On my atypical Sunday visit to Newchucrh Patch the sun shone and it was very, very warm!
My first Green-veined White was near Big Pool, all other butterflies having been seen previously, but agood tally with Speckled Wood, Comma, Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell, Small White, Orange-tip and Green Hairstreak (3 on Shemmy Moss) making it an 8 butterfly species day. After the first sighting last Friday I had 3 newly emerged Large RedDamselflies today, all on the area on Shemmy Moss where I had seen the first. A White-tailed Bumblebee was seen.
Doc Brewster said
Fri Apr 17 9:32 PM, 2020
A walk to Newchurch in the sun again.
My first Large Red Damselfly of the year was a single, flighty one on Shemmy Moss. Still on Shemmy Moss at least 30 Green Hairstreaks were now flying. My first Speckled Wood here was also on Shemmy Moss. A male Brimstone was on Newchurch Common and male Orange-tips on Shemmy Moss. A nice Comma was at Newchurch Common near Big Pool. Peacocks and Small Whites were numerous across the whole area. An unusual colour variant Common Carder Bee was seen as well as Common Bee Wasp, Tawny Mining Bee and Honey Bee.
John Williams said
Fri Apr 17 3:40 PM, 2020
Morning cycle ride to Winwick. (AM)
Barrow Lane, Winwick : 1 Weasel and 6 Small Tortoiseshell butterflies.
I have previously found Small Tortoiseshells numerous here, much more so than Peacock butterflies, it is open
arable land and quite a distance from any woodland, apart from a few rather battered looking hedgerows.
Mark Jarrett said
Thu Apr 16 2:13 PM, 2020
Daily walk this morning around Neumanns Flash in Northwich produced this lovely Fox, sat in the sunshine. We watched each other for a couple of minutes, then it was off.
A walk from the horse paddocks again to the Newchurch area in Cheshire.
A cracking male Common Lizard, bejewelled with small green spots, a rarer colour form, basked in the sun on a path for ages whilst I stood montionless to watch.
Butterflies seen were several Green Hairstreaks still on Shemmy and Abbot's Mosses, several male and a female Orange-tip and lots and lots of Peacocks and Small Tortoiseshells. My first moth of 2020 was a Common Heath on Abbot's Moss.
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Wednesday 15th of April 2020 03:38:40 PM
John Williams said
Tue Apr 14 4:11 PM, 2020
Walk from my home in Callands (Warrington) to explore the farmland just North of the M62 at Burtonwood, and to the West
of Sankey Brook. Starting from 08.15am.
A large rabbit appeared by the path behind the units on the Gemini industrial estate at the same time as a weasel. Fortunately
for the rabbit, the little predator seemed more interested in watching me than viewing the potential for a large meal.
Peacock butterflies were seen in abundance, plenty of Small Tortoiseshells too, also 4 Orange Tips and 1 Green Veined White.
Dave Tennant said
Sun Apr 12 12:14 PM, 2020
Fox skulking across a newly sown field of barley. Little Scotland , Blackrod .
Doc Brewster said
Fri Apr 10 9:14 PM, 2020
Not a lot new at Newchurch Common today. Main news was a new fungus - Yellow Fieldcap Mushroom, a tiny, gorgeous addition
The invert highlight was 8 Green Hairstreak butterflies zipping about on Shemmy Moss. A good early date for this species here, the earliest date in the UK for 2020 was only a few days ago, on 5th April in Kent! Also on Shemmy Moss another new species for the year here, Green-veined White. The third new butterfly of the year was a male Orange-tip on garlic mustard on Sandy Lane. Other butterflies seen were Brimstone, Small Tortoiseshell and Peacock.
Another fabulous sighting was a Common Lizard, again on Shemmy Moss, the first of the year on patch, or anywhere for me.
Other invert sightings included a new insect on patch, Common Bee Wasp (a true bee) which is parasitic and was seen at the colony of its host species, which was alos there, Tawny Mining Bee. The first Alder Leaf Beetles of the year were also seen.
Doc Brewster said
Tue Apr 7 9:45 PM, 2020
At Newchurch Common in the sunshine this morning the best find was a male Holly Blue butterfly. Other butterflies were a male Brimstone, a couple of Small Tortoiseshells and lots of Peacocks.
White-tailed and Buff-tailed Bumblebees were seen.
Dave Tennant said
Sun Apr 5 1:16 PM, 2020
Large dog stoat , to the east of lead mines Clough.
