Out-of-county (other wildlife)

Doc Brewster · Status: Online

Out-of-county (other wildlife)

Shannon Llewellyn · Status: Offline

A few bits and bobs seen when visiting a friend down in London:

Kew Gardens:

Palmate newt, smooth newt.
Common blue damselfly, azure damselfly, red-eyed damselfly, blue-tailed damselfly, large red damselfly (laying).

WWT Barnes:

Hairy dragonfly, common blue damselfly, blue-tailed damselfly, azure damselfly.
Thick-faced fly, possibly Sicus ferrugineus.
Southern marsh orchid, pyramidal orchid, bee orchid.

Doc Brewster · Status: Online

A Common Lizard was again seen basking in the morning sun on the south side of the patch. Nearby my first sighting of the year of Brown Hawker Dragonfly with two fresh individuals seen. A Common Darter Dragonfly was again by Small Pool. Scores of Common Blue and Blue-tailed Damselfies were present again. Lots of Common Twayblade were in flower in the woods.

John Williams · Status: Offline

Moore NR 09.30-13.00

Lapwing Lane

1 Common Carpet Moth

Birchwood Pool

1 "Volucella Pellucens" hover-fly on brambles and 2 Speckled Wood butterflies.

Alongside Pumphouse Pool

Several Azure and a couple of Blue Tailed Damselflies near the steps into Birchwood, and a pair of mating Common Blue Damselflies by the embankment.

The only dragonfly seen was a dead 4 Spotted Chaser near the Phoenix Hide.

Doc Brewster · Status: Online

On Newchurch Common today my first Painted Lady butterfly for here (see picture), also Meadow Brown, Speckled Wood (big numbers!) and Small White.

Another good Odonata day. My first Common Darter, a teneral individual. Up to 4 Downy Emeralds with one ovipositing. A female Black-tailed Skimmer ovipositing and a male basking. Four-spot Chasers and the usual damselflies - Large Red, Common Blue, Azure, Blue-tailed and Red-eyed.

Two Common Lizards were basking on logs and lots of hoverflies and scorpion flies were out.

I was really pleased to find my first Scallop Shell moth, a beautifully marked creature (see picture).

Lawrence Hindley · Status: Offline

Here are the 10 species of butterfly seen on a visit to Boilton Wood and Brockholes yesterday.
1 Small Skipper
10+ large Skipper
2 Small White
1 Green Veined White
many Meadow Brown
5+ Speckled Wood
10+ Ringlet
2 Painted Lady
3 Small Tortoiseshell
1 Small Copper

Doc Brewster · Status: Online

At Newchurch today no reptiles but an amphibian - a Common Frog!

Most notable for dragons & damsels. Two new patch species for me in a male Emperor Dragonfly on the heath at the south of patch, and a male Black-tailed Skimmer on Sandiway Big Pool. Also on Big Pool a Downy Emerald, my first on there, and a few Four-spot Chasers. Around site there were also Large Red Damselfly, Red-eyed Damselfly. Blue-tailed Damselfly, Common Blue Damselfly and Azure Damselfly. Butterflies included lots of Meadow Browns and Speckled Woods, one Small White and a few Large Skippers. Lots of Scorpion Flies about as well as several hoverfly species, which I have photographed & IDed for the Newchurch 2016 Report smile

Doc Brewster · Status: Online

John Williams wrote:
Regarding the Small Skipper sighting on Woolston's No 3 Bed (Seen close to path near the Rotary Hide), around 7pm last night.

Thanks for the response Paul, I've checked out the link/site you suggested, but the first sighting this year was in the South, late last month.

I omitted to put in my report last night that a couple of male Azure damselflies were seen near the footbridge around 5.30pm.

You need to submit it please as none flying this week anywhere. It can get overlooked. I once found the first flying Clouded Yellow in the UK one year & the first Painted Lady for Cheshire one year, so someone has to find firsts, yours will be the first for Cheshire & I'm a member of the local Butterfly Conse4rvation group so please submit, otherwise records lost for science!

-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Tuesday 21st of June 2016 11:12:18 PM

-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Tuesday 21st of June 2016 11:12:43 PM

John Williams · Status: Offline

Regarding the Small Skipper sighting on Woolston's No 3 Bed (Seen close to path near the Rotary Hide), around 7pm last night.

