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Post Info TOPIC: Sunfield Estate, Romiley (other wildlife)


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RE: Sunfield Estate, Romiley (other wildlife)


A quick 45 minutes round fields close to home this p.m. revealed a paucity of butterflies with only 5 seen. The quality was pretty good however, with singles of large skipper, painted lady and red admiral, the latter being my first one since February! For the record I also saw two speckled woods.



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First records of holly blue (seen from kitchen window) and 2 speckled woods (around Hilltop,although I'd seen one in the morning at Audenshaw). Also first female orange tip (just off Sunfield Estate).



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Romiley Golf Course area. p.m.

All eyes to the ground on a day like today (sorry birds), and managed an insect first which has somehow evaded me in the past. Gorse shieldbugs were everywhere, c30 counted but probably more. Also seen 3 species of ladybird (7-spot c25, 1 cream spot and c5 harlequin), drone fly, tawny mining bee, willow flea beetle (also new to me I think), and a few others which need research. Not many butterflies: 3-4 peacocks and 1 comma.



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A tree bumblebee was found on my doormat as I was leaving the house this afternoon. I took it to the back garden. Later, my brother found another one in the garden shed so must have been a waking-up kind of day for them.



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Amazingly managed to wrap up all 5 overwintering species before the end of February with Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell, RED ADMIRAL and 2 commas all seen on Werneth Low this p.m. (from the Greave end up to Hyde Cricket Club). Also a colony of about 30 mining bees was in full swing in the roadside bank, species yet to be checked but obviously an earlier than usual one. Don't expect to see a different species of butterfly now for at least a month so some good birds better turn up!



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Joy arrived! A local a.m. jaunt specifically for butterflies found a Brimstone north of Romiley Golf Course, and a Comma at Greave Fold. Sad that of the 5 butterflies which can over-winter as adults, the ones which struggled the most last Autumn (small tortoiseshell and peacock) prove the point that they are in a bad way by being beaten to the count by the two I did see.



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At least 3 species of bumble bee, 2 of hoverfly and two 7-spot ladybirds on the estate this afternoon. Seems ridiculous when just a few meters away there are redpolls and a brambling in my garden!



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First hoverfly seen yesterday, but I was neither 'equiped' nor near enough to it to name.



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Many honey bees both yesterday and today, but joined today by a white-tailed bumble bee and what was probably (haven't checked photo yet) a common wasp (a big one!).



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David Walsh wrote:
Andy Bissitt wrote:

 

At least 4 honey bees on the mahonia today, plus other 'bluebottle-ish' insects. Are they too early as they were last year?



 



You had them in January last year, Andy. Honey bees fly according to the outside temperature, not time of year, so could be seen on any day of the year, at temperatures above six or seven Celsius. In periods of prolonged cold, they will take "toilet flights" even in extremely cold conditions.

This week promises to be a decent one for bees, so don't hang out any white washing wink


 Thank you David. My remark was really with reference to the fact I had seen them in January last year, and we all know what happened after that. I guess they just go back to bed (good idea)!

 



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Andy Bissitt wrote:

At least 4 honey bees on the mahonia today, plus other 'bluebottle-ish' insects. Are they too early as they were last year?





You had them in January last year, Andy. Honey bees fly according to the outside temperature, not time of year, so could be seen on any day of the year, at temperatures above six or seven Celsius. In periods of prolonged cold, they will take "toilet flights" even in extremely cold conditions.

This week promises to be a decent one for bees, so don't hang out any white washing wink

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At least 4 honey bees on the mahonia today, plus other 'bluebottle-ish' insects. Are they too early as they were last year?



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A bee species (not honey) flew from a mahonia bush as I approached it this afternoon. Snowdrops are well advanced and daffodils are a few inches high. Must be time for Winter to start!



-- Edited by Andy Bissitt on Tuesday 8th of January 2019 09:31:14 PM

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Tried to extend the last record date for small copper today as it might not be a good day tomorrow, and temperatures will fall thereafter, and 5 or 6 were still on the golf course with the comma as seen as Thursday. 2 red admirals were an addition to the scene.



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Andy Bissitt wrote:

An afternoon visit to the Romiley golf course area brought a record count of ten small coppers, along with single speckled wood and comma. A single common darter was at the pond. Small copper is having its best year ever, certainly over a wider area than usual.


 Photograph now added.



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An afternoon visit to the Romiley golf course area brought a record count of ten small coppers, along with single speckled wood and comma. A single common darter was at the pond. Small copper is having its best year ever, certainly pver a wider area than usual.



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Small copper in garden this p.m. I think only the second in 32 years. Red admiral continues to visit too.



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One of the (few) brief sunny periods this morning enticed red admiral, comma and painted lady into the garden. A welcome dash of colour in what is fast becoming a drab and lifeless Autumn.