Doc Brewster said
Sat Mar 28 4:49 PM, 2020
At Newchurch at the moment in the woodlands we found a small patch of brown cup fungi. On a bit of research and communication with 'Fungal Punk Dave' a top NW authority on fungi, it turns out that they are the locally scarce Vinegar Cup fungusHelvella acetabulum. Piccy attached
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Saturday 28th of March 2020 04:52:19 PM
Seen on morning walk along Sankey Valley trail and alongside nearby paths across farmland :
4 Peacock and 1 Brimstone butterflies.
Doc Brewster said
Tue Mar 24 9:53 PM, 2020
On Newchurch Common butterflies seen were 5 Peacocks, 2 Small Tortoiseshells, a male Brimstone and a Comma. Many Droneflies (hoverflies) were flying as well as Buff-tailed Bumblebees. A colony of Tawny Mining Bees was also noted.
John Williams said
Mon Mar 23 2:40 PM, 2020
Woolston Eyes
4 Small Tortoiseshell butterflies were noted on No 3 bed this morning.
John O'Neill said
Sun Mar 22 3:32 PM, 2020
Penketh
2 Comma Butterflies in our back garden in the sunshine
Doc Brewster said
Thu Mar 19 9:11 PM, 2020
Today at Burton Mere Wetlands RSPB - a Peacock Butterfly warming up on the boardwalk.
Doc Brewster said
Tue Mar 17 10:42 PM, 2020
My first butterfly today at Newchurch Common - a Small Tortoiseshell near the Pine Belt.
John Williams said
Sat Mar 7 10:49 PM, 2020
Moore Nature Reserve (Mid-afternoon)
A female Mottled Umber moth was walking along the woodwork at the Phoenix hide.
Odd looking creatures these flightless female moths.
John O'Neill said
Sat Feb 15 1:08 PM, 2020
Penketh
Despite all indications to the contrary, Frogs in our garden ponds clearly think Spring is here.
Lots of mating activity , calling etc. 12 or so pairs
John Williams said
Fri Nov 8 6:53 PM, 2019
Burton Mere Wetlands RSPB.
Despite today's chilly breeze, the sun brought out 4 Common Darter dragonflies,
a Common Wasp and several lacewings.
The dragonflies were all seen soaking up the sunlight on wooden fencing.
John Williams said
Sun Oct 27 4:54 PM, 2019
Risley Moss NR
Today's sunshine produced a single male Common Darter dragonfly using
the remains of the former tower as a place to bask.
Doc Brewster said
Thu Oct 10 3:48 PM, 2019
A walk today on Newchurch Common saw a few noteworthy sightings other than birds.
A 'first' for me here, albeit dead, was a Brown Rat. Also a first was a Running Crab Spider species (possibly Philodromus aureolus, but waiting for confirmation). The warm(ish) sun attracted out a butterfly species too - a Speckled Wood along the field margins near the Pine Belt.
John Williams said
Sun Sep 29 5:21 PM, 2019
Woolston Eyes No 3 Bed 10.00-13.30
Just before the heavy rain started a single Red Admiral butterfly was attracted to
Buddelia flowers, and 2 Migrant Hawker dragonflies patrolled the South bank.
A single Angle Shades moth rested on a grass path only moments before the heavens opened,
I'm unsure if it survived, but there was no sign of it when I returned to the spot shortly afterwards.
On another path a single Common Toad seemed perfectly happy with being drenched.
1 Common Frog, 1 Common Shrew (Deceased), 1 Green Veined White Butterfly
and 1 Migrant Hawker dragonfly.
Several moths were seen in flight despite the heavy showers, but none settled
long enough to get a proper ID.
One looked to be very similar to a Common White Wave the others appeared
to be very much like Mallow moths.
The body of a Common Wasp, or similar species, was found on a nettle leaf, and
it gave the impression that it had been eaten from the inside outwards, as there
was a small in the abdomen big enough for a creature the size of a garden ant to
emerge from.
John Williams said
Sun Sep 22 1:34 PM, 2019
Neumanns Flash 10.00-12.00
Butterflies : 3 Speckled Woods and 1 Comma.
Dragonflies : Lots of Migrant Hawkers and 2 Common Darters.
John Williams said
Fri Sep 20 4:26 PM, 2019
Neumanns Flash & Marbury Country Park 09.45-13.30
Butterlies : 3 Small Tortoishells, 5 Speckled Woods, 1 Green Veined White and 1 Large White.
