Hummingbird Hawk Moth near "the bonk" in Golborne

Brabyns Park Marple- Quite a few things which included Cowbane several plants seems to be common in Cheshire, Wood Stitchwort in Flower, and Leaf Beetle Plateumaris sericea in two colour forms of metallic Bronze and Green on the lilly pond (ID Spur hind tibia and characteristic seam rear base of elytral suture and detail on Pronotum.)



-- Edited by Ian Boote on Sunday 21st of June 2015 06:20:22 PM

On Pamona Salford WE Chrysolina hyperici St Johnswort Leaf Beetle on Perforate St Johnswort. Bright purple/green with rows of twin dimples not common probably overlooked in GM

-- Edited by Ian Boote on Tuesday 16th of June 2015 10:16:17 PM

Very pretty ichneumon wasp in the back yard yesterday; Haemorrhoicus crassigena, I think, looking at internet sites, but am certainly no expert on our multitude of wasp species.

Burleigh rd , Stretford - Street tree feeders . . . Yesterday Mon 01.06.15 . . . . . The Squirrel turned up after its holiday and went straight to the feeders so it had to be Dealt With . . .(because squirrel in the tree means not a single bird will be present in the whole tree until it has finished eating. And lots of other reasons as well . ) I changed the nozzle on my "squirter" , giving longer range but finer jet of water. Having sneaked up to it , I got a Bullseye first shot . Then two more - by this time Squirrel realised it did'nt have to worry about a little jet of water . It then sat in an adjacent tree and laughed at me as my squirter jet fell short of it by 2 INCHES . It adapted to the situation brilliantly . Thats why they're so successful . So back to the drawing board.

Mink spotted yesterday 13/05/15 was reported on LOS report form.

Mink spotted yesterday 13/05/15 on R. Mersey between Stretford Ees and Chorlton brook outlet into r. Mersey

Three good stands of Water Violet in flower Moses Gate.

Brimstone in the Hinds Mill area Bury at the end of the BB canal.

Bee Fly - Bombylius major and Cucko Bee Nomada Flavapreying on mining bees like Grey Mining Bee
Andrena cineraria which was also seen.

News from yesterday the 8th, two male Brimstones along Vicars Hall lane Astley/Boothstown and two maless on a large patch of bramble on the the east lancs road at Lingards lane Astley, also lots of Peacock and Small Tortoiseshell all over the Astley area.

My first common wasp queen of the year seen opposite Chorlton bus station this morning.

She was in the middle of the pavement; made myself late moving her somewhere safer.

Brimstone seen near Bents Garden Centre Wigan MBC later today

A very bright Brimstone in my garden in Astley today, also up to four Small Tortoiseshells and a couple of Peacocks.

Brimstone butterfly this afternoon, by Junction 3 of M61, as I was driving past.

Regards, Chris J-B

Moth The Herald - Scoliopteryx libatrix in Whitefield

Wood Anemone (Anemone nemorosa) in flower today at Moses Gate.

Galanthus woronowii or Green Snowdrop. Has other common names ID Leaf width, colour, connection to other leaves, and flower markings. Growing at Etherow CP one fair sized clump assume introduced but in wood near pool growing well.

Petasites japonicus, also known as bog rhubarb, or giant butterbur8 plants in flower growing wild in the Medlock Valley.

Narcissus pseudonarcissus Wild Daffodil at a site in GM appears to be perfectly naturalised and unplanted after checking records

Rusty-back Fern, Ceterach officinarum growing out of a wall near Asda Reddish a rare plant in GM

Knott Hill 2 patches of (Gymnocarpium dryopteris) Oak Fern, also Hard Fern, Common Polypody, Wood Sorrel, Wych Elm.

-- Edited by Ian Boote on Saturday 8th of November 2014 12:40:58 PM

Around the Cathedral Pin Oak, Tulip Tree, Sweet Chestnut, Fat Hen, Goat Rue and Black Nightshade

A good morning for Butterflies in my Whitefield garden.
10.00a.m.

5 Red Admirals
2 Commas
1 Painted Lady (the first I've seen in the garden since 2008)
Plus dozens of Hoverflies all feeding on the flowers of Ivy.

common blue sow thistle at Elton 6 plants and Persicaria campanulata or lesser knotweed at the point where the Cheesden Brook joins the River Roach rather rare and not to be confused with its thug cousins. Which were also seen recently at Moses gate with some sort of Leaf Spot Fungus. There are trials of a leaf spot fungus to control this monster but that does not mean this is that fungus. Also AM at central Bury 3 Roe Deer.

What look likes Polypodium interjectum Intermediate Polypody found growing up in a tree and bridge in the Elton Area. Quite rare for Bury.


-- Edited by Ian Boote on Tuesday 5th of August 2014 05:53:37 PM

in Ramsbottom very up close views of Butterfly white Letter Hairstreak and Red Legged Shield bug.

Park Bridge Bio Blitz a rewarding if damp day. Personnel highlights- Knotting Gall, Royal Fern, Marsh Pea, Wood Sage, Valerian, Sunflower, Common Toad, Gatekeeper, Small Skipper and loads of Ringlets. Birds were a bit sparse with Dipper, Chiffchaff, and Blackcap.

3 Purple Hairstreak Butterflies in Rochdale. I think these are more common than is thought. The problem with these is they are hard to see because they like Oak and live in the canopy. Managed to get quite a passable picture.

-- Edited by Ian Boote on Thursday 17th of July 2014 06:38:06 PM

River Tame near Dunkirk Wood

Had a quick visit here around lunch time to check a muddy pool in a field that may be a decent spot for passing waders, nothing so far, it might turn out to be a dud but on the river a nice surprise was around 10 male Banded Demoiselle all in the same area. A superb sight, and only a couple of minutes walk from the car park.

Snipe Clough, Oldham

Ringlets everywhere this lunchtime, 4 Large Skippers (minimum), 1 Small White, several Latticed Heath, but not as many 5-Spot Burnet as last week. Also adult and newly-emerged Brown Hawkers.

ASfter a tip off from laast year 40 spikes of Bog Asphodel in flower in Rochdale.

4 Evening Primrose plants in a compound close to Clayton Hall tram stop. The first time I recollect seeing these in the county or away from the coast.

Hedgehog in my garden in Hulme last night - first I've seen here.

Meadow Saxifrage found growing wild on Mersey, Tricolour Pansy Southern Cem,white campion, common vetch, chive, Lucerne, green alkanet and a very red curious form of clover called Trifolium incarnatum known as Italian clover at a site in didsbury

-- Edited by Ian Boote on Sunday 11th of May 2014 10:38:01 PM

Very large impressive patch in south Manchester of Few Flowered Leek.

Dead roe deer on the m61 at westhoughton 0630 this morning, sad to say its coat looked in great condition.

Small Tortoiseshell warming up on the shed roof in my Middleton garden this morning.

Peacock butterfly on Broad St, Salford 11:00 Sunday 9th March

Brimstone butterfly over patch of trees at M60 / M602 junction at 11.00am today.

Walking the few hundred yards from my house to the railway station in Bramhall today, I saw 4 peacock butterflies and 1 comma.

Stoat ran across the road as i drove to work yesterday. slip road between cheaquerbent roundabout westhoughton and m61.

Late post for Sun 9th Sept

Silver Y moth in my garden on Michelmass Daisies in broad daylight with 2 Small Tortoiseshell butterflies

A large brown moth in my kitchen identified as an Old Lady moth. Name given due to the brown markings on wings resembling an old victorian lady in a cloak. Book says it's common and commonly finds it's way into houses!