21/6/21 2:30 to 3:30pm Dunkirk Area

Alerted by Jackdaws and Magpies to the presence of a very active Mink moving along the river bank.

Pole Bank Wood this afternoon

Peacock and Small Tortoiseshell

Ransoms not yet in flower and Wood Anemone

Brown Rat

Afternoon visit to Pole Bank Wood

Plenty of fungi, but most of it past its best.

Fly Agaric, several specimens, but only one in decent condition
Two possible Ballerina, I've seen them at the site before, but pretty much smashed, a shame they don't seem to last very long.

Afternoon visit to Dunkirk with Simon Ghilks

Six Banded Demoiselle on the Tame - maybe water levels being quite high could account for relatively low numbers

-- Edited by Karen Foulkes on Saturday 29th of June 2019 11:14:29 PM

A visit to Pole Bank Wood this afternoon

3 Speckled Wood
Holly Blue
Brimstone
Large White
5 Orange Tip
Grey Squirrel
Wood Anemone
Ransoms
Bluebells

Around Dunkirk area this afternoon with Simon Ghilks

20+ Banded Demoiselle on River Tame (mainly males)
3+ Brown Hawker

2 Comma
10+ Meadow Brown
Best of all though was a Painted Lady laying eggs on thistles

Small Tortoiseshell at Pole Bank Wood this afternoon

Pole Bank Wood today

I counted 32 Fly Agaric toadstools today, mostly in poor condition.
3 Grey Squirrel
1 hawker dragonfly species

Last week there were three Pink Waxcap (Ballerina) on site

Pole Bank Wood duck pond area

At least 6 Common Darter including two mating pairs
Brown Hawker
2 Blue-tailed Damselflies
2 Speckled Wood
2 Grey Squirrel

Dunkirk area

Brown Hawker
Large White
Speckled Wood
Grey Squirrel

-- Edited by Karen Foulkes on Friday 25th of August 2017 10:07:20 PM

2 Common Darters around the duck pond at Pole Bank Wood today

Late morning at Godley Hill Heathland SBI with Simon Ghilks

At least 10 Ringlets on the SBI and surrounding grassland area
6+ Speckled Wood
Large Skipper seemed to be everywhere with at least 15 present over the whole of the area
8+ Meadow Brown
Common Blue
4 6-spot Burnet

Pole Bank Wood

3 Grey Squirrels
Speckled Wood
Large White

The duck pond contained lots of tadpoles
Pond Skaters

Dunkirk area

Large White

Pole Bank Wood

Brown Hawker
Common Hawker
Common Darter
20+ Speckled Wood
Small Tortoiseshell
Large White
3+ Grey Squirrel

Pole Bank Wood

Common Hawker
Speckled Wood
4 Grey Squirrel

Dunkirk area this morning

4 Speckled Wood
3 Large White
2 Banded Demoiselle males
3 Brown Hawker
Grey Squirrel
Toadlet

Pole Bank Wood

3 Small Copper
Speckled Wood
5 Meadow Brown
8 Large White

Common Darter
Brown Hawker

Dunkirk area

A wonderful sight along the River Tame this afternoon with at least 20 male Banded Demoiselles and two females seen including one ovipositing. Also at least 20 Brown Hawkers in the general area. Perfect conditions this year for the Demoiselles.

Butterflies
Speckled Wood
Small Skipper
Meadow Brown
Large White
Gatekeeper

A visit to Godley Hill Heathland area with Simon Ghilks produced the hoped for Ringlets with us seeing at least 30. Other butterflies were in similar numbers to Simon's previous post.

I then went on to Brookfold Wood SBI where I recorded another 10 Ringlets, 6 Small Skipper, 3 Large White and 1 Gatekeeper. Also present 7-Spot Ladybird, Brown Hawker and a Chaser-type dragonfly I didn't see well enough to identify.

Godley Hill Heathland SBI and adjacent grassland

Had a visit here this lunch time as a follow up visit to see if the Ringlets that were seen last summer were still around and indeed they were, in quite large numbers, being by far the most numerous butterfly seen, noted 40+ probably many more hidden in the long grass. Also around, good numbers of Meadow Brown, a few Large and Small Skippers, 1 Gatekeeper, a couple of Small Tortoiseshell, 2 Speckled Wood and also the caterpillar of Peacock and Small Tortoiseshell feeding on nettle.

Morning visit to Pole Bank Wood

1 Large Skipper
7+ Meadow Brown
1 Speckled Wood

Simon

I think the phrase is touche (can't do an acute accent on this site)

You may be surprised to hear that Karen Foulkes has suggested the very same!!

I looked at the recording methods earlier in the year but got a bit bogged down. Don't worry - it is on my "to do" list, particularly now as the council seems to have sanctioned an outline plan to earmark land a suitable for housing on what is currently green belt land which stretches almost to the rifle ranges.

Thanks for the nudge though

David

Just done it David, thanks for the heads up I hadn't heard anything about this survey.
Also informed GMEU
Now, how about you submitting your excellent bird sightings from the Brushes area to the GMBRG.

Your County Needs You

Have you listed them on the Big Butterfly count, Simon?

Godley Hill SBI Sunday 21st July

1st visit here for an SBI bird survey. Nothing unusual regarding bird life but did note quite a few dark butterflies in the grassy areas and having read a recent post on the forum I had checked Ringlet ID in a guide so was aware that these looked very similar. Rechecking the guide later confirmed that they were indeed Ringlets.

Polebank-one of Hyde's Public Parks but not well advertised as it is also a residential home. Result some nice finds. The main pond is neglected and has had the water level reduced for some time as a six foot chestnut sapling is growing in one part. Nonetheless Yellow and white water lily, Skullcap, Gypsywort, Figwort and Yellow Iris. In the woods Enchanter Nightshade, Wood Anemone, Wood Sorrel, Ramsons gone over but huge swathes must have been a stunning display earlier, yellow pimpernel, Wood Speedwell Opposite Leaved Golden Saxifrage the and a fox.


Along the canal watermint, Banded Demoiselle waterdock, water plantain, more shullcap, brooklime, Arrowhead and the dreaded floating pennywort at the Manchester Road Bridge

Railway Spotted Orchid, Great Burnet coming into flower, Great Mullion, Hedge Bedstraw, Ragged Robin, Meadow Cranesbill, among others

And pretty sure Upland Enchanter Nightshade which this site has records for iD based on leaf shape compared to common Enchanter Nightshade

-- Edited by Ian Boote on Sunday 7th of July 2013 06:26:08 PM

Dunkirk Wood

A splendid showing of Bluebells!
Orange Tip
Speckled Wood
Small White
Small Copper

Broad-leaved Helleborine - I do a yearly count of this plant growing on the old railway line between Godley and Apethorn Lane, Hyde. Best counts up to and inc. 2011 have been 52 flowering spikes. This year has been exceptional with 107 flowering spikes counted yesterday and a considerable extension of its flowering range along the track. This species does poorly in dry summers so the wet spring and summer would appear to be to its liking.

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Wednesday 8th of August 2012 01:36:08 PM