Dragonflies : Numerous Migrant Hawkers, 5 Common Darters (4m+1f) and 1m Ruddy Darter.
Also seen was a parasitic wasp resembling "Aulacus Striatus", which was seen in front of the bench
overlooking Ashtons Flash.
Mike Chorley said
Wed Sep 18 11:29 PM, 2019
Family home, Maghull, Merseyside. Yesterday and today
Yesterday: Red Admiral 3 Comma 2 Large White 1 Small Tortoiseshell 1 Brown Hawker 1 (first one in 62 years!) Pipistrelle 1
Today: Red Admiral 5
Also a clump of Sulphur Tuft sticking through a garden wall nearby .......... and the leg and a clump of spines from some unfortunate Hedgehog in the middle of of the pavement this evening! No other sign of roadkill anywhere
John Williams said
Tue Sep 17 11:55 AM, 2019
Late Post 16.09.2019 11.00-15.00
Tatton Park & Dog Wood
Butterflies : 2 Red Admirals, 3 Speckled Woods, 1 Small Tortoiseshell and 2 Green Veined Whites.
Dragonflies : Lots of Migrant Hawkers along the edge of the main mere, and around some
of the big oaks too. Also seen were 12 Common Darters.
1 "Galerucella Lineola" type beetle seen on nettles in Dog Wood.
John Williams said
Tue Sep 10 5:12 PM, 2019
Neumanns Flash 09.45-13.30
Butterflies : 3 Comma, 1 Holly Blue (On Ivy near the Haydn Pool), 3 Red Admirals, 2 Small Totoiseshells
and when the sun came out Common Darters appeared in abundance.
Also a healthy looking Common Frog was seen by the Haydn Pool.
Doc Brewster said
Mon Sep 2 9:54 PM, 2019
Two recent visits:
30th Aug: Male & female Migrant Hawkers were seen along with 2+male Ruddy Darters. Both Common Blue and Red-eyed Damselflies were present. Butterflies seen were Painred Lady, Red Admiral, Speckled Wood and Meadow Brown.
Today, 2nd Sept: Male Ruddy Darter and female Common Darter dragonflies. Green-veined White butterflies mating, also Red Admiral and Speckled Wood. A Mother of Pearl Moth was seen.
John Williams said
Thu Aug 29 4:22 PM, 2019
Hale Head, Within Way & Icehouse Plantation (Cheshire) 09.30-13.30
Butterflies : Large Whites abundant alongside the farmland, also 2 Small and 1 Green Veined Whites.
30 Painted Ladies, 15 Small Tortoiseshells, 15 Speckled Woods, 7 Red Admirals, 1 Holly Blue and 4 Peacocks.
Dragonflies : 2 Migrant Hawkers. A large Hornet was seen chasing a Migrant Hawker dragonfly.
1 large ichneumon wasp similar to "Pimpla Instigator".
1 almost completely black Common Frog.
John Williams said
Tue Aug 27 6:16 PM, 2019
Woolston Eyes No 3 Bed 10.00-13.30
Butterflies : 6 Red Admirals, 10 Painted Ladies, 8 Peacocks, 6 Small Tortoiseshells and lots of Speckled Woods.
Dragonflies : 1 Southern, 6 Brown and 6 Migrant Hawkers plus 5 Common Darters.
John Williams said
Sun Aug 25 2:34 PM, 2019
Burtonwood area 09.30-12.00
Sankey Valley Trail Causey Bridge to county border at Newton Brook
and along the track from Alder Lane to Farmers Lane.
Butterflies : 10 Painted Ladies, 20 Large Whites*, 7 Speckled Woods, 2 Small Tortoiseshells**,
2 Peacocks and 1 Red Admiral.
* Large Whites prolific along the track from Alder Lane to Farmers Lane.
**A Small Tortoiseshell was seen taking nectar from Amphibious Bistort flowers in the middle of a pond.
Dragonflies : 1 Migrant Hawker and 4 Common Darters.
Crane flies were in abundance along the edge of the farmland.
John Williams said
Wed Aug 21 4:33 PM, 2019
Neumanns Flash 10.00-13.00
Butterflies : 4 Painted Ladies, 1 Red Admiral and 2 Meadow Browns.
Dragonflies : 7 Common Darters plus 3 Brown and 2 Migrant Hawkers.
