I was on my patch, Newchurch Common, in the sun this morning.
I found my first 2 Common Lizards of the year, late but welcome. Also seen was a large Red-eared Terrapin in Small Pool.
A new butterfly for 2020 on patch was a Red Admiral on Abbot's Moss. Otherwise just Speckled Wood, Large White and Small White were seen.
Odonata included one new species, a male Emperor on Small Pool. A huge count of 30+Four-spotted Chasers were on Shemmy Moss with ovipositing seen. the usual 5 damselflies were seen, all in good double-figure numbers.
Two new moth species were recorded, the first a lifer for me, namely Dingy Shell near Small Pool and secondly Yellow-barred Longhorn (Nemophora degeerella) on Shemmy Moss. Lots of Common Heaths were also flying as were Common Nettle-tap moths again.
A totally new hoverfly, the Thick-legged Hoverfly (Syritta pipiens) was on Shemmy Moss. New for this year was The Footballer Helophilus pendulus, again by Shemmy Moss.
The Ichneumon Wasp Ichneumon suspiciosus was on Shemmy Moss. Long-horned Black Legionnaire fly was new for patch.
Several 7-spot Ladybird larvae were on nettles by Shemmy Moss.
Scarlet Pimpernel and Fox and Cubs were two new plant species photographed.
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Sunday 5th of June 2022 04:43:22 PM
John Williams said
Sat Jun 4 4:32 PM, 2022
Neumanns Flash 10.00-12.00
A search of the areas of Birds foot Trefoil only produced 1 butterfly, a single Common Blue.
Also seen was a single male Orange Tip.
Odonata was represented by a single Blue tailed Damselfly.
Doc Brewster said
Thu Jun 2 10:40 PM, 2022
At Newchurch Common all day on a good invert day weather-wise!
A Wood Mouse was seen by Shemmy Moss collecting grass, presumably for its nest.
Butterflies seen were Speckled Wood, Peacock. Green-veined White, Small White and Large White.
A new dragonfly for the year was (fem) Broad-bodied Chaser. Other dragonlflies were Downy Emerald and Four-spotted Chaser. Damselflies seen were Common Blue, Azure, Red-eyed, Large Red and my first Blue-tailed Damselflies here this year.
New moths for the year were 2 Silver-Y Moths, Cinnabar, Straw Dot, Brown Silver-line and Common Nettle-tap. Again Grass Waves were seen. A huge pre-pupation Drinker Moth caterpillar was found near Big Pool.
Tree Bumblebee and Red-tailed Bumblebee were seen. Pellucid Fly (a hoverfly) was photographed.
New beetles for the year were Common Sexton Beetle (Nicrophorus vespillo) and the Click Beetle Athous haemorrhoidalis, both on Shemmy Moss. Green Tiger Beetle was seen and photographed on Shemmy Moss.
The Mirid Bug Calocoris alpestris (Small Pool) and mating Green Shieldbugs (Shemmy Moss) were seen.
The Long-jawed Orb-weaver Spider Tetragnatha extensa was seen by the main track between the pools.
A great find was my first ever Round-leaved Sundews on Shemmy Moss. Also recorded were Field Forget-me-not, Germander Speedwell, Red Campion and Herb Robert.
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Friday 3rd of June 2022 05:04:46 PM
John Williams said
Thu Jun 2 6:15 PM, 2022
Woolston Eyes No3 Bed
3 male Broad Bodied Chaser dragonflies were seen having a squabble in front of Frank Linley hide,
2 females were also seen, they were on the edge of the pool in front of the South Bank screen.
Grass Wave moths (M+F) were on the wing for the first time this year, a site speciality.
A Green Tiger Beetle was recorded. A Scorpion Fly was on Shemmy Moss.
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Wednesday 1st of June 2022 10:35:56 PM
dstrath said
Thu May 26 9:12 PM, 2022
At hesketh outer marsh , east side , excellent view of an otter eating what appeared to be an eel. Also 2 turnstone
Doc Brewster said
Wed May 25 5:17 PM, 2022
Doc Brewster wrote:
At Newchurch Common yeasterday (22nd May) I had my first Painted Lady butterfly seen basking on the main track to Abbot's Moss Nursery.
Also a first sighting were Common Blue Damselflies, in several locations whilst my first Red-eyed Damselflies were just on Sandiway Small Pool. Other odonata seen were lots of Four-spotted Chasers and Large Red Damselflies.
Another new insect was Dock Shieldbug (Coreus marginatus), on Shemmy Moss.
Other new species on the day above were Cantharis nigricans(a Soldier Beetle) and Donacia semicuprea (a bronze Leaf Beetle).
Doc Brewster said
Mon May 23 10:13 PM, 2022
At Newchurch Common yeasterday (22nd May) I had my first Painted Lady butterfly seen basking on the main track to Abbot's Moss Nursery.
Also a first sighting were Common Blue Damselflies, in several locations whilst my first Red-eyed Damselflies were just on Sandiway Small Pool. Other odonata seen were lots of Four-spotted Chasers and Large Red Damselflies.
