenia rudis).
Brown Birch Bolete Fungus was on the mosses too.
**
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Saturday 5th of September 2020 05:23:43 PM
Warm and sunny so back this morning onto my Newchurch area patch for photography.
In one small area that I have discovered recently I had at least 8 Common Lizards and 2 Grass Snakes!
Elsewhere c.10 Black Darters, a Ruddy Darter, 5 Common Darters a Brown Hawker and a Southern Hawker.
Butterflies were scarcer; Large White, Small White, Speckled Wood, Small Tortoiseshell, Red Admiral and Comma. Lots of Silver-Y moths again.
Had a Tetragnatha extensa Long-jawed Orb-Weaver spider.
A dead Common Shrew was also recorded!
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Tuesday 1st of September 2020 07:52:34 PM
A fabulous morning walk again on my patch Newchurch Common and adjacent Mosslands. Very cold when I started out but I finished in warm sunshine
A massive highlight was a new moth species and a rarity in Cheshire to boot, Lunar Hornet (Clearwing) Moth, initially I did think that I had a Hornet (which I haven't seen on patch this year), but on closer inspection (I love Hornets so always try to get up close to them!) I discovered it was this species of clearwing moth. Previously one of my mothing pals had said he though some oval holes in stumps neaby were emergence holes for this species - well this has proved he was correct! There were at least 18 Silver-Y moths too, an amazing number and just in one samll area of my patch too.
It was a very good reptile day too as I hit the temperatures warming everything up just perfectly. I had 4 Common Lizards in one basking area and then on the way back a Grass Snake was on it too. In an area I have surveyed before I had a Palmate Newt and 2 medium sized Common Toads.
Butterflies recorded were Peacock, Comma, Red Admiral, Large White, Small White and Speckled Wood. 30 Black Darters were seen along with 6 Common Darters and a Brown Hawker.
A nice yound specimen of Four-spotted Orb Weaver Spider was found along with Cross Orb Weaver Spiders. Lots of wasp-mimic Sericomyia silentis hoverflies were on the wing. A Devil's Coach-horse Beetle and a queen Buff-tailed Bumblebee completed the list of noted species.
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Monday 31st of August 2020 03:30:01 PM
A brief visit to Rixton Claypits and departed before it had warmed up too much but plenty of common darter throughout, also 1 x emerald damsel and some four-spotted orb weaver spiders but my highlight was this magnificent poplar hawkmoth caterpillar
After a break at least 15 years off moth trapping I was generously given a brand new trap by a mate and started my garden moth trapping survey on Aug 1st this year. It's been brilliant getting up very early to sort through my nights catch, and to identify and release the moths, all before breakfast! Rather than post a daily digest here I resisted but last night I caught a Cheshire Rarity and feel so chuffed I wanted to post here
The moth in question is the Small Ranunculus (Hecatera dysodea), a species that probably went extinct in the UK but then slowly recolonised starting in Kent. It has now spread north and more reports are being gathered. There are only 49 documented records for Cheshire and weirdly (given the fact that they are increasing) in 2019 none were reported. A picture is attached.
To summarise the figures so far, just to show how numerous moths are: I have been trapping for 20 nights, totals so far are 1350 moths caught and released and 57 species of macro moths caught. Given that my back garden, where I trap, is tiny and surrounded on all sides by houses, and that we are in the centre of the village, I am amazed. Added to that I use a very low power Actinic trap (the blacklight kind not mercury vapour which catches lots more moths), which will be less invasive for any neighbours.
The Small Ranunculus is being kept at a low temperature and will be released in more safety at dusk, so if anyone did want to see it just inbox me!!
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Friday 21st of August 2020 02:23:54 PM
Sunny and breezy at Newchurch Common am.
Poor for butterflies but good for odonata, for unknown reasons!
Lots of Migrant Hawkers were seen ( 2nd pic attached) as well as Brown Hawkers (1st pic attached) and an Emperor. Both Ruddy Darter and Common Darter were present. Red-eyed Damselfly, Common Blue Damselfly and Blue-tailed Damselfly were seen.
Butterflies recorded were Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper, Speckled Wood, Large White, Small White, Green-veined White and Small Tortoiseshell.
A new moth here was a Vapourer whilst a Straw Dot was also seen.
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Thursday 20th of August 2020 10:59:15 PM
Reptiles : 2 Common Lizards
Butterflies : Small Coppers and Small Tortoiseshells abundant. Several Gatekeepers and Meadow Browns were seen alongside the trails.
4 Speckled Woods were in the shaded areas. One of the Meadow Browns looked very ashen, almost light grey in colour.
Moths : 1 Beautiful Golden Y, 2 Brown Silver Lines and a very battered looking Large Yellow Underwing.
Odonata : Black Darters in abundance, I held out my arm and one rested on my hand for a few moments, something they've previously
done at Risley Moss too. 5 Common Hawkers were around the mossland pools, and a single Brown Hawker patrolled close to the woods.