10 Painted Ladies, 4 Peacock, 1 Large Skipper and lots of Gatekeepers.
Dragonflies : 7 Brown and 4 Migrant Hawkers.
1 Common Green Shield Bug and a single 7-Spot Ladybird.
Doc Brewster said
Thu Aug 8 10:41 PM, 2019
At Newchurch Common, Cheshire today the sun shined, in all ways!!
Top of the list was a daytime Badger!!!! I was amazed when I was walking along to see movement in a very vergrown ditch beside me. Looking down I saw the badgers back as it scuttled off deeper into cover, I don't know who was more surprised, me or the Badger! Also a large Fox was seen.
Butterflies (13 species!) - Holly Blue, Common Blue, Small Copper, Small White, Large White, Green-veined White, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown, Speckled Wood, Comma, Peacock, 7 Painted Ladys and best of all a Purple Hairstreak.
Moths - a Silver-Y and a first for patch and a lifer for me a Dingy Footman.
Odonata - Common Darter, Brown Hawker, Damselflies: Common Blue, Azure, Blue-taile & Red-eyed.
A Hornet was also seen and a Green Shieldbug and a mass of Nursery Web Spiders with egg sacs.
John Williams said
Tue Aug 6 5:05 PM, 2019
Neumanns Flash & Marbury Country Park 10.00-14.30
Butterflies : Gatekeepers, Meadow Browns and Speckled Woods plentiful.
Also 2 Large Whites and 1 Brimstone near Big Wood at Marbury CP.
A patch of Knapweed on Dairyhouse Meadows attracted 4 Common Blues and 2 Painted Ladies.
Dragonflies: Lots of Common Darters throughout.
1 male Black Tailed Skimmer flying over Budworth Mere.
1 male Emperor patrolling the pool surrounded by alder and willows on Dairyhouse Meadow.
4 Brown Hawkers were seen altogether, whilst several Common Blue damselflies were noticed
around the pools on Dairyhouse Meadow.
Doc Brewster said
Mon Aug 5 6:12 PM, 2019
At Newchurch Common, Cheshire in the sun this morning:
Butterflies - Small Copper, Small Skipper, Large White, Small White, Green-veined White, Speckled Wood, Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper, Peacock and PaintedLady.
Odonata - Common Darter (my first here in 2019), Brown Hawker, Red-eyed Damselfly, Common Blue Damselfly and Blue-tailed Damselfly.
Lastly a small fly, unidentified, that bit me! I saw it and it wasn't a Horsefly, wasn't a mosquito/midge type but gave me the most painful bite I've ever had. It felt like a red hot needle going into my arm. My arm came up in a large white bump with red surrounds, it hurt for ages but after treating with cold water & ice it has now gone down & is totally pain-free!
John Williams said
Sun Aug 4 8:59 PM, 2019
Big Moor area (Derbyshire)
1 female Adder and 4 Common Lizards.
1 Small Tortoiseshell and lots of Small Heath butterflies.
1 Dark Marbled Carpet moth. 1 Blue Tailed Damselfly.
1 "Tachina Grossa" fly, a very impressive large insect, really glad they don't bite humans.
1 Green Tiger Beetle.
Lots of grasshoppers about, I had a good look at a couple and I'm pretty sure they were Mottled Grasshoppers.
Please note that I have been deliberately vague concerning the adder sighting, this is a vast area, Big Moor,
the Longshaw Estate and much of the dry heather moorland East of Hathersage is worth checking out when
looking for these beautiful charismatic creatures. Sadly there are people who wish these animals harm.
The female I found allowed a close approach, she just lay there on a patch of soft moss with much of her body
flattened out to absorb more sunlight, she did'nt flinch, and after a couple of photos I left her in peace to enjoy
A walk this am at Newchurch Common, Cheshire with the horses, so not a full on wildlife walk.
Recorded PaintedLady, 3 Holly Blues, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown, Speckled Wood, Peacock and Small Tortoiseshell. All from the main routes without going 'off piste'
John Williams said
Fri Aug 2 8:01 PM, 2019
Hesketh Out Marsh (Lancs) 11.00-15.00
Butterflies : 1 Common Blue, 1 Red Admiral, 13 Painted Ladies plus lots
of Gatekeepers and Meadow Browns.
Oddly no dragonflies were seen, plenty of horseflies though, big ferocious ones.