Another new insect was Dock Shieldbug (Coreus marginatus), on Shemmy Moss.
John Williams said
Fri May 20 6:12 PM, 2022
The North side of Winter Hill (Below the masts).
A very docile Wood Mouse found by a club of sedge, the tiny fellow only moved a short distance when I gently touched it's tail.
I left the tiny mouse when it clambered into the centre of a thick clump of sedge and safety, whilst a Kestrel hovered nearby.
John Williams said
Mon May 16 7:46 PM, 2022
Woolston Eyes No 3 Bed 13.30-16.00
Butterflies: Several each of Peacock and Small Tortoiseshell, also 2 Holly Blues and a single Speckled Wood.
Moths: 1 Silver Ground Carpet and 1 Clouded Border.
The only damselfly seen was a single Blue Tailed.
Doc Brewster said
Wed May 11 8:05 PM, 2022
A flying visit to my Newchurch Patch to check a report allowed me to add a couple of good odonata today in the sunny intervals.
A Downy Emerald was over the nettle beds between Shemmy Moss and the Whitegate Way. Also on Shemmy Moss were 3 Four-spotted Chasers.
A couple of spider-hunting wasp species, members of the Pompilidae, were seen too.
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Wednesday 11th of May 2022 08:11:05 PM
John Williams said
Mon May 9 10:24 PM, 2022
Langden Valley (Forest of Bowland) 10.00-16.30
A single Green Hairstreak and a couple of Orange Tips were the only butterflies seen.
Along the path Green Tiger Beetles appeared numerous though, as did "Tachypodoiulus niger" type millipedes.
Doc Brewster said
Sat Apr 30 9:58 PM, 2022
An afternoon visit to Newchurch Common for invertebrates rather than birds due to sunny weather.
A couple of new odonate added. Expected first were 3 Large Red Damselflies on Shemmy Moss. This was followed by an unexpected Hairy Dragonfly on the soth bit of Shemmy Moss, not my first ever here but a very early record for my patch.
Several female Orange-tip butterflies were seen as well as 2 Green Hairstreaks, Green-veined White, Small White and Peacock.
St.Mark's Flies were well into 3-figures, almost flying into my mouth at times!!
John Williams said
Sat Apr 30 5:07 PM, 2022
Sandbach Flashes (Around midday)
Orange Tip butterflies abundant, also seen were a few Large White's and a single Speckled Wood.
A few St Marks flies were seen, whilst a single "Chrysolina Menthastri" type beetle was found on Sorrel.
A large shoal of Dace type fish were seen on the River Wheelock below Clay Lane bridge.
Doc Brewster said
Tue Apr 26 9:15 PM, 2022
On Newchurch Common early.
On the day after St.Mark's Day I recorded my first St Mark's Flies of the year, all settled on a path by Shemy Moss.
Hare's Tail Cottongrass is abundant on the mosslands now. Herb Robert is in flower. Hoof Fungus was noted too, in Gull Pool Wood.
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Tuesday 26th of April 2022 09:16:34 PM
Doc Brewster said
Mon Apr 25 9:43 PM, 2022
A morning walk on Newchurch Common produced my first female Orange-tip along with a male. Also a Holly Blue and Green-veined White were seen.
Ground Ivy was a new plant logged for the year.
Doc Brewster said
Thu Apr 21 2:28 PM, 2022
Newchurch am: usual butterflies including HollyBlue.
My first TreeBumblebee was seen.
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Thursday 21st of April 2022 08:59:14 PM
John O'Neill said
Thu Apr 21 9:35 AM, 2022
Penketh
1st Speckled Wood Butterfly of year in sunshine
Doc Brewster said
Wed Apr 20 10:11 PM, 2022
At Newchurch today in the sun two new butterfly species were added to the 2022 patch list, namely Holly Blue and Large White, both in the Big Pool area. At least 4 Green Hairstreaks were on the mosses. Green-veined White, Orange-tip and Comma were also seen.
A Common Heath moth was on Abbot's Moss.
A female Eristalis intricarius hoverfly was seen. A Red-tailed Bumblebee fed on dandelions.
Bluebells are now in flower.
John Williams said
Wed Apr 20 5:34 PM, 2022
Anglezarke area (Lead Mines Clough) Morning visit
2 Peacock, 4 Orange Tip and 1 Green-veined White butterflies.
1 "Bombylius major" type Bee-Fly.
John Williams said
Mon Apr 18 4:39 PM, 2022
Burtonwood (Arable fields North of the M62 services)
2 Peacock, 1 Comma and 5m Orange Tip butterflies.
Doc Brewster said
Sun Apr 17 10:13 PM, 2022
At Newchurch briefly am, sunny and warm.
A new butterfly for 2022 was a Green-veined White. My second Speckled Wood was seen as well as 3m Orange-tips. Just a Peacock to add to those. All records around Big Pool.
