At least three orange-underwing moths on the wing today on the point of the ruck. These are the first that I have seen at the flash but I've been expecting them for years. Never thought I'd post a flight photo of a moth....
Wasn't looking for anything other than birds but noticed a cluster of around 30 Scarlet Elfcup along the path near to the bird table round the corner from Bunting Hide. Also seen 2 Blushing Bracket fungi near Teal Hide.
I don't normally take much interest in fungi, but I was fascinated with the beautiful colour of this fungus that I found in quite a few areas to the left of Teal Hide - I believe it's called Scarlet Elfcap.
Butterflies : 3 Speckled Woods, 1 Small Tortoiseshell, 1 Gatekeeper and 1 Small Copper.
Dragonflies : 2 Southern and 1 Migrant Hawkers patrolling the paths in the birch woods.
Robert Farmer said
Wed Aug 12 12:51 AM, 2020
2 pretty substantial Terrapins in the pond opposite (to the west of) the Tom Edmondson hide.
Both around 9 inches to a foot long, one was hauled out on a log on the far side of the pond opposite the 'viewing wall', the other was also out of the water about 10 yards to the left.
Ian McKerchar said
Tue Mar 17 10:02 AM, 2020
Brimstone active yesterday.
Info thanks to Bill Harrison
Jeff Gorse said
Sun Dec 15 11:03 AM, 2019
Weasel foraging very actively in the stretch from the Greenheart sculpture and into the woods in the direction of Pengy's Hide
Andy Bissitt said
Fri Sep 13 9:51 PM, 2019
Forgot to add this photo of a pair taken at distance with high magnification.
Not too bad in the end after early cool temperature, and some cloud subdued insect life. This was my annual pilgrimage to see migrant hawker, which does not yet occur in the far east of the county (unless you know different). Managed to see c20 when the sun finally got going mid p.m. including a couple of pairs in cop and egg laying. Also new for the site (for me) was a couple of ruddy darter males. 3 or 4 brown hawkers completed the odonata interest. Butterflies ending as they started (see last post), with only 3 common blues as stand-outs. No more than 5 of any species (speckled wood). Can't believe that this site does not get more postings. Are there no insect enthusiasts in the area at all?
Andy Bissitt said
Thu Jul 4 9:10 PM, 2019
Contrasting fortunes for our insects. Butterflies are in pitiful numbers this year (even more than before!), whilst dragonflies go from strength to strength. Numbers for today 10:15 - 3:15.
4 painted lady, 24 meadow brown, 2 small skipper, 6 large skipper, 2 ringlet, 2 red admiral, 4 brimstone, 1 comma, 1 gatekeeper, 1 tatty common blue. Moths: 1 silver 'Y', 3 cinnabar.
3 emperor, 8 banded demoiselle (1 fem.), 15 black-tailed skimmer (ovipositing by three fems observed), 59 red-eyed damselflies (on canal between Plank Ln and Flash footbridge), 3 broad-bodied chaser (1 fem. ovipositing), 1 brown hawker, 100's of the three other likely damselflies (common blue, blue-tailed, azure).
Best moment was when I was able to release a banded demoiselle from the threads of a spiders web with a carefully aimed stick (it was several meters away on the other side of the Hey Brook). Great to see it fly away unharmed.
Andy Bissitt said
Wed May 1 8:46 PM, 2019
On what was a very poor day weather-wise for most wildlife, a real bonus was finding a dark-edged bee-fly here. I don't know if they are seen regularly, but I've never seen one anywhere locally since I've recorded insects.
Steve Costa said
Mon Feb 18 12:22 AM, 2019
13/2/19
Three clumps of mistletoe (Viscum album) growing high in poplars - close to the main entrance and first car park. I don't recollect seeing it in GM before. Apparently, this is more or less the north-west end of its native UK distribution (it is introduced in some areas).
Andy Bissitt said
Tue Jun 26 9:20 PM, 2018
Not too dissimilar from what Shannon saw yesterday. Additions were the year's first gatekeeper, plus a comma, whilst I did not see common blue which was sad (might have seen a fly-by female). Managed six banded demoiselle (4 males), two of which chased each other around a small area for all but a few seconds of the fifteen minutes or so I watched them. A nearby pair just sat and watched. Only had a probable southern hawker and saw no emperor, but a four-spotted chaser was a scarce visitor for Pennington (I think). Up on the canal, there were 20-25 red-eyed damselflies either side of the footbridge. Way down on last year, but a large patch of lily-pads seems to have been lost on the southern bank.