John Williams said
Fri Jul 26 7:22 PM, 2019
Neumanns Flash 10.30-14.00
Numerous Meadow Brown and Gatekeeper butterflies, plus 5 Speckled Woods.
2 male Black tailed Skimmer dragonflies chasing each other along the path leading to Pods Hide.
Also here was a single male Common Darter.
Whilst looking for Purple Hairstreak butterflies, and not finding any, on the oaks near the Haydn
Pool, I found what appeared to be a Dingy Footman moth, photo attached. I found one of these at
Moore NR on the 16th, although the one seen today seemed a little darker than the earlier example.
On my atypical Sunday visit to Newchucrh Patch the sun shone and it was very, very warm!
My first Green-veined White was near Big Pool, all other butterflies having been seen previously, but agood tally with Speckled Wood, Comma, Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell, Small White, Orange-tip and Green Hairstreak (3 on Shemmy Moss) making it an 8 butterfly species day. After the first sighting last Friday I had 3 newly emerged Large Red Damselflies today, all on the area on Shemmy Moss where I had seen the first. A White-tailed Bumblebee was seen.
A walk to Newchurch in the sun again.
My first Large Red Damselfly of the year was a single, flighty one on Shemmy Moss. Still on Shemmy Moss at least 30 Green Hairstreaks were now flying. My first Speckled Wood here was also on Shemmy Moss. A male Brimstone was on Newchurch Common and male Orange-tips on Shemmy Moss. A nice Comma was at Newchurch Common near Big Pool. Peacocks and Small Whites were numerous across the whole area. An unusual colour variant Common Carder Bee was seen as well as Common Bee Wasp, Tawny Mining Bee and Honey Bee.
Barrow Lane, Winwick : 1 Weasel and 6 Small Tortoiseshell butterflies.
I have previously found Small Tortoiseshells numerous here, much more so than Peacock butterflies, it is open
arable land and quite a distance from any woodland, apart from a few rather battered looking hedgerows.
A walk from the horse paddocks again to the Newchurch area in Cheshire.
A cracking male Common Lizard, bejewelled with small green spots, a rarer colour form, basked in the sun on a path for ages whilst I stood montionless to watch.
Butterflies seen were several Green Hairstreaks still on Shemmy and Abbot's Mosses, several male and a female Orange-tip and lots and lots of Peacocks and Small Tortoiseshells. My first moth of 2020 was a Common Heath on Abbot's Moss.
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Wednesday 15th of April 2020 03:38:40 PM
of Sankey Brook. Starting from 08.15am.
A large rabbit appeared by the path behind the units on the Gemini industrial estate at the same time as a weasel. Fortunately
for the rabbit, the little predator seemed more interested in watching me than viewing the potential for a large meal.
Peacock butterflies were seen in abundance, plenty of Small Tortoiseshells too, also 4 Orange Tips and 1 Green Veined White.
Not a lot new at Newchurch Common today. Main news was a new fungus - Yellow Fieldcap Mushroom, a tiny, gorgeous addition
At Newchurch Common pm in very hot sunshine.
The invert highlight was 8 Green Hairstreak butterflies zipping about on Shemmy Moss. A good early date for this species here, the earliest date in the UK for 2020 was only a few days ago, on 5th April in Kent! Also on Shemmy Moss another new species for the year here, Green-veined White. The third new butterfly of the year was a male Orange-tip on garlic mustard on Sandy Lane. Other butterflies seen were Brimstone, Small Tortoiseshell and Peacock.
Another fabulous sighting was a Common Lizard, again on Shemmy Moss, the first of the year on patch, or anywhere for me.
Other invert sightings included a new insect on patch, Common Bee Wasp (a true bee) which is parasitic and was seen at the colony of its host species, which was alos there, Tawny Mining Bee. The first Alder Leaf Beetles of the year were also seen.
At Newchurch Common in the sunshine this morning the best find was a male Holly Blue butterfly. Other butterflies were a male Brimstone, a couple of Small Tortoiseshells and lots of Peacocks.
White-tailed and Buff-tailed Bumblebees were seen.
At Newchurch at the moment in the woodlands we found a small patch of brown cup fungi. On a bit of research and communication with 'Fungal Punk Dave' a top NW authority on fungi, it turns out that they are the locally scarce Vinegar Cup fungus Helvella acetabulum. Piccy attached
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Saturday 28th of March 2020 04:52:19 PM
Seen on morning walk along Sankey Valley trail and alongside nearby paths across farmland :
4 Peacock and 1 Brimstone butterflies.
On Newchurch Common butterflies seen were 5 Peacocks, 2 Small Tortoiseshells, a male Brimstone and a Comma. Many Droneflies (hoverflies) were flying as well as Buff-tailed Bumblebees. A colony of Tawny Mining Bees was also noted.
