2 bats sp - bigger than Pipistrelle but didnt seem as large as Noctule. I could hear their clicks. Flying at about 20 feet off the ground. Anyone any ideas? 1 Toad
Never seen so many Small Tortoishell butterflies for years,18 on one small patch of thistle flowers ,must have seen getting on for 100 in a walk around the rear of Little Woolden Moss, hopefully a sign that they're making a comeback.
Well over 40 Small Tortoishells on Little Woolden Moss this late afternoon/early evening and singles of Red Admiral, Peacock and best of all, a very approachable Painted Lady (photo handheld iPhone XS)
Lancashire Wildlife Trust are releasing Large Heath butterflies on the mosslands at the moment, hopefully to bring back this species to an area where it apparently was once common. There was an article about it in the Guardian recently and the releases are being shown live on Chester Zoos webcam. Let's hope it's a success and we get this species back for good.
White-faced darter too I believe, and bog bush-cricket. The moth, Manchester Treble-bar would also be nice, as it is named after our local area where it was first discovered. Pity all this is really too late for the likes of (most) of us!
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Ever wondered what the Earth was like before life evolved? Stick around.
Lancashire Wildlife Trust are releasing Large Heath butterflies on the mosslands at the moment, hopefully to bring back this species to an area where it apparently was once common. There was an article about it in the Guardian recently and the releases are being shown live on Chester Zoos webcam. Let's hope it's a success and we get this species back for good.
Took this pic this morning on Little Woolden Moss,presumably a day flying moths,nearest I can find is Latticed Heath which fits the bill for habitat and time. Anyone got any other ideas?
-- Edited by pete berry on Wednesday 20th of May 2020 04:00:29 PM
-- Edited by pete berry on Wednesday 20th of May 2020 04:16:51 PM
I don't think any other ideas are necessary Pete. Look good to me.
Andy
__________________
Ever wondered what the Earth was like before life evolved? Stick around.
Took this pic this morning on Little Woolden Moss,presumably a day flying moths,nearest I can find is Latticed Heath which fits the bill for habitat and time. Anyone got any other ideas?
-- Edited by pete berry on Wednesday 20th of May 2020 04:00:29 PM
-- Edited by pete berry on Wednesday 20th of May 2020 04:16:51 PM
1 Small Copper - my first of the year 4 male Orange Tip Good numbers of Four-Spotted Chasers including a one ovipositing. Plenty of Large Red Damselflies including a copulating pair.
The large numbers of dragonflies and damselflies attracting 2 feeding Hobbies.
A Stoat was hunting Rats which have tunneled into the manure heaps on the fields near Rindle woods. It caught a large rat which it dragged off towards the drainage ditch.
1 Stoat along the track near the eastern entrance of the reserve with a dead vole or mouse in its mouth. It then saw me and disappeared into the grass verge only to reappear a minute later without its prey. It continued to hunt reappearing and disappearing a few times. Do Stoats stash their prey and return for it later?
Also, it was noticeably white along half its tail and pale around its face as though in partial moult towards a white winter coat.
Lots of insects present on Little Woolden Moss today.
Butterflies: small copper, gatekeeper, skipper sp., meadow brown, small white, large white, speckled wood, painted lady, small tortoiseshell, peacock.
Odonata: common blue damselfly, emerald damselfly, banded demoiselle, black darter, common darter, four-spot chaser, southern hawker, common hawker, brown hawker, emperor.
Excellent day for insects for me on Little Woolden Moss today.
First damselfly of the year seen, in the shape of a single large red.
Also first orange tips of the year, in good numbers. Also small copper (single), small tortoiseshell, peacock (lots), speckled wood, large white and brimstone.
Only two common darter for me on Little Woolden Moss. Beautiful spider, too, but I have no idea what it was; ground-dwelling species, about 1cm long, dark, with a grey water droplet-shaped marking high on the abdomen, this flanked by two curved rufous blothes, and a pair of cream dots beneath; also two columns of three cream dots on the lower part of abdomen. Laughably, I tried to draw this, but unfortunately I have all the artistic talent of the spider itself.
Couple of pipistrelle sp. along Astley Road when heading back, too.
Mostly grey and overcast but then the sun came out and so did the insects.
A minimum of 16 Common Darters, some chasing around in groups of 3 , some perched on fences. Quite a late date for these. 1 Stoat hunting Un-named fungi (anyone help with this?)