Thanks for the response Paul, I've checked out the link/site you suggested, but the first sighting this year was in the South, late last month.

I omitted to put in my report last night that a couple of male Azure damselflies were seen near the footbridge around 5.30pm.

Joel Tragen · Status: Offline

Rhoscolyn saturday 18th
2 painted lady butterflies (one being very raggedy)
1 common blue butterfly (nice colour variant female)
but best of all was a green tiger beetle spotted sun bathing 10cm from a painted lady

Doc Brewster · Status: Online

John Williams wrote:
Woolston No3 Bed ( Early evening)

1 Small Skipper butterfly, several Common Carpet moths and 4 "Bird Dropping" micro moths.

Along the track by the ferry, a rabbit, one of many, was seen chasing off a Magpie.

That could be the first Small Skipper record for the UK this year John, worth contacting UK Butterflies to register the sighting, they log all such stuff in their flying this week section (see here http://www.ukbutterflies.co.uk/flighttimes_this_week.php

The adults are due out any time now, so I'm not being flippant, worth recording the first sightings for scientific purposes smile

-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Monday 20th of June 2016 11:19:30 PM

John Williams · Status: Offline

Woolston No3 Bed ( Early evening)

1 Small Skipper butterfly, several Common Carpet moths and 4 "Bird Dropping" micro moths.

Along the track by the ferry, a rabbit, one of many, was seen chasing off a Magpie.

Lawrence Hindley · Status: Offline

Had a wonderful butterfly watching on the hillside below the Giant at Cerne Abbas in Dorset on 11.06.16.
Saw 14 species including some never seen before. Numbers given when in smaller amounts as the hillside was heaving with butterfly's.
1 Dingy Skipper
3 Grizzled Skipper
Large Skipper
Large White
Small White
Speckled Wood
Small Heath
3 Ringlet
Meadow Brown
Red Admiral
Small Tortoiseshell
3 Painted Lady
Marsh Fritillary (large numbers of this scarce species)
3 Adonis Blue

Doc Brewster · Status: Online

Again a fantastic Grass Snake on my Newchurch Common patch today. Dull but still saw Large Skipper, Meadow Brown and Speckled Wood butterflies. Blue-tailed Damselfly and Common Blue Damselfly were the only ones seen. Also photographed Bog Hoverfly (Sericomyia silentis).

Shannon Llewellyn · Status: Offline

A few of the highlights of non-bird species seen in Anglesey last week:

Small heath, common blue (much courtship and mating activity), painted lady (loads; never seen so many), cinnabar.

Lots of robber flies amongst the dunes; what fabulous, brutal looking creatures they are.

Common blue damselfly, azure damselfly, blue-tailed damselfly, common darter, southern hawker.

Common pipistrelle, noctule and what was most likely brown long-eared bat; lots of rabbits.

Dead small-spotted catshark on the beach; sad to see any animal dead, but still a fantastic creature to see, and the first wild elasmobranch I've seen in any state. Picked it out of the pool to examine, and was pestered madly by a couple's small dog.

Bee orchid.

Ian McKerchar · Status: Offline

Originally posted today by John O'Neil:

Gatewarth, Cheshire:

Lots of newly emerged (if that's the correct term) toads, swarming over paths near wooden bridge .Tiny. No surprise to see a Heron in close attendance here.
Family of newly fledged Magpies with two adult birds.

Plenty of Marsh Orchids still out, many plants over now though.
In contrast one Pyramidal Orchid just coming out.

Ian McKerchar · Status: Offline

Originally posted today by John O'Neil.

Penketh/Great Sankey, Cheshire:

Bold Heath

Grassy Banks on approach road to Swinton (previously Hire Co) not so heavily mowed this year, good nos of Bee Orchids. I counted at least 20 spikes fully out.
Marsh Orchids (Southern, I'd say) more conspicuous on nearby grass verges than on bank itself.