4 Small Tortoiseshell butterflies were noted on No 3 bed this morning.
2 Comma Butterflies in our back garden in the sunshine
Today at Burton Mere Wetlands RSPB - a Peacock Butterfly warming up on the boardwalk.
My first butterfly today at Newchurch Common - a Small Tortoiseshell near the Pine Belt.
A female Mottled Umber moth was walking along the woodwork at the Phoenix hide.
Odd looking creatures these flightless female moths.
Despite all indications to the contrary, Frogs in our garden ponds clearly think Spring is here.
Lots of mating activity , calling etc. 12 or so pairs
Despite today's chilly breeze, the sun brought out 4 Common Darter dragonflies,
a Common Wasp and several lacewings.
The dragonflies were all seen soaking up the sunlight on wooden fencing.
Today's sunshine produced a single male Common Darter dragonfly using
the remains of the former tower as a place to bask.
A walk today on Newchurch Common saw a few noteworthy sightings other than birds.
A 'first' for me here, albeit dead, was a Brown Rat. Also a first was a Running Crab Spider species (possibly Philodromus aureolus, but waiting for confirmation). The warm(ish) sun attracted out a butterfly species too - a Speckled Wood along the field margins near the Pine Belt.
Just before the heavy rain started a single Red Admiral butterfly was attracted to
Buddelia flowers, and 2 Migrant Hawker dragonflies patrolled the South bank.
A single Angle Shades moth rested on a grass path only moments before the heavens opened,
I'm unsure if it survived, but there was no sign of it when I returned to the spot shortly afterwards.
On another path a single Common Toad seemed perfectly happy with being drenched.
1 Common Frog, 1 Common Shrew (Deceased), 1 Green Veined White Butterfly
and 1 Migrant Hawker dragonfly.
Several moths were seen in flight despite the heavy showers, but none settled
long enough to get a proper ID.
One looked to be very similar to a Common White Wave the others appeared
to be very much like Mallow moths.
The body of a Common Wasp, or similar species, was found on a nettle leaf, and
it gave the impression that it had been eaten from the inside outwards, as there
was a small in the abdomen big enough for a creature the size of a garden ant to
emerge from.
Butterflies : 3 Speckled Woods and 1 Comma.
Dragonflies : Lots of Migrant Hawkers and 2 Common Darters.
Butterlies : 3 Small Tortoishells, 5 Speckled Woods, 1 Green Veined White and 1 Large White.
Dragonflies : Numerous Migrant Hawkers, 5 Common Darters (4m+1f) and 1m Ruddy Darter.
Also seen was a parasitic wasp resembling "Aulacus Striatus", which was seen in front of the bench
overlooking Ashtons Flash.
Yesterday:
Red Admiral 3
Comma 2
Large White 1
Small Tortoiseshell 1
Brown Hawker 1 (first one in 62 years!)
Pipistrelle 1
Today:
Red Admiral 5
Also a clump of Sulphur Tuft sticking through a garden wall nearby .......... and the leg and a clump of spines from some unfortunate Hedgehog in the middle of of the pavement this evening! No other sign of roadkill anywhere
Tatton Park & Dog Wood
Butterflies : 2 Red Admirals, 3 Speckled Woods, 1 Small Tortoiseshell and 2 Green Veined Whites.
Dragonflies : Lots of Migrant Hawkers along the edge of the main mere, and around some
of the big oaks too. Also seen were 12 Common Darters.
1 "Galerucella Lineola" type beetle seen on nettles in Dog Wood.
Butterflies : 3 Comma, 1 Holly Blue (On Ivy near the Haydn Pool), 3 Red Admirals, 2 Small Totoiseshells
and lots of Speckled Woods.
Dragonflies : 3 Brown Hawkers, 1 Southern Hawker (By Marsden entrance), numerous Migrant Hawkers
and when the sun came out Common Darters appeared in abundance.
Also a healthy looking Common Frog was seen by the Haydn Pool.