Doc Brewster said
Fri Apr 15 9:00 PM, 2022
An afternoon visit to Newchucrh Common started in hot sunshine but it clouded over later.
New butterflies for the year were 3m Orange-tips and a Speckled Wood. Also seen were 4 Green Hairstreaks, 5 Peacocks and 3 Commas.
Clark's Mining Bee (Andrena clarkella) was a new species for the year and seen near Big Pool Island Cut. Lots of queen Buff-tailed Bumblebees were prospecting for nest sites today.
A new hoverfly for the year was Eristalis intricariuswhilst E.tenaxand E.pertinax were both still numerous.
John Williams said
Fri Apr 15 7:32 PM, 2022
Callands, Warrington.
2 Holly Blue butterflies and 2 Alder Leaf Beetles seen in my garden today.
John Williams said
Wed Apr 13 4:52 PM, 2022
Burtonwood (Arable fields North of the M62 services)
3 Orange Tip and 1 Small Tortoiseshell butterflies.
Doc Brewster said
Tue Apr 12 9:41 PM, 2022
On Newchurch Common today the first Alder Leaf Beetles of the year were seen. Also noted were Common Puffball fungi.
Doc Brewster said
Fri Apr 8 9:21 PM, 2022
Newchurch Common am, sunny and q.warm.
A new butterfly species with 5 Green Hairstreaks on Shemmy Moss being my first confirmed ones of the year although I had a glimpse of a posible about a week ago but couldn't confirm this. A male Brimstone and a Small Tortoiseshell were in the same area.
A new hoverfly, Chequered Hoverfly (Melanostoma scalare), was seen in relative good numbers on dandelions on the mosslands. A Red-tailed Bumblebee was also on Shemmy Moss.
Doc Brewster said
Sat Apr 2 5:17 PM, 2022
Newchurch Common pm, sun but not warm enough really!
A lone Small Tortoiseshell was on Abbot's Moss.
The hoverfly Eristalis pertinaxwas new for the year, again on Abbot's Moss which was a bit of a suntrap with all the dead bracken. Common Carder Bee was seen again, this time on Smemmy Moss.
Garden Snail (Cornu aspersum) was recorded for the first time this year, on the edge of Shemmy Moss.
Lesser Celandine and Dandelions were both in flower.
John Williams said
Fri Apr 1 11:42 PM, 2022
Great Ormes Head Llandudno
A single Common Seal was seen close inshore to the base of the cliffs, also just offshore were 2 Grey Seals.
Doc Brewster said
Tue Mar 29 8:52 PM, 2022
At Newchurch Common this afternoon in the sun at first but clouded over later.
I added a new butterfly for the year in the shape of a Small White, but despite chasing it for a while it never settled! Also seen were 3 Commas, a Peacock and a male Brimstone.
My first Red-tailed Bumblebee and Common Carder Bee for 2022 were seen, both very early for these species but no doubt due to the unseasonal weather recently.
John Williams said
Fri Mar 25 8:38 PM, 2022
Former sand quarries Lapwing Lane area Chelford. Afternoon visit.
Butterflies : 1 Peacock, 1 Comma, 4 Brimstones and 6 Small Tortoiseshells.
Doc Brewster said
Wed Mar 23 8:39 PM, 2022
Todays shorter walk at Newchurch Common was again in warm sunshine this morning.
All 4 butterfly species were again seen with 2 Commas, 2 Peacocks, a Small Tortoiseshell and a Brimstone.
On dung heaps in the field north of Big Pool were mating Yellow Dung Flies (Scathophaga stercoraria).
John O'Neill said
Wed Mar 23 7:57 PM, 2022
A full "tick" in our Penketh garden in the sunshine today....a Large Bee Fly
M Bnmstone and a Comma also seen
Doc Brewster said
Wed Mar 23 4:19 PM, 2022
22nd March 2022:
A late post fo yesterday on a sunny morning walk at Newchurch Common, warm too!
A new butterfly species was added, a male Brimstone, on the edge of Shemmy Moss. Again a Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell and 2 Commas were seen.
A total of 5 Smooth Newts were found near Gull Pool. A huge swathe of frogspawn was in a private pond that I survey.
At the usual bank near Small Pool lots of Tawny Mining Bee males were excavating nest holes.
The beetles Abax parallelepipidusand Agonum emarginatum were both found under logs near Gull Pool.
As well as the planted Daffodils, Narcissi and Miniature Narcissi, Common Daisies were in flower.
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Wednesday 23rd of March 2022 08:35:43 PM
John Williams said
Wed Mar 23 4:06 PM, 2022
10.00-13.00 Burtonwood
Butterflies seen on arable land between Sankey Brook and Burtonwood Road : 8 Small Tortoiseshells and 1 Brimstone.