2 Common Blue Damselflies rested by a pool, then I noticed a small damselfly with a very noticeable metallic red/brown colouration to the
upper thorax and ruby red eyes, a Small Red Eyed Damselfly, and a first for me. Sadly I did'nt manage to get a photo, but apparently they
been recorded and photgraphed here over the last few days.
Short visit pm in hot sun.
12 species of butterflies, noteworthy were a Holly Blue, a Red Admiral (first this week) and a Purple Hairstreak in another new oak. This makes 15 butterfly species seen this week
A dark-green fritillary was in my brother's garden in Disley this evening.
Newchurch Common - predictably given the sunshine there were 13 species of butterfly including Purple Hairstreak still.
A new odonata species for the year - Migrant Hawker, otherwise the same as usual.
White Coppice area (Lancs)
Walked along Black Brook, across Great Hill, then over Wheelton Moor towards Brinscall, and returned via
the path along the edge of the moor to White Coppice.
Butterflies : Gatekeepers and Small Heaths numerous, surprised to see so many Gatekeepers around areas of bracken, I'm
used to just finding them close to bramble thickets.
Also seen 4 Meadow Browns, 2 Speckled Woods (Near beech copse), 4 Peacocks and 1 Small Copper.
The only odenata species seen were a couple of Brown Hawkers chasing each other along Black Brook.
A Plain Golden Y moth was on bracken near Wheelton Plantation, 3 Silver Y moths were also seen on the moor,
and a single 4 Dotted Footman was accidently flushed by the small beech wood.
Not much on Newchurch am, sunny & warm.
Was fascinated to watch tiny lumps of detritus move around on tree leaves. A bit of investigation and they are colloquially known as 'Junk Bugs' but are in fact Green Lacewing larvae. They cover themselves in the uneaten exoskeletons of previous prey to camoflage themselves!! You learn something new ebery trip! Piccy attached.
Also Green Shield Bug; new adult plus nymph.
Same butterflies and odonata as yesterday give or take a few.
Thanks for this suggestion David about Colletes species. It seems very likely to be what I saw considering their flight season and so on. To Mike's point, I am just delighted to have seen such a thing in the first place and next time I hope I can give myself a better chance to try and ID them properly.
My Newchurch area patch (locations and some species now withheld):
Purple Hairstreak, Brimstone, Small Tortoiseshell, Small Copper, Peacock, Small White, Green-veined White, Large White, Speckled Wood, Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper and Common Blue.
Common Blue Damselfly, Red-eyed Damselfly, Brown Hawker, Common Darter, Black Darter.
Micromoths: Diamond-backed Moth, Udea lutealis & orange & white tortix Celypha rivulana. Also Silver-Y Moth.
The Brown Heath Robberfly Machimus cingulatus.
Common Frog, Common Toad, Common Lizard (3).
Yellow Stagshorn Fungus.
Also in Cheshire - Long-winged Conehead cricket.
Also in Cheshire double Figures of Six-belted Clearwing Moths and Bordered Beauty Moth.
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Monday 10th of August 2020 04:18:37 PM
The Mason bees I saw were all around burrows too so that might not matter; unless my brain flipped Mining and Mason in the short time it took to walk from where I was chatting to the two experienced guys who told about them and the actual site. I don't know enough either to be sure, but I do remember that they said they were males waiting for the females to emerge. Yes, certainly an interesting sight, which most people were walking past without even noticing, despite them being right next to the main path around the reservoir.
Shropshire:Whilst out angling
One Grass Snake swam past, very welcome.
Field Vole, only one at any one time but over a dozen sightings.
Banded Demoiselle, Brown Hawker and Common Blue Damselfly again lots of sightings but never more than one at a time.
Hi Mike, thanks for the suggestion. I'm not sure about Mason Bees given they were using earth burrows rather than something they constructed. Burrows sounds more like Mining Bees, but to be fair if I knew what I was doing I probably wouldn't have asked in the first place! The point about late emergence is interesting though. In any event a great little bit of nature to enjoy.
Please note that as per my post on the Newchurch thread that Abbot's Moss is strictly permit ONLY. I can take people on but please anyone else do not go on here without a permit. I may be told to not post any further sightings from the mosses from my survey work by CWT if unauthorised visits are publicised on this Forum, sorry.
So Please PM me on here & I will arrange a visit when we can
https://www.cheshirewildlifetrust.org.uk/nature-reserves/abbots-moss
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Friday 7th of August 2020 10:27:31 PM
Hi-jacked the Doc's local patch (Newchurch Common) for the day, mainly to try and connect with the superb bog bush-cricket, and it did not disappoint. Pretty easy to see once you got your eye in and, despite their small size, still spectacular in their own way. Other insects seen pretty much as seen by the Doc recently, but with even more black darters (20+). Also a couple of common darter, c8 brown hawkers, 1 emerald damselfly, many red-eyed damsels and plenty of common ones too. I thought the two species of sheildbugs I found might be interesting, but on checking they appear to be Summer generation of gorse shieldbug (different from the Spring generation), and a nymph spiked shieldbug. Best find was probably a conops sp. fly, which is maybe flavipes. Further scrutiny required.