Two recent visits:
30th Aug: Male & female Migrant Hawkers were seen along with 2+male Ruddy Darters. Both Common Blue and Red-eyed Damselflies were present. Butterflies seen were Painred Lady, Red Admiral, Speckled Wood and Meadow Brown.
Today, 2nd Sept: Male Ruddy Darter and female Common Darter dragonflies. Green-veined White butterflies mating, also Red Admiral and Speckled Wood. A Mother of Pearl Moth was seen.
Butterflies : Large Whites abundant alongside the farmland, also 2 Small and 1 Green Veined Whites.
30 Painted Ladies, 15 Small Tortoiseshells, 15 Speckled Woods, 7 Red Admirals, 1 Holly Blue and 4 Peacocks.
Dragonflies : 2 Migrant Hawkers. A large Hornet was seen chasing a Migrant Hawker dragonfly.
1 large ichneumon wasp similar to "Pimpla Instigator".
1 almost completely black Common Frog.
Butterflies : 6 Red Admirals, 10 Painted Ladies, 8 Peacocks, 6 Small Tortoiseshells and lots of Speckled Woods.
Dragonflies : 1 Southern, 6 Brown and 6 Migrant Hawkers plus 5 Common Darters.
Sankey Valley Trail Causey Bridge to county border at Newton Brook
and along the track from Alder Lane to Farmers Lane.
Butterflies : 10 Painted Ladies, 20 Large Whites*, 7 Speckled Woods, 2 Small Tortoiseshells**,
2 Peacocks and 1 Red Admiral.
* Large Whites prolific along the track from Alder Lane to Farmers Lane.
**A Small Tortoiseshell was seen taking nectar from Amphibious Bistort flowers in the middle of a pond.
Dragonflies : 1 Migrant Hawker and 4 Common Darters.
Crane flies were in abundance along the edge of the farmland.
Butterflies : 4 Painted Ladies, 1 Red Admiral and 2 Meadow Browns.
Dragonflies : 7 Common Darters plus 3 Brown and 2 Migrant Hawkers.
Butterflies : 8 Painted Ladies, 1 Comma, 1 Peacock, 3 Speckled Woods and 1 Meadow Brown.
Dragonflies : 8 Migrant and 1 Brown Hawkers plus 1 female Common Darter.
Also 1 Common Carpet moth.
An active wasps nest was noted along the South bank, close to where the path turns toward the centre
of the bed. The wasps were very active around a small hole in the bank here,and it seemed wise to give
them plenty of space.
If the birdlife appeared a little unexciting here today, the other fauna made up for it.
Reptiles : 8 Common Lizards.
Butterflies : 1 Small Copper, 5 Gatekeepers and 1 Red Admiral.
Dragonflies : 5 Brown Hawkers, 2 Southern Hawkers, 2 Migrant Hawkers and 8 Common Darters.
1 Green Tiger Beetle, 1 "Amblyteles Armatorius" type ichneumon wasp plus masses of Common Field
and Mottled grasshoppers.
Butterflies : 4 Painted Ladies and 2 Gatekeepers.
Also seen was 1m Banded Demoiselle damselfly.
Butterflies :3 Painted Ladies, 1 Peacock, 3 Gatekeepers, 2 Meadow Browns
and 5 Speckled Woods. The illusive Purple Hairstreaks remained hidden yet again.
Dragonflies : 4 Migrant and 1 Brown Hawkers.
1 Weasel.
Butterflies : 6 Speckled Woods, 4 Common Blues, 1 Comma, 9 Meadow Browns,
10 Painted Ladies, 4 Peacock, 1 Large Skipper and lots of Gatekeepers.
Dragonflies : 7 Brown and 4 Migrant Hawkers.
1 Common Green Shield Bug and a single 7-Spot Ladybird.
At Newchurch Common, Cheshire today the sun shined, in all ways!!
Top of the list was a daytime Badger!!!! I was amazed when I was walking along to see movement in a very vergrown ditch beside me. Looking down I saw the badgers back as it scuttled off deeper into cover, I don't know who was more surprised, me or the Badger! Also a large Fox was seen.
Butterflies (13 species!) - Holly Blue, Common Blue, Small Copper, Small White, Large White, Green-veined White, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown, Speckled Wood, Comma, Peacock, 7 Painted Ladys and best of all a Purple Hairstreak.
Moths - a Silver-Y and a first for patch and a lifer for me a Dingy Footman.
Odonata - Common Darter, Brown Hawker, Damselflies: Common Blue, Azure, Blue-taile & Red-eyed.