Sankey Valley Trail : Today I opted to walk beyond the county boundary at Newton Brook and follow the towpath
of the St Helens canal to Vulcan village. Few birds were noted, but cruising along together just below the surface of the canal
were 4 Pike (All around 2ft in length). As soon as the predators had passed a frog emerged from weed on the bottom
of the canal and made a dash for the surface. The instant the frog reached the surface it made a lightning dash for the
bottom again as another 2ft Pike appeared, I waited for several minutes afterwards to see if the frog re-appeared, but it
stayed safely tucked into the weed.
Doc Brewster said
Sat Mar 19 9:24 PM, 2022
Newchurch Common, afternoon visit in warm sunshine especially for invertebrates.
Success with my first three butterfly species of the year anywhere. These were 3 Commas, 2 Peacocks and 2 Small Tortoiseshells, all in the meadows to the east and north of Big Pool.
Also seen today were my first bees, namely queen White-tailed Bumblebee, queen Buff-tailed Bumblebee and Honey Bees. A few hoverflies were seen, all were Droneflies Eristalis tenax.
Steve Judge said
Fri Mar 18 3:57 PM, 2022
Natterjack Toad near Anderby Marshes in Lincolnshire
Doc Brewster said
Thu Mar 17 9:25 PM, 2022
On Newchurch Common this am in warm sunshine with invertebrate expectations!
All I found were at least 5 x 7-spot Ladybirds. A Grey Squirrel was also out enjoying the sun. maybe next time for butterflies!!
John O'Neill said
Sun Feb 13 7:48 PM, 2022
Penketh
Early sign of Spring in our garden last night with Frogs singing in full voice.
Even earlier sign last week with a squashed hedgehog in road
John Williams said
Wed Nov 17 5:53 PM, 2021
Mere Farm Quarry Pools Chelford (Midday)
1 female Common Darter dragonfly seen alongside the path between the pools.
Doc Brewster said
Tue Nov 9 2:26 PM, 2021
On Newchurch Common am, sunny and quite warm.
The good weather brought out a very late Common Darter, on the edge of Shemmy Moss. A new moth for the year was found with a Northern Winter Moth seen in the birch scrub near Small Pool. ID was clinched by examination of the hind wings which were pearly white.
A new fungus was added, Frosty Webcap, which was found in birch woodland near Big Pool south shore. Lots of Velvet Shank mushrooms were found. inside a rotting log a green jelly was tentatively IDed as a 'Star Jelly' species, a cyanobacteria.
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Tuesday 9th of November 2021 03:03:24 PM
Lez Fairclough said
Fri Nov 5 7:49 PM, 2021
4/11/2021 - Pine tree plantation at end of Georges Lane, Horwich.
Finally got my first Fly Agaric amongst the pine needles, also what looks very similar to what Doc posted recently a Blackening Waxcap in its early stages.
Two other fungi seen that I've had I.D. problems with are what I think are Birch Milkcap & Penny Bun.
Pics attached are 1. Fly Agaric; 2. Blackening Waxcap; 3. Birch Milkcap ? 4. Penny Bun ? - Please feel free to suggest otherwise.
On Newchurch Common this afternoon a patch of 8 Snowy Inkcap fungi was found today, all very small and just emerging, close to where I found my first 2 yesterday.
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Thursday 4th of November 2021 09:37:59 PM
Doc Brewster said
Wed Nov 3 5:23 PM, 2021
Amazingly my first post for Newchurch Common in this thread since Oct 6th, I have a few catch ups for late October that didn't merit a post on there own, as well as todays highlights. The weather hasn't been kind for other taxa!! I still have quite a few fungi to ID so they can wait for another post!
Since my last post I discovered a big patch of Blackening Waxcap fungi, on the east side of Big Pool where I had jsu 2 last year. At least 30 Blackening Waxcaps were seen on 13th October, when all were waxy red in colour (pictured). Over the weeks they turned black (as they do, hence the name!) and a few still remain today in that black state. Today, in that same area, I found a new species of fungus for patch and a lifer for me in the shape of 2 Snowy Waxcaps, one pristine specimen and one that had gone over. Another nice find was 9 Collared Earthstar fungi by Shemmy Moss, again where they were last year. Lots of Candlesnuff Fungi are on stumps and branches at present, especially near the south shore of Big Pool. Also present are good numbers of Fly Agaric mushrooms, by Big Pool and on Shemmy and Abbot's Mosses (pictured). Other Fungi found in October were Brown Birch Bolete, by the Whitegate Way, Trooping Funnel, east of Small Pool amongst the pines, and Sycamore Tarspot (widespread on sycamore leaves). Pin Mould was also found, near the main track between the pools.
In late October a dead mouse that had been run over on the track between the pools looked large and was definitely an Apodemus species, I would love to claim it as a Yellow-necked Mouse on size but have to put it down as a Wood Mouse if I am being realistic! Also in late October the nettlebeds held several Caddisflies of the species Anabolia nervosa.
For today, the sunshine brought out some very late dragonflies. The most unexpected was a worn Southern Hawker seen on bracken by Shemmy Moss. More expected were 11 Common Darters, some pretty old too, on both Abbot's and Shemmy Mosses (pictured). The other insect in abundance was at least 30 x 7-spot Ladybirds, all on the mosses again.