Shannon Llewellyn said
Mon Jun 25 10:07 AM, 2018
Excellent day for odonata around here yesterday, with common blue, azure, blue-tailed and red-eyed damselflies, a trio of banded demoiselle (2 m, 1 f), plenty of black-tailed skimmer, a few brown hawker, and singles of southern hawker and emperor.
Plenty of butterflies, too, with small and large white, meadow brown, small skipper, common blue and speckled wood all in evidence.
Paul A Brown said
Mon May 28 2:22 PM, 2018
male common blue butterfly on the ruck this morning; first of the year for me
Shannon Llewellyn said
Sun May 20 10:46 PM, 2018
A few common blue damselflies around today, my first of the year for this species. A couple of red-eyed damselfy on the canal, too.
Andy Bissitt said
Thu Apr 19 8:48 PM, 2018
1st orange tip butterflies of the year (3 males) was uplifting: five species seen in all including at least 3 brimstone, 2 of which were a pair (female is not so yellow) in 'courtship' flight.
Paul A Brown said
Mon Apr 9 12:27 PM, 2018
Two male Brimstone butterfly along old pennington mineral line at circa 1120
Jeff Gorse said
Thu Mar 15 3:20 PM, 2018
Weasel foraging along the bank under the by-pass bridge
Shannon Llewellyn said
Sun Aug 27 8:25 PM, 2017
Still a few common blue butterfly on the ruck, but nowhere near the numbers from last visit; also about, green-veined white, speckled wood and small tortoiseshell.
Odonata:
c10 common blue damselfly 3 common darter 3+ migrant hawker (including one ovipositing in pond behind Ramsdale's Hide) 5 brown hawker Also a probable common hawker flitting around the spit.
Shannon Llewellyn said
Sun Aug 13 10:55 PM, 2017
Lots of butterflies flitting about over the ruck today; mostly common blue, but meadow brown and gatekeeper in good evidence, too. A few speckled wood around the wooded areas.
Common blue damselfly in reasonable numbers, a single black-tailed on the pond behind Ramsdale's Hide, and also a couple of red-eyed damselfly on the canal. Approaching double figures of both black-tailed skimmer (including a copulating pair) and brown hawker, too.
Andy Bissitt said
Wed Jul 19 1:33 PM, 2017
Monday 17th 10 a.m. - 15:30 p.m.
Nine species of odonata including no less than 42 red-eyed damselflies (several in tandem - see photo) on the canal between Plank Ln bridge and the steps down into Pennington Flash CP. One was also on the pond at Sorrowcow Farm (is it still called that?). Also 3 black-tailed skimmers (inc 1 fem. on rucks), and five banded demoiselles (inc 1 fem). Only southern hawker was missing really from what I thought I might see.
Butterflies not so exciting, with only gatekeeper (38) in any sort of number.
-- Edited by Andy Bissitt on Wednesday 19th of July 2017 09:04:23 PM
Hundreds of common blue damselfly (no azures amongst the ones I looked at closely enough) 1 blue-tailed damselfly (more of these on the canal) 2 banded demoiselle 1 black-tailed skimmer 5+ broad-bodied chaser 6+brown hawker
Chris Shaw said
Mon May 22 9:41 PM, 2017
a superb male broad bodied chaser today near ramsdales hide
Paul A Brown said
Mon May 8 2:57 PM, 2017
Holly Blue at green lane this morning.
Paul A Brown said
Mon Nov 7 4:35 PM, 2016
Common Darter near new viewing screen today.
Andy Bissitt said
Tue Aug 23 8:58 PM, 2016
15/08/16 (late as I thought the forum was gone!)
An insect hunt was fairly successful in the warm conditions. Easily the highlights were a single male black-tailed skimmer and, accidentally found on the canal, red-eyed damselflies (3) which I am assuming is a range expansion (not mapped on the latest dragonfly atlas to 2012). Best butterflies were 4 brimstone and c8 common blues.