A Hornet was also seen and a Green Shieldbug and a mass of Nursery Web Spiders with egg sacs.
Butterflies : Gatekeepers, Meadow Browns and Speckled Woods plentiful.
Also 2 Large Whites and 1 Brimstone near Big Wood at Marbury CP.
A patch of Knapweed on Dairyhouse Meadows attracted 4 Common Blues and 2 Painted Ladies.
Dragonflies: Lots of Common Darters throughout.
1 male Black Tailed Skimmer flying over Budworth Mere.
1 male Emperor patrolling the pool surrounded by alder and willows on Dairyhouse Meadow.
4 Brown Hawkers were seen altogether, whilst several Common Blue damselflies were noticed
around the pools on Dairyhouse Meadow.
At Newchurch Common, Cheshire in the sun this morning:
Butterflies - Small Copper, Small Skipper, Large White, Small White, Green-veined White, Speckled Wood, Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper, Peacock and Painted Lady.
Odonata - Common Darter (my first here in 2019), Brown Hawker, Red-eyed Damselfly, Common Blue Damselfly and Blue-tailed Damselfly.
Lastly a small fly, unidentified, that bit me! I saw it and it wasn't a Horsefly, wasn't a mosquito/midge type but gave me the most painful bite I've ever had. It felt like a red hot needle going into my arm. My arm came up in a large white bump with red surrounds, it hurt for ages but after treating with cold water & ice it has now gone down & is totally pain-free!
1 female Adder and 4 Common Lizards.
1 Small Tortoiseshell and lots of Small Heath butterflies.
1 Dark Marbled Carpet moth. 1 Blue Tailed Damselfly.
1 "Tachina Grossa" fly, a very impressive large insect, really glad they don't bite humans.
1 Green Tiger Beetle.
Lots of grasshoppers about, I had a good look at a couple and I'm pretty sure they were Mottled Grasshoppers.
Please note that I have been deliberately vague concerning the adder sighting, this is a vast area, Big Moor,
the Longshaw Estate and much of the dry heather moorland East of Hathersage is worth checking out when
looking for these beautiful charismatic creatures. Sadly there are people who wish these animals harm.
The female I found allowed a close approach, she just lay there on a patch of soft moss with much of her body
flattened out to absorb more sunlight, she did'nt flinch, and after a couple of photos I left her in peace to enjoy
her basking.
A walk this am at Newchurch Common, Cheshire with the horses, so not a full on wildlife walk.
Recorded Painted Lady, 3 Holly Blues, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown, Speckled Wood, Peacock and Small Tortoiseshell. All from the main routes without going 'off piste'
Butterflies : 1 Common Blue, 1 Red Admiral, 13 Painted Ladies plus lots
of Gatekeepers and Meadow Browns.
Oddly no dragonflies were seen, plenty of horseflies though, big ferocious ones.
Numerous Meadow Brown and Gatekeeper butterflies, plus 5 Speckled Woods.
2 male Black tailed Skimmer dragonflies chasing each other along the path leading to Pods Hide.
Also here was a single male Common Darter.
Whilst looking for Purple Hairstreak butterflies, and not finding any, on the oaks near the Haydn
Pool, I found what appeared to be a Dingy Footman moth, photo attached. I found one of these at
Moore NR on the 16th, although the one seen today seemed a little darker than the earlier example.
Butterflies : Numerous Green Veined Whites, 6 Comma, 6 Meadow Browns,
5 Red Admirals, 1 Gatekeeper, 1 Painted Lady and 2 Small Tortoiseshells.
The Meadow Browns were confined to the narrow strip of grass that borders the woodland path
in places, and finding just a single Gatekeeper was a surprise, it was around thistles on nearby pasture.
The only dragonflies seen were a single Southern Hawker in the woodland, and 1 Black Tailed Skimmer
resting on a mud patch near cattle on the open pasture.
Butterflies : 4 Comma, 1 Peacock, 1 Painted Lady, 2 Small Tortoiseshells,
1 Meadow Brown, 5 Speckled Woods and numerous Gatekeepers.
Also 1 Brown and 1 Southern Hawker Dragonflies plus a single Blue Tailed Damselfly.
My field guide shows Dingy Footman in a yellow/silver-grey form.
However, the UK moths website shows a creamy white specimen which largely
resembles the moth in my photo. The habitat and flight period appear to match too.
Cheers
John