Burtonwood (Arable farmland NE of Burtonwood Services on the M62) Midday.
3 Common Darter dragonflies still active in scrub area close to piles of well rotted manure.
John Williams said
Wed Oct 20 4:55 PM, 2021
Neumanns Flash (10.30-14.00)
A male Migrant Hawker dragonfly patrolled the reed tops by Pods Hide.
10+ coupled pairs of Common Darters were seen, especially close to the gate leading to Pods Hide.
John Williams said
Fri Oct 15 10:48 PM, 2021
Mere Farm Pools Chelford (Midday visit)
Lots of Common Darter dragonflies were flying in the warm sunshine, including numerous coupled pairs.
12 coupled pairs, and a spare envious male, were seen focussing on one shallow bathtub sized puddle.
Doc Brewster said
Wed Oct 6 11:08 PM, 2021
At Newchurch Common this afternoon in relatively warm weather with some sunny intervals:
A female Migrant Hawker was cathing flies over the nettles by Big Pool Island Cut.
Huge numbers of Common Nettle Tap moths were seen, every Ragwort plant was festooned with them.
The caddisfly Anabolia nervosa was added to the patch list, found in the nettle bed by Big Pool Island Cut. A Muscidae fly first recorded last year Phaonia subventa was on ivy near the NE corner of Big Pool.Common Froghopper was found in the same place. A Willow Flea Beetle (Crepidodera aurata) was also new for patch. The Long-jawed Orb-weaver Spider sp. Tetragnatha extensa was seen in profusion near Big Pool.
The first Witches Butter fungus of the autumn was on gorse north of Big Pool. Birch Woodwart (Annulohypoxylon multiforme) was a new fungus, on a dead birch branch near Big Pool Meadow. The Deceiver fungus was also found near Big Pool.
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Wednesday 6th of October 2021 11:08:51 PM
John Williams said
Wed Oct 6 9:14 PM, 2021
Moore NR 10.00-15.00
Dragonflies : Numerous Common Darters, especially around the pools, a coupled pair were seen by Pumphouse Pool.
2 male Migrant Hawkers were noted having an aerial tussle by the old canal behind the Eastern Reedbed, where the only
I was on my patch, Newchurch Common, in the sun this morning.
I found my first 2 Common Lizards of the year, late but welcome. Also seen was a large Red-eared Terrapin in Small Pool.
A new butterfly for 2020 on patch was a Red Admiral on Abbot's Moss. Otherwise just Speckled Wood, Large White and Small White were seen.
Odonata included one new species, a male Emperor on Small Pool. A huge count of 30+Four-spotted Chasers were on Shemmy Moss with ovipositing seen. the usual 5 damselflies were seen, all in good double-figure numbers.
Two new moth species were recorded, the first a lifer for me, namely Dingy Shell near Small Pool and secondly Yellow-barred Longhorn (Nemophora degeerella) on Shemmy Moss. Lots of Common Heaths were also flying as were Common Nettle-tap moths again.
A totally new hoverfly, the Thick-legged Hoverfly (Syritta pipiens) was on Shemmy Moss. New for this year was The Footballer Helophilus pendulus, again by Shemmy Moss.
The Ichneumon Wasp Ichneumon suspiciosus was on Shemmy Moss. Long-horned Black Legionnaire fly was new for patch.
Several 7-spot Ladybird larvae were on nettles by Shemmy Moss.
Scarlet Pimpernel and Fox and Cubs were two new plant species photographed.
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Sunday 5th of June 2022 04:43:22 PM
A search of the areas of Birds foot Trefoil only produced 1 butterfly, a single Common Blue.
Also seen was a single male Orange Tip.
Odonata was represented by a single Blue tailed Damselfly.
At Newchurch Common all day on a good invert day weather-wise!
A Wood Mouse was seen by Shemmy Moss collecting grass, presumably for its nest.
Butterflies seen were Speckled Wood, Peacock. Green-veined White, Small White and Large White.
A new dragonfly for the year was (fem) Broad-bodied Chaser. Other dragonlflies were Downy Emerald and Four-spotted Chaser. Damselflies seen were Common Blue, Azure, Red-eyed, Large Red and my first Blue-tailed Damselflies here this year.
New moths for the year were 2 Silver-Y Moths, Cinnabar, Straw Dot, Brown Silver-line and Common Nettle-tap. Again Grass Waves were seen. A huge pre-pupation Drinker Moth caterpillar was found near Big Pool.
Tree Bumblebee and Red-tailed Bumblebee were seen. Pellucid Fly (a hoverfly) was photographed.
New beetles for the year were Common Sexton Beetle (Nicrophorus vespillo) and the Click Beetle Athous haemorrhoidalis, both on Shemmy Moss. Green Tiger Beetle was seen and photographed on Shemmy Moss.
The Mirid Bug Calocoris alpestris (Small Pool) and mating Green Shieldbugs (Shemmy Moss) were seen.