Ian McKerchar said
Tue Aug 2 10:02 PM, 2016
On July 22nd 2016, Stan and Jane Harrison saw and photographed a Camberwell Beauty butterfly at Pennington Flash. This is the second record of this butterfly from our county this year, the first being from a garden in Stockport.
It was seemingly in the area around the back of the East Bay hide and was very active at the time of the sighting, hence the observers only managed the single image (attached) which regardless, they should be highly commended on!
My thanks to Judith Smith and Peter Hardy for information received.
Better for insects than birds today, with 9 species of butterfly, a moth, a 'new' beetle and the first damselflies of the year anywhere for me.
6 brimstone
4 large white
4 speckled wood
13 orange tip (inc 2 fems)
1 small tortoiseshell
1 comma
1 green-veined white
2 peacock
3 small white
1 common carpet
1 Green tiger-beetle, never seen here before in dozens of visits. Are they a recent addition?
several teneral damselflies, near certainly azure.
Birds about to go on the back-burner?
Gordon Newman said
Sat May 7 9:19 PM, 2016
Peacock and Brimstone Butterfly this afternoon
Gordon Newman said
Mon Mar 14 12:14 PM, 2016
SINGLE BRIMSTONE BUTTERFLY BY LEANING POSTS AT RAMSDALES REED BED A.M
Shannon Llewellyn said
Sun Mar 13 10:39 PM, 2016
A couple of brimstone and what I think was a small tortoiseshell today; first butterflies of the year.
Ian McKerchar said
Fri Oct 9 1:16 PM, 2015
Clouded Yellow butterfly present today, on short vegetation to the right of the concrete ramp before Horrocks Hide
Info thanks to Bill Harrison
Andy Bissitt said
Sun Sep 27 9:16 PM, 2015
Hunting for migrant hawkers to photograph, and two posed quite nicely, one on the south side, and after quite a test of patience, one below the canal. There were easily 15+ and, of course, I didn't get round everywhere.
Also:
7 comma 9 speckled wood 2 small tortoiseshell 1 small copper 1 red admiral 1 brimstone
6 silver 'Y' moths.
John Williams said
Fri Aug 21 2:01 PM, 2015
1 Southern Hawker hunting over a clump of balsam near the canal, appeared to be chasing bees, but did'nt catch any.
Shannon Llewellyn said
Sun Jul 5 7:11 PM, 2015
Lots of dragonfly skimming across the water from most hides today; impossible to identify any to species, though. Water from Pengy's hide was thick with damselfies, and those identified away from the water were common blue, blue tailed, and azure; they were everywhere, including the beaks of pied wagtail and chaffinch.
The only butterflies noted were red admiral, brimstone and meadow brown.
Jim Caulfield said
Sat May 23 6:51 AM, 2015
Friday 22 May afternoon 15:06
Lean and hungry fox seen at the end of the spit, and later moved along the north "coast" of the spit, and continued out of sight to the north, passing the big tree on the right. It did not seem to have been delayed by any contact, and all birds left the ground near the spit.
Hope all the young, and other grounded birds escaped it's attention on the rest of it's journey.
-- Edited by Jim Caulfield on Saturday 23rd of May 2015 07:00:13 AM
Bernard McGurrin said
Tue Apr 7 4:10 PM, 2015
3 brimstone butterfly + small tortoiseshell and several peacock,
Ian Boote said
Sat Mar 28 11:16 PM, 2015
Anemone apennina, blue anemone in flower, about 5 more locations for viola odorata sweet violet in flower, Sanguisorba minor Salad burnet very nearly in flower, and 30 alder leaf beetle, Agelastica alni just emerging on one tree.
Ringlet on the ruck this morning, the first I have seen at the flash but not unexpected since they seem to have spread north in recent years.
Banded Demoiselle behind Ramsdales Hide this afternoon and plenty of Northern/Southern/hybrid(?) Marsh Orchids at a few locations around the site.
Weasel running across the path near the canal was a nice surprise this morning.
Some fungi seen today just off the alternate muddy path between Teal & Bunting hides :-
Turkey Tail fungus; several very large Birch Polypore fungi & a 'White-rot Fungus.
At least three orange-underwing moths on the wing today on the point of the ruck. These are the first that I have seen at the flash but I've been expecting them for years. Never thought I'd post a flight photo of a moth....
