A yellow hawker flying around the brook below Bradshaw Lodges. I had to settle for just an immature Southern Hawker rather than a Golden-ringed.
Ian Boote said
Wed Jun 25 8:23 PM, 2014
Down at the bottom of Longsight park across the brook is an Arboretum. That was the tip off and things found included sure Dawn Redwood, Sweet Chestnut, Spindle, Holly Oak and a raft of others to ID.
David Lumb said
Thu Apr 17 8:21 PM, 2014
Water Vole at Firwood Lodges.
Spotted swimming right in front of us as myself and a friend were watching a Moorhen disappear into the bushes/reeds. My first one locally for over 10 years (the last one being on Dunscar Lodges) and my mate said it was probably his first sighting since he was a kid. That is a long time for someone who was celebrating his 59th birthday today. Couldn't think of anything better for a birthday present.
David Lumb said
Wed Jun 26 4:14 AM, 2013
I started at Ousel Nest Meadow in bright sunlight with 10 Large Skippers & a Meadow Brown (my first one this year). Soon clouded over with only a few sunny spells for the rest of the trip. Hence not many more butterflies. Insects of note :-
Ousel Nest Meadow :- There seemed to be more Chimney Sweepers than on my last visit, maybe as many as 75. 2 Silver Y, 6 Silver-ground Carpets. Lots of micro moths including Timothy Tortrix, Nettle-tap, Bactra lancealana, Celypha lacunana. Broad-bodied Chasers. Large Red & Azure damselflies.
Bradshaw Hall :- Marbled Minor. Pretty sure it is this species, but as the books say "Highly variable & only separable with certainty from comparably variable Rufous Minor & Tawny Marbled Minor by differences in genitalia, a simple operation with males". I can get funny looks when saying I am checking moths when bent down in a grassy area. If I said I was checking genitalia the police helicopter would probably be scrambled !
Bradshaw Hall to Bradshaw Cricket Club :- Broad-bodied Chasers & Azure damselflies on the man made ponds. 1 male Orange Tip Silver-ground Carpets, Nettle-taps, Celypha lacunanas.
Longsight Park :- Brown-lipped Snail 1 Large Skipper, 1 Green-veined White, 1 Speckled Wood Silver-ground Carpets, Nettle-taps My first shieldbug of the year, a Forest Bug. A few Tree Wasps. Lots of the usual common bumble bees & Bombus hypnorum.
Firwood Lodges :- Azure, Common Blue, & Blue-tailed damselflies
A few minutes after finishing today's insect search I added a 2-spot ladybird. It landed on the table next to my pint as I rested my weary limbs in The Bolton Castle.
Robert Farmer said
Wed Feb 6 10:02 PM, 2013
Pete Welch wrote:
Excellent videos and what a bonus to have Badgers in your garden!
Thanks Pete.
There are some new videos on my YouTube page now including a couple of a badger 'table dancing' - after a certain amount of effort he climbs on the table then has a bit of a job getting down again!
Pete Welch said
Thu Jan 10 4:47 AM, 2013
Excellent videos and what a bonus to have Badgers in your garden!
Robert Farmer said
Thu Jan 10 2:33 AM, 2013
Robert Farmer wrote:
Saw a female deer (or possibly juvenile - it had a white rump if that helps?) this morning, just the other side of my back garden fence. My garden backs on to the wooded and open land adjacent to Longsight Lane and the disused Bolton Open Golf Course.
Never seen them here before, but it may explain who has been trashing my bird table 'cage' most night nights recently? I had assumed it was foxes but didn't think they would be that keen on sunflower hearts and peanuts.
Saw a female deer (or possibly juvenile - it had a white rump if that helps?) this morning, just the other side of my back garden fence. My garden backs on to the wooded and open land adjacent to Longsight Lane and the disused Bolton Open Golf Course.
Never seen them here before, but it may explain who has been trashing my bird table 'cage' most night nights recently? I had assumed it was foxes but didn't think they would be that keen on sunflower hearts and peanuts.
David Lumb said
Wed Sep 5 2:36 AM, 2012
Bradshaw Cricket Club :- 1 Brown Hawker 1 Silver Y
Firwood Lodges :- 4 Brown Hawkers 12 Common Darters A couple of damselflies which were either Common Blue or Azure. Did not get a good enough look to identify.
2 Peacocks were on a Buddleia in Firwood Fold, and a Red Admiral flew past me at the bus stop on Tonge Moor Road.
Adrian Drummond-Hill said
Sat Sep 1 8:59 PM, 2012
Last night I had a fox in the back garden. It was searching out worms, pulling them from the lawn and eating them. Below is a link to a Youtube video.
Spotted swimming right in front of us as myself and a friend were watching a Moorhen disappear into the bushes/reeds. My first one locally for over 10 years (the last one being on Dunscar Lodges) and my mate said it was probably his first sighting since he was a kid. That is a long time for someone who was celebrating his 59th birthday today. Couldn't think of anything better for a birthday present.
Ousel Nest Meadow :-
There seemed to be more Chimney Sweepers than on my last visit, maybe as many as 75.
2 Silver Y, 6 Silver-ground Carpets. Lots of micro moths including Timothy Tortrix, Nettle-tap, Bactra lancealana, Celypha lacunana.
Broad-bodied Chasers. Large Red & Azure damselflies.
Bradshaw Hall :-
Marbled Minor. Pretty sure it is this species, but as the books say "Highly variable & only separable with certainty from comparably variable Rufous Minor & Tawny Marbled Minor by differences in genitalia, a simple operation with males". I can get funny looks when saying I am checking moths when bent down in a grassy area. If I said I was checking genitalia the police helicopter would probably be scrambled !
Bradshaw Hall to Bradshaw Cricket Club :-
Broad-bodied Chasers & Azure damselflies on the man made ponds.
1 male Orange Tip
Silver-ground Carpets, Nettle-taps, Celypha lacunanas.
Longsight Park :-
Brown-lipped Snail
1 Large Skipper, 1 Green-veined White, 1 Speckled Wood
Silver-ground Carpets, Nettle-taps
My first shieldbug of the year, a Forest Bug. A few Tree Wasps. Lots of the usual common bumble bees & Bombus hypnorum.
Firwood Lodges :-
Azure, Common Blue, & Blue-tailed damselflies
A few minutes after finishing today's insect search I added a 2-spot ladybird. It landed on the table next to my pint as I rested my weary limbs in The Bolton Castle.
Thanks Pete.
There are some new videos on my YouTube page now including a couple of a badger 'table dancing' - after a certain amount of effort he climbs on the table then has a bit of a job getting down again!
Mystery solved...
(and also, why badgers should wear hard hats!)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xUvvUkx3Y1Y
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TkNeZvUJvZU
Never seen them here before, but it may explain who has been trashing my bird table 'cage' most night nights recently? I had assumed it was foxes but didn't think they would be that keen on sunflower hearts and peanuts.
1 Brown Hawker
1 Silver Y
Firwood Lodges :-
4 Brown Hawkers
12 Common Darters
A couple of damselflies which were either Common Blue or Azure. Did not get a good enough look to identify.
2 Peacocks were on a Buddleia in Firwood Fold, and a Red Admiral flew past me at the bus stop on Tonge Moor Road.
http://youtu.be/wkP-sTb-v-Y