Joel Tragen · Status: Offline

Lapwing lane pools
Insects: silver y moths, cinnabar moths and lots of micro moths, meadow brown butterflies, common blue damselflies, a broad bodied chaser and lots of spcorpion flies
and what looked to be a leucistic rabbit

Steven Nelson · Status: Offline

Rixton Clay Pits NR (pm)

Moths: Blood Vein plus a number of others I've got to try to ID !
Butterflies: 1 Painted Lady, Common Blue, Meadow Brown, Little Skipper, Speckled Wood
Dragonflies: numerous Broad-bodied Chasers - very active
Damselflies: Common Red, Blue-tailed, Common Blue, Banded Demoiselle

Flowers:An excellent number of Northern Mash Orchids. Lots of other interesting species including Black Bryony, Yellow Rattle and Salad Burnett
The newt pool that is good for Great crested and Smooth Newts looks in a poor state. It seems polluted and no newts were seen.

-- Edited by Steven Nelson on Sunday 12th of June 2016 06:48:58 PM

-- Edited by Steven Nelson on Sunday 12th of June 2016 06:52:03 PM

John Williams · Status: Offline

(AM)

Haydn Pool

1 Dark Arches moth

Dairyhouse Meadows

1 Red Admiral butterfly

Several Silver Ground Carpet moths

The only butterflies around Neumanns a couple of Speckled Woods.

Doc Brewster · Status: Online

Another Grass Snake today at Newchurch Common, by Sandiway Big Pool this time, I'm tripping over them this year, that's 3 in a week! Also a Common Wave moth. A female Scorpion Fly photographed and a new Snipe Fly (Chrysopilus cristatus) was photographed. Several more Meadow Browns were on the wing.

John Williams · Status: Offline

Haydn Pool

Around 7.00pm

1 Brown Silver Lined and 2 Silver Ground Carpet Moths, plus the first Clegs of the year. Baby Rabbits in abundance throughout Neumanns and Haydn complex, some so tame

you can get close enough to touch them.

Doc Brewster · Status: Online

At Newchurch my first Large Skippers of the year with 2 seen along with a Brimstone, 5 Speckled Woods, Small & Large Whites. Yellow Shell moth was seen as well as Silver-ground Carpet and Brown Silver-lines. Three Ladybird species were seen, namely 14-Spot, 2-Spot and Harlequin Ladybirds.

The usual 7 species of Dragon & Damselflies were seen and now 3 Red-eared Terrapins were hunting the lily pads in Sandiway Small Pool.

Doc Brewster · Status: Online

With yesterday being sunny again I headed down to Newchurch Common with birds as my secondary interest.

I had been searching likely reptile areas for the past week and come up with three Common Lizards which I was well cuffed with. But yesterday it was a red letter day with a large female Grass Snake being found on my patch. I had expected this with talk of them being seen by others, but to find one myself was the icing on the cake smile

A Common Blue Butterfly, a Meadow Brown, Small White, Peacock and Speckled Wood were all seen. Three Downy Emerald Dragonflies (at least) were still on the wing as well as 4+Four-spot Chasers, Large Red Damselfly, Red-eyed Damselfly, Common Blue Damselfly, Azure Damselfly and Blue-tailed Damselfly. A Silver-ground Carpet Moth was seen as well as a Latticed Heath and lots of Brown Silver-line Moths.

Snipe Flies were photographed mating and a new Crane-fly for me and the site was seen, the wasp mimic Ctenophora flaveolata.

Mike Chorley · Status: Offline

Other wildlife on the Oldham Birders' 'Tour of the English Counties' weekend included:

Rabbit, Bank Vole, Wood Mouse, Grey Squirrel, two bat species (probably Noctule and Pipistrelle sp.)

Wall, Holly Blue, Red Admiral, Brimstone, Large White, Speckled Wood.

A great selection of commoner moths at Portland Obs. included Cream-spot Tiger, Drinker, Least Black Arches, Muslin, Lychnis, Common Wainscot, Vine's Rustic, Lime Speck Pug, Pale Mottled Willow, Treble Bar, Heart and Dart, Angle Shades, Large Yellow Underwing, Brown-line Bright-eye, Spectacled, Rustic Shoulder-knot, Common Swift, Brimstone Moth, Diamondback and Poplar Hawkmoth

Large Red, Common Blue, Blue-tailed and Variable Damselflies, Banded Demoiselle, Four-Spot Chaser and Hairy Hawker.

-- Edited by Mike Chorley on Monday 6th of June 2016 10:20:18 PM

-- Edited by Mike Chorley on Monday 6th of June 2016 10:21:23 PM

Doc Brewster · Status: Online