Wasn't looking for anything other than birds but noticed a cluster of around 30 Scarlet Elfcup along the path near to the bird table round the corner from Bunting Hide. Also seen 2 Blushing Bracket fungi near Teal Hide.
A few Holly Blue butterflies at the western end of Pennington Flash this afternoon.
Quite a few Female Black-Tailed Skimmers today & an immaculately metallic coloured Male Banded Demoiselle.
A nice showing of Northern Marsh Orchids on Ramsdales Ruck.
Weasel shot across the footpath to Ramsdale's Hide and into the wooded area
Second fruiting of collared earthstar on the path from Sports Village onto the Flash
Mistletoe clumps in numerous trees now along the entrance drive
A stoat chasing a rat near to toilet block yesterday,rat evaded capture.........this time......
A single male Migrant Hawker dragonfly patrolled the open area in front of the Tom Edmundson hide.
Butterflies : Gatekeepers numerous around bramble patches, Meadow Browns likewise on Ramsdales Ruck.
Also 2 Small Skippers, 2 Green veined Whites and 1 Speckled Wood.
Dragonflies : 1 Emperor and 3 Brown Hawkers. 6 Black tailed Skimmers and 3 Common Darters.
Damselflies : 1 Large Red and lots of Common Blues.
Moths : Numerous Cinnabar moths on Ramsdales Ruck, 1 Clouded Border moth in sallows near Plank Lane carpark.
I don't normally take much interest in fungi, but I was fascinated with the beautiful colour of this fungus that I found in quite a few areas to the left of Teal Hide - I believe it's called Scarlet Elfcap.
Butterflies : 3 Speckled Woods, 1 Small Tortoiseshell, 1 Gatekeeper and 1 Small Copper.
Dragonflies : 2 Southern and 1 Migrant Hawkers patrolling the paths in the birch woods.
Both around 9 inches to a foot long, one was hauled out on a log on the far side of the pond opposite the 'viewing wall', the other was also out of the water about 10 yards to the left.
Brimstone active yesterday.
Info thanks to Bill Harrison
Weasel foraging very actively in the stretch from the Greenheart sculpture and into the woods in the direction of Pengy's Hide
Forgot to add this photo of a pair taken at distance with high magnification.
Not too bad in the end after early cool temperature, and some cloud subdued insect life. This was my annual pilgrimage to see migrant hawker, which does not yet occur in the far east of the county (unless you know different). Managed to see c20 when the sun finally got going mid p.m. including a couple of pairs in cop and egg laying. Also new for the site (for me) was a couple of ruddy darter males. 3 or 4 brown hawkers completed the odonata interest. Butterflies ending as they started (see last post), with only 3 common blues as stand-outs. No more than 5 of any species (speckled wood). Can't believe that this site does not get more postings. Are there no insect enthusiasts in the area at all?
Contrasting fortunes for our insects. Butterflies are in pitiful numbers this year (even more than before!), whilst dragonflies go from strength to strength. Numbers for today 10:15 - 3:15.
4 painted lady, 24 meadow brown, 2 small skipper, 6 large skipper, 2 ringlet, 2 red admiral, 4 brimstone, 1 comma, 1 gatekeeper, 1 tatty common blue. Moths: 1 silver 'Y', 3 cinnabar.
3 emperor, 8 banded demoiselle (1 fem.), 15 black-tailed skimmer (ovipositing by three fems observed), 59 red-eyed damselflies (on canal between Plank Ln and Flash footbridge), 3 broad-bodied chaser (1 fem. ovipositing), 1 brown hawker, 100's of the three other likely damselflies (common blue, blue-tailed, azure).
Best moment was when I was able to release a banded demoiselle from the threads of a spiders web with a carefully aimed stick (it was several meters away on the other side of the Hey Brook). Great to see it fly away unharmed.
On what was a very poor day weather-wise for most wildlife, a real bonus was finding a dark-edged bee-fly here. I don't know if they are seen regularly, but I've never seen one anywhere locally since I've recorded insects.
Three clumps of mistletoe (Viscum album) growing high in poplars - close to the main entrance and first car park. I don't recollect seeing it in GM before. Apparently, this is more or less the north-west end of its native UK distribution (it is introduced in some areas).