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Holly blues have been almost ever present in my garden during Spring/Summer, but I thought they might have 'finished' due to poor recent weather. However, after a six day gap, one appeared during a brief sunny slot this morning and my hope that they would make it into September was back on. It proved to be a short hope unfortunately as a chiffchaff, which had been inspecting the food I'd put out, homed in from low in an apple tree and plucked it out of the air before it could hide in the runner beans!!! Sometimes it's hard to like insects and birds.

Also in the garden, 9 alder leaf beetles were in view at once low down on alder regrowth. A massive increase after only seeing the first ever last Spring.



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One of the ponds on the golf course had 8 common darters, 2 brown hawkers (1 ovipositing), 3 blue-tailed and 1 or 2 emerald damsels.



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For those who are interested in these sorts of things (and why wouldn't you be?), an alder sawfly was present in my garden yesterday. Apparently this had to be a female as they reproduce through parthenogenisis. This is why insects are so fascinating.



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In brief window of sunshine this morning, first painted lady of year for me was in the garden. Was apparently here yesterday too, but I wasn't!



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14 species of butterfly around the golf course area which inevitably included a first site record of purple hairstreak (see previous post) with no less than 7 seen , 1 in one tree and the others in another about 100 meters away. As the species tally did not include small tortoiseshell or red admiral (both 'missing'), it was very respectable. Amongst others seen: 2 small copper, 3 holly blue, 6 peacock, 4 comma, 28 gatekeepers & 1 large skipper hangs on. Also recorded 1 antler moth and 10 silver 'Y'. 1 brown hawker.



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Astonishing record of a purple hairstreak nectaring on one of my garden buddleias this evening. This is their Summer, no doubt. I would not have bet on ever having one in my garden even at 500-1.



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Unbelievable record of a female purple hairstreak in neighbour's sycamore this evening! It was right over the garden border and gave good views through binoculars (even opened wings flat showing little purple, hence the female analysis). Just so I could count it properly, it left after a battle with a holly blue and flew over 'my' airspace. As good as any wildlife experience ever encountered from my garden. biggrin



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As if to prove my previous post, I checked the oaks in the hedgerow running along the footpath that borders Sunfield estate this afternoon and saw two purple hairstreaks flitting around, one basking in the sun eventually. This is only 50 meters from my front door!



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An afternoon vigil at Quarry Rd. railway bridge (Romiley) at last brought the sight of a purple hairstreak after about 10 years of looking! Better still, it settled over the road about 12 feet up in an oak and I was able to get a pretty good shot considering the breeze and distance (near maximum magnification used). Another individual was also seen in the oaks. A stroll afterwards to Romiley Common (about half a mile away) gave more distant but clear views of another one. If you haven't seen a purple hairstreak in the county, this is the year to.

 

 



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Things looking up in the butterfly world. A patch of flowering thistles by the Marina held 8 small tortoiseshell and a couple of commas. A holly blue was seen from Quarry Rd rail bridge.



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After 31 years, still getting new species of moth for the garden. Last night it was slender brindle, which is rated as having only local distribution, so not bad. Glad it managed to avoid the pipistrelle type bat which was cruising the garden at dusk.



-- Edited by Andy Bissitt on Tuesday 3rd of July 2018 09:58:25 PM

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First ringlets of the year around the golf course area yesterday (c15), and small numbers of meadow brown, large skipper and 2 fresh speckled woods. Double figure numbers of narrow-bordered 5-spot burnets also. Not too bad as it was 98% cloudy. Obviously today was worse, but I did find the larva of a mullein moth in the garden this evening, which was a first. Not total gloom then.

Andy.



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Incredible (and scary) that on a day like today I saw more moths than butterflies during a couple of hours round the golf course area. Half a dozen silver 'Y', 5 silver-ground garpet, 1 clouded silver and the first cinnabar of the year. Only butterflies were a small scattering of whites (inc orange tip). Was perked up a bit by the sight of three different broad-bodied chasers (adult fem, sub-adult male, and immature of unknown sex), and a few damsels of three species. Best was a fast-escaping large blue/green hawker, which can only have been a very early Southern, that fled over the trees.

In last 30 mins, lily beetle and pipistrelle type bat in/over garden.



-- Edited by Andy Bissitt on Sunday 27th of May 2018 09:27:49 PM

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First local odonata recorded; first yesterday (12th) on Romiley Common, a large red damselfly (1st for site). Today at the golf course there was also an LRD, and also 8 azures. Insects at last responding to spring with a massive hatch of red & black froghoppers, and a couple of moths disturbed viz. common carpet and small phoenix (site first).

Just after typing this, went downstairs to close curtains and a moth, no doubt from last night's abortive trapping attempt- it started raining, flew out. Turned out to be a waved umber, a first for the garden. Excellent.



-- Edited by Andy Bissitt on Sunday 13th of May 2018 10:05:02 PM

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First pipistrelle type bat of the year flying round the garden in the last hour - good news.



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After an awful afternoon wearing myself out walking round the local Country Park and, frankly, being bored stiff, returned home to find a comma in my garden! 



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Seeing as we don't all get to hear a first cuckoo as a sign of Spring any more, the first butterfly has to be the substitute. 2 peacocks at Romiley golf course this afternoon, plus a small number of bees, probably of the andrena species. Will be checking photos.