The Long-jawed Orb-weaver Spider Tetragnatha extensa was seen by the main track between the pools.
A great find was my first ever Round-leaved Sundews on Shemmy Moss. Also recorded were Field Forget-me-not, Germander Speedwell, Red Campion and Herb Robert.
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Friday 3rd of June 2022 05:04:46 PM
3 male Broad Bodied Chaser dragonflies were seen having a squabble in front of Frank Linley hide,
2 females were also seen, they were on the edge of the pool in front of the South Bank screen.
At Newchurch Common am, sun but changeable.
Grass Wave moths (M+F) were on the wing for the first time this year, a site speciality.
A Green Tiger Beetle was recorded. A Scorpion Fly was on Shemmy Moss.
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Wednesday 1st of June 2022 10:35:56 PM
Other new species on the day above were Cantharis nigricans (a Soldier Beetle) and Donacia semicuprea (a bronze Leaf Beetle).
At Newchurch Common yeasterday (22nd May) I had my first Painted Lady butterfly seen basking on the main track to Abbot's Moss Nursery.
Also a first sighting were Common Blue Damselflies, in several locations whilst my first Red-eyed Damselflies were just on Sandiway Small Pool. Other odonata seen were lots of Four-spotted Chasers and Large Red Damselflies.
Another new insect was Dock Shieldbug (Coreus marginatus), on Shemmy Moss.
A very docile Wood Mouse found by a club of sedge, the tiny fellow only moved a short distance when I gently touched it's tail.
I left the tiny mouse when it clambered into the centre of a thick clump of sedge and safety, whilst a Kestrel hovered nearby.
Butterflies: Several each of Peacock and Small Tortoiseshell, also 2 Holly Blues and a single Speckled Wood.
Moths: 1 Silver Ground Carpet and 1 Clouded Border.
The only damselfly seen was a single Blue Tailed.
A flying visit to my Newchurch Patch to check a report allowed me to add a couple of good odonata today in the sunny intervals.
A Downy Emerald was over the nettle beds between Shemmy Moss and the Whitegate Way. Also on Shemmy Moss were 3 Four-spotted Chasers.
A couple of spider-hunting wasp species, members of the Pompilidae, were seen too.
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Wednesday 11th of May 2022 08:11:05 PM
A single Green Hairstreak and a couple of Orange Tips were the only butterflies seen.
Along the path Green Tiger Beetles appeared numerous though, as did "Tachypodoiulus niger" type millipedes.
An afternoon visit to Newchurch Common for invertebrates rather than birds due to sunny weather.
A couple of new odonate added. Expected first were 3 Large Red Damselflies on Shemmy Moss. This was followed by an unexpected Hairy Dragonfly on the soth bit of Shemmy Moss, not my first ever here but a very early record for my patch.
Several female Orange-tip butterflies were seen as well as 2 Green Hairstreaks, Green-veined White, Small White and Peacock.
St.Mark's Flies were well into 3-figures, almost flying into my mouth at times!!
Orange Tip butterflies abundant, also seen were a few Large White's and a single Speckled Wood.
A few St Marks flies were seen, whilst a single "Chrysolina Menthastri" type beetle was found on Sorrel.
A large shoal of Dace type fish were seen on the River Wheelock below Clay Lane bridge.
On Newchurch Common early.
On the day after St.Mark's Day I recorded my first St Mark's Flies of the year, all settled on a path by Shemy Moss.
Hare's Tail Cottongrass is abundant on the mosslands now. Herb Robert is in flower. Hoof Fungus was noted too, in Gull Pool Wood.
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Tuesday 26th of April 2022 09:16:34 PM
A morning walk on Newchurch Common produced my first female Orange-tip along with a male. Also a Holly Blue and Green-veined White were seen.
Ground Ivy was a new plant logged for the year.
Newchurch am: usual butterflies including Holly Blue.
My first Tree Bumblebee was seen.
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Thursday 21st of April 2022 08:59:14 PM
1st Speckled Wood Butterfly of year in sunshine
At Newchurch today in the sun two new butterfly species were added to the 2022 patch list, namely Holly Blue and Large White, both in the Big Pool area. At least 4 Green Hairstreaks were on the mosses. Green-veined White, Orange-tip and Comma were also seen.
A Common Heath moth was on Abbot's Moss.
A female Eristalis intricarius hoverfly was seen. A Red-tailed Bumblebee fed on dandelions.
Bluebells are now in flower.
2 Peacock, 4 Orange Tip and 1 Green-veined White butterflies.
1 "Bombylius major" type Bee-Fly.
2 Peacock, 1 Comma and 5m Orange Tip butterflies.
At Newchurch briefly am, sunny and warm.
A new butterfly for 2022 was a Green-veined White. My second Speckled Wood was seen as well as 3m Orange-tips. Just a Peacock to add to those. All records around Big Pool.
An afternoon visit to Newchucrh Common started in hot sunshine but it clouded over later.