The thing I saw that I cannot identify, based on some impatient work on google, is a species of bee that was swarming around in the dozens at one spot. They were small and very busy zipping around lots of burrows along the edge of a mud path coming down the hill towards the reservoir. They were quite dull in colour, sandy-grey in tone on the bits that weren't quite dark grey, if not black. I hope something that someone will be able to ID from that rudimentary description. I didn't take a photo which was probably a bit stupid, but I had assumed it would be easier to find an ID online to be honest. The most notable thing was probably their size, I can't recall seeing a bee before that was significantly smaller than a common honey bee. I did wonder about Ashy Mining Bee but they seem to fly earlier in the season than August.
If anyone has any thoughts would be great to hear them.
Emperor Dragonfly
Brown Hawker
Common Darter
Common Blue Damselfly
Blue-tailed Damselfly
Red-eyed Damselfly
Tetton Lane Pool, Warmingham, mid afternoon:-
Small Red-eyed Damselfly. Saw around eight of these damselflies at this nice little pond, south of Middlewich. Its range appears to be rapidly expanding since first being noted in England in 1999.
Butterflies : Gatekeepers noticeably abundant througout, especially near brambles.
Meadow Browns still plentiful too. A patch of knapweed on Dairyhouse Meadow attracted a single Common Blue and 4 Peacocks.
The wildflower area by the Haydn Pool also produced a few Peacocks, plus 1 Ringlet, 1 Green Veined White, 1 Red Admiral and 1 Comma.
At least 10 Brown Hawker dragonflies were seen around the area, and a pair of Common Darters rested on fencing at Neumanns.
A couple of Common Green Shield Bug nymphs were on nettles by Budworth Mere.
03/08/20 8.30pm
Young Fox patrolling the far Riverbank agitating the flocks of Canad Geese
Neumanns Flash : 1 Brown Hawker dragonfly, whilst 2 Common Darters were by the bench overlooking Ashtons Flash.
The only butterfly seen Neumanns was a single Large White, which was by the mound, where a single Common Carpet moth was also noted.
Marbury Country Park : A group of Buff Tip moth caterpillars were gorging on oak foliage near the childrens play area.
The only butterfly seen at MCP was a single Meadow Brown, seen around the pond alongside Big Wood.
A morning walk, started before 8am due to the forecast very high temperatures!! This did in fact happen, it got very sunny and very hot, very quickly!!
Some real highlights again though despite and some because of the sun! Firstly my first Great Crested Newt for around 4 years here, one found under a log in a damp woodland area. Not far away 2 Palmate Newts were found too, both again under logs. These were my first Palmates on my patch, they were expected due to the acid pools, but always nice to get them and 'complete' the set of newts here! In the same area a Violet Ground Beetle Carabus violaceus (usually get Carabus problematicus here) was found as well as a black carabid Abax parallelepipedus. The former was new for patch, the latter I find annually. Again under the same logs Black Slug, Arion ater agg. was added for the year.
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Friday 31st of July 2020 10:36:19 PM
Had an afternoon walk in hot bright sunshine today concentrating on the mosslands.
Fantastic highlight was up to 7 Bog Bush Crickets which are a real scarcity, probably rarity, in Cheshire. They were pretty active in the sun but seen well and one even jumped onto my arm! Got a piccy too (attached), what a beast! Another highlight was a new moth for my patch, again on Abbot's Moss - Chevron, again photographed. Another Beautiful Yellow Underwing moth was seen but again eluded me for a picture.
3 Common Lizards were seen along with numerous Toadlets.
10+Black Darters were seen on Abbot's Moss including black males today rather than females and tenerals as previously. A female Ruddy Darter was on Shemmy Moss. A very worn Four-spotted Chaser was on Abbot's Moss as well as a few Common Darters. Brown Hawkers and Common Blue Damselflies were numerous. A single male Emerald Damselfly was on Abbot's Moss. Large numbers of Red-eyed Damselflies were on Sandiway Small Pool. Southern Hawker dragonflies were by Small Pool and by Shemmy Moss, 3 being seen in total. Making 9 species of odonata, my best day total this year.
A total of 11 species of butterfly were seen, 10 over on the mosslands. The mosslands sightings were : Comma, Red Admiral, Peacock, Large White, Small White, Green-veined White, Small Copper, Speckled Wood, Meadow Brown and Gatekeeper. In addition a Holly Blue was by Small Pool.