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Andy Bissitt wrote:

 David,

I guess as you call them 'mine', you own a hive or hives? If not, you obviously have a better eye for them than I do. My best and most recent guide book on insects states that March is the time you might start to see them, but I know quite a few insects buck the trend in mild conditions. I hope to see more very soon. I cannot get by on birds alone any more; there aren't enough around these days.

Andy





Andy,

I do indeed have hives, and so do notice the comings and goings of the honeybees more than most. Although I own the hives, I sometimes feel that the bees own me - they obviously haven't read the manuals! Good job they've been around for millions of years, and seem to know what they're doing. smile

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David Walsh wrote:
Andy Bissitt wrote:

 

The rather out-of-season sighting of at least 10 honey bees feeding on a flowering mahonia just near my front door at 11.30 a.m. Also a bluebottle. Soon be Spring (but not this week!)



 



Honeybees forage whenever the temperature rises above six or seven degrees, Andy. Mine have been collecting pollen from cobnut and hamamelis in the garden for the past three weeks. Sometimes sunshine can lure them out in freezing conditions, when telltale smudges of yellow faeces in the snow give them away (or on neighbours' cars). smile


 David,

I guess as you call them 'mine', you own a hive or hives? If not, you obviously have a better eye for them than I do. My best and most recent guide book on insects states that March is the time you might start to see them, but I know quite a few insects buck the trend in mild conditions. I hope to see more very soon. I cannot get by on birds alone any more; there aren't enough around these days.

Andy



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Andy Bissitt wrote:

The rather out-of-season sighting of at least 10 honey bees feeding on a flowering mahonia just near my front door at 11.30 a.m. Also a bluebottle. Soon be Spring (but not this week!)





Honeybees forage whenever the temperature rises above six or seven degrees, Andy. Mine have been collecting pollen from cobnut and hamamelis in the garden for the past three weeks. Sometimes sunshine can lure them out in freezing conditions, when telltale smudges of yellow faeces in the snow give them away (or on neighbours' cars). smile

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The rather out-of-season sighting of at least 10 honey bees feeding on a flowering mahonia just near my front door at 11.30 a.m. Also a bluebottle. Soon be Spring (but not this week!)



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Another pipistrelle type sighting today at 3.20, so light was still good. Flying quite low round a residential area just one block back from the busy 'High St.' through Romiley.



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2 or 3 pipistrelle type bats along Healdwood Rd after sunset this evening taking advantage of the weather window.



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November, and we still have butterflies! Isn't climate change wonderful wink . I red admiral in the garden and 2 or 3 around Hilltop near home. Every chance of still being around tomorrow and beyond...



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13 red admirals were nectaring on a fairly small patch of ivy at Hyde Bank this p.m., plus a single speckled wood.



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Romiley golf course area again. One of the ponds had 2 male southern hawkers, an ovipositing brown hawker and one or two common darters. Just like summer was supposed to have been! Hoverfly sericomyia silentis seen for second time in last two visits.



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A butterfly bonanza by recent standards. Romiley golf course - p.m.

8 red admiral

5 comma

2 peacock

1 small tortoiseshell.

probable speckled wood too, but let's not be greedy.



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Only second-ever appearance of dark sword-grass in the moth trap last night. Little else (dusky thorn excepted), but that didn't matter.



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In a very routine moth year, a new one for the garden is a red-letter day (well, night), even the strangely named Old Lady. Only one previous encounter with this species, about ten years ago, in a pub in Marple (the barstaff thought I'd gone mad when I asked for a glass to rescue a moth). Always gives you hope that there is something new out there to catch. 



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2 pipistrelle sp. bats outside front door (during break in innings in T20 quarter-final). First time I've seen more than one for some time, so good news. One was feeding constantly just a foot or two from the ground.



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Romiley Golf Course this p.m.

46 gatekeeper, 53 small skipper, c75 meadow brown, c40 ringlet, 8 (min) green-veined white, 3 red admiral, 1 comma , and, the losers this year so far, 1 small copper and 1 small tortoiseshell. 

2 brown hawker on grassland, and 1 ovipositing in pond, 1 emperor, and first common darter of the year. Pond also had blue-tailed and azure damsel. Pond poor this year due to clearance of water weed and other aquatic stuff during winter meaning less places for larva to hide from fish.



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Another day, another new butterfly for the garden - this time even better; a ringlet. Just as with the skipper yesterday, it was bound to be just a 'fly-through', until the giant butterfly trap that is our greenhouse intercepted it. Luckily, I saw it enter and was able to capture it for study and confirmation. To think there were none anywhere in the area only 5 or so years ago, now it's a garden species!

Also today: holly blue, meadow brown again, comma and red admiral. There have been more species in the last two days than in the previous six months put together. Also mothing last evening had a July Highflyer, only 2nd ever in 20-odd years.



-- Edited by Andy Bissitt on Sunday 9th of July 2017 08:49:21 PM

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