New butterflies for the year were 3m Orange-tips and a Speckled Wood. Also seen were 4 Green Hairstreaks, 5 Peacocks and 3 Commas.
Clark's Mining Bee (Andrena clarkella) was a new species for the year and seen near Big Pool Island Cut. Lots of queen Buff-tailed Bumblebees were prospecting for nest sites today.
A new hoverfly for the year was Eristalis intricarius whilst E.tenax and E.pertinax were both still numerous.
2 Holly Blue butterflies and 2 Alder Leaf Beetles seen in my garden today.
3 Orange Tip and 1 Small Tortoiseshell butterflies.
On Newchurch Common today the first Alder Leaf Beetles of the year were seen. Also noted were Common Puffball fungi.
Newchurch Common am, sunny and q.warm.
A new butterfly species with 5 Green Hairstreaks on Shemmy Moss being my first confirmed ones of the year although I had a glimpse of a posible about a week ago but couldn't confirm this. A male Brimstone and a Small Tortoiseshell were in the same area.
A new hoverfly, Chequered Hoverfly (Melanostoma scalare), was seen in relative good numbers on dandelions on the mosslands. A Red-tailed Bumblebee was also on Shemmy Moss.
Newchurch Common pm, sun but not warm enough really!
A lone Small Tortoiseshell was on Abbot's Moss.
The hoverfly Eristalis pertinax was new for the year, again on Abbot's Moss which was a bit of a suntrap with all the dead bracken. Common Carder Bee was seen again, this time on Smemmy Moss.
Garden Snail (Cornu aspersum) was recorded for the first time this year, on the edge of Shemmy Moss.
Lesser Celandine and Dandelions were both in flower.
A single Common Seal was seen close inshore to the base of the cliffs, also just offshore were 2 Grey Seals.
At Newchurch Common this afternoon in the sun at first but clouded over later.
I added a new butterfly for the year in the shape of a Small White, but despite chasing it for a while it never settled! Also seen were 3 Commas, a Peacock and a male Brimstone.
My first Red-tailed Bumblebee and Common Carder Bee for 2022 were seen, both very early for these species but no doubt due to the unseasonal weather recently.
Butterflies : 1 Peacock, 1 Comma, 4 Brimstones and 6 Small Tortoiseshells.
Todays shorter walk at Newchurch Common was again in warm sunshine this morning.
All 4 butterfly species were again seen with 2 Commas, 2 Peacocks, a Small Tortoiseshell and a Brimstone.
On dung heaps in the field north of Big Pool were mating Yellow Dung Flies (Scathophaga stercoraria).
M Bnmstone and a Comma also seen
22nd March 2022:
A late post fo yesterday on a sunny morning walk at Newchurch Common, warm too!
A new butterfly species was added, a male Brimstone, on the edge of Shemmy Moss. Again a Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell and 2 Commas were seen.
A total of 5 Smooth Newts were found near Gull Pool. A huge swathe of frogspawn was in a private pond that I survey.
At the usual bank near Small Pool lots of Tawny Mining Bee males were excavating nest holes.
The beetles Abax parallelepipidus and Agonum emarginatum were both found under logs near Gull Pool.
As well as the planted Daffodils, Narcissi and Miniature Narcissi, Common Daisies were in flower.
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Wednesday 23rd of March 2022 08:35:43 PM
Butterflies seen on arable land between Sankey Brook and Burtonwood Road : 8 Small Tortoiseshells and 1 Brimstone.
Sankey Valley Trail : Today I opted to walk beyond the county boundary at Newton Brook and follow the towpath
of the St Helens canal to Vulcan village. Few birds were noted, but cruising along together just below the surface of the canal
were 4 Pike (All around 2ft in length). As soon as the predators had passed a frog emerged from weed on the bottom
of the canal and made a dash for the surface. The instant the frog reached the surface it made a lightning dash for the
bottom again as another 2ft Pike appeared, I waited for several minutes afterwards to see if the frog re-appeared, but it
stayed safely tucked into the weed.
Newchurch Common, afternoon visit in warm sunshine especially for invertebrates.
Success with my first three butterfly species of the year anywhere. These were 3 Commas, 2 Peacocks and 2 Small Tortoiseshells, all in the meadows to the east and north of Big Pool.
Also seen today were my first bees, namely queen White-tailed Bumblebee, queen Buff-tailed Bumblebee and Honey Bees. A few hoverflies were seen, all were Droneflies Eristalis tenax.
On Newchurch Common this am in warm sunshine with invertebrate expectations!
All I found were at least 5 x 7-spot Ladybirds. A Grey Squirrel was also out enjoying the sun. maybe next time for butterflies!!
Early sign of Spring in our garden last night with Frogs singing in full voice.
Even earlier sign last week with a squashed hedgehog in road
1 female Common Darter dragonfly seen alongside the path between the pools.
On Newchurch Common am, sunny and quite warm.
The good weather brought out a very late Common Darter, on the edge of Shemmy Moss. A new moth for the year was found with a Northern Winter Moth seen in the birch scrub near Small Pool. ID was clinched by examination of the hind wings which were pearly white.