Not too dissimilar from what Shannon saw yesterday. Additions were the year's first gatekeeper, plus a comma, whilst I did not see common blue which was sad (might have seen a fly-by female). Managed six banded demoiselle (4 males), two of which chased each other around a small area for all but a few seconds of the fifteen minutes or so I watched them. A nearby pair just sat and watched. Only had a probable southern hawker and saw no emperor, but a four-spotted chaser was a scarce visitor for Pennington (I think). Up on the canal, there were 20-25 red-eyed damselflies either side of the footbridge. Way down on last year, but a large patch of lily-pads seems to have been lost on the southern bank.
Plenty of butterflies, too, with small and large white, meadow brown, small skipper, common blue and speckled wood all in evidence.
male common blue butterfly on the ruck this morning; first of the year for me
1st orange tip butterflies of the year (3 males) was uplifting: five species seen in all including at least 3 brimstone, 2 of which were a pair (female is not so yellow) in 'courtship' flight.
Two male Brimstone butterfly along old pennington mineral line at circa 1120
Weasel foraging along the bank under the by-pass bridge
Odonata:
c10 common blue damselfly
3 common darter
3+ migrant hawker (including one ovipositing in pond behind Ramsdale's Hide)
5 brown hawker
Also a probable common hawker flitting around the spit.
Common blue damselfly in reasonable numbers, a single black-tailed on the pond behind Ramsdale's Hide, and also a couple of red-eyed damselfly on the canal. Approaching double figures of both black-tailed skimmer (including a copulating pair) and brown hawker, too.
Monday 17th 10 a.m. - 15:30 p.m.
Nine species of odonata including no less than 42 red-eyed damselflies (several in tandem - see photo) on the canal between Plank Ln bridge and the steps down into Pennington Flash CP. One was also on the pond at Sorrowcow Farm (is it still called that?). Also 3 black-tailed skimmers (inc 1 fem. on rucks), and five banded demoiselles (inc 1 fem). Only southern hawker was missing really from what I thought I might see.
Butterflies not so exciting, with only gatekeeper (38) in any sort of number.
-- Edited by Andy Bissitt on Wednesday 19th of July 2017 09:04:23 PM
Hundreds of common blue damselfly (no azures amongst the ones I looked at closely enough)
1 blue-tailed damselfly (more of these on the canal)
2 banded demoiselle
1 black-tailed skimmer
5+ broad-bodied chaser
6+brown hawker
a superb male broad bodied chaser today near ramsdales hide
Holly Blue at green lane this morning.
Common Darter near new viewing screen today.
15/08/16 (late as I thought the forum was gone!)
An insect hunt was fairly successful in the warm conditions. Easily the highlights were a single male black-tailed skimmer and, accidentally found on the canal, red-eyed damselflies (3) which I am assuming is a range expansion (not mapped on the latest dragonfly atlas to 2012). Best butterflies were 4 brimstone and c8 common blues.
It was seemingly in the area around the back of the East Bay hide and was very active at the time of the sighting, hence the observers only managed the single image (attached) which regardless, they should be highly commended on!
My thanks to Judith Smith and Peter Hardy for information received.
Better for insects than birds today, with 9 species of butterfly, a moth, a 'new' beetle and the first damselflies of the year anywhere for me.
6 brimstone
4 large white
4 speckled wood
13 orange tip (inc 2 fems)
1 small tortoiseshell
1 comma
1 green-veined white
2 peacock
3 small white
1 common carpet
1 Green tiger-beetle, never seen here before in dozens of visits. Are they a recent addition?
several teneral damselflies, near certainly azure.
Birds about to go on the back-burner?
Info thanks to Bill Harrison
Also:
7 comma
9 speckled wood
2 small tortoiseshell
1 small copper
1 red admiral
1 brimstone
6 silver 'Y' moths.
The only butterflies noted were red admiral, brimstone and meadow brown.
Lean and hungry fox seen at the end of the spit, and later moved along the north "coast" of the spit, and continued out of sight to the north, passing the big tree on the right. It did not seem to have been delayed by any contact, and all birds left the ground near the spit.
Hope all the young, and other grounded birds escaped it's attention on the rest of it's journey.
-- Edited by Jim Caulfield on Saturday 23rd of May 2015 07:00:13 AM