A new fungus was added, Frosty Webcap, which was found in birch woodland near Big Pool south shore. Lots of Velvet Shank mushrooms were found. inside a rotting log a green jelly was tentatively IDed as a 'Star Jelly' species, a cyanobacteria.
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Tuesday 9th of November 2021 03:03:24 PM
4/11/2021 - Pine tree plantation at end of Georges Lane, Horwich.
Finally got my first Fly Agaric amongst the pine needles, also what looks very similar to what Doc posted recently a Blackening Waxcap in its early stages.
Two other fungi seen that I've had I.D. problems with are what I think are Birch Milkcap & Penny Bun.
Pics attached are 1. Fly Agaric; 2. Blackening Waxcap; 3. Birch Milkcap ? 4. Penny Bun ? - Please feel free to suggest otherwise.
On Newchurch Common this afternoon a patch of 8 Snowy Inkcap fungi was found today, all very small and just emerging, close to where I found my first 2 yesterday.
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Thursday 4th of November 2021 09:37:59 PM
Amazingly my first post for Newchurch Common in this thread since Oct 6th, I have a few catch ups for late October that didn't merit a post on there own, as well as todays highlights. The weather hasn't been kind for other taxa!! I still have quite a few fungi to ID so they can wait for another post!
Since my last post I discovered a big patch of Blackening Waxcap fungi, on the east side of Big Pool where I had jsu 2 last year. At least 30 Blackening Waxcaps were seen on 13th October, when all were waxy red in colour (pictured). Over the weeks they turned black (as they do, hence the name!) and a few still remain today in that black state. Today, in that same area, I found a new species of fungus for patch and a lifer for me in the shape of 2 Snowy Waxcaps, one pristine specimen and one that had gone over. Another nice find was 9 Collared Earthstar fungi by Shemmy Moss, again where they were last year. Lots of Candlesnuff Fungi are on stumps and branches at present, especially near the south shore of Big Pool. Also present are good numbers of Fly Agaric mushrooms, by Big Pool and on Shemmy and Abbot's Mosses (pictured). Other Fungi found in October were Brown Birch Bolete, by the Whitegate Way, Trooping Funnel, east of Small Pool amongst the pines, and Sycamore Tarspot (widespread on sycamore leaves). Pin Mould was also found, near the main track between the pools.
In late October a dead mouse that had been run over on the track between the pools looked large and was definitely an Apodemus species, I would love to claim it as a Yellow-necked Mouse on size but have to put it down as a Wood Mouse if I am being realistic! Also in late October the nettlebeds held several Caddisflies of the species Anabolia nervosa.
For today, the sunshine brought out some very late dragonflies. The most unexpected was a worn Southern Hawker seen on bracken by Shemmy Moss. More expected were 11 Common Darters, some pretty old too, on both Abbot's and Shemmy Mosses (pictured). The other insect in abundance was at least 30 x 7-spot Ladybirds, all on the mosses again.
3 Common Darter dragonflies still active in scrub area close to piles of well rotted manure.
A male Migrant Hawker dragonfly patrolled the reed tops by Pods Hide.
10+ coupled pairs of Common Darters were seen, especially close to the gate leading to Pods Hide.
Lots of Common Darter dragonflies were flying in the warm sunshine, including numerous coupled pairs.
12 coupled pairs, and a spare envious male, were seen focussing on one shallow bathtub sized puddle.
At Newchurch Common this afternoon in relatively warm weather with some sunny intervals:
A female Migrant Hawker was cathing flies over the nettles by Big Pool Island Cut.
Huge numbers of Common Nettle Tap moths were seen, every Ragwort plant was festooned with them.
The caddisfly Anabolia nervosa was added to the patch list, found in the nettle bed by Big Pool Island Cut. A Muscidae fly first recorded last year Phaonia subventa was on ivy near the NE corner of Big Pool. Common Froghopper was found in the same place. A Willow Flea Beetle (Crepidodera aurata) was also new for patch. The Long-jawed Orb-weaver Spider sp. Tetragnatha extensa was seen in profusion near Big Pool.
The first Witches Butter fungus of the autumn was on gorse north of Big Pool. Birch Woodwart (Annulohypoxylon multiforme) was a new fungus, on a dead birch branch near Big Pool Meadow. The Deceiver fungus was also found near Big Pool.
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Wednesday 6th of October 2021 11:08:51 PM
Dragonflies : Numerous Common Darters, especially around the pools, a coupled pair were seen by Pumphouse Pool.
2 male Migrant Hawkers were noted having an aerial tussle by the old canal behind the Eastern Reedbed, where the only
butterfly, a Comma, was seen today too.
Arable farmland West of Sankey Brook and Alder Lane.
Butterflies : 1 Comma and 1 Red Admiral.
Dragonflies : A few Common Darters appeared during the brief sunny spells between showers.
A Stoat showed very well and posed several times, until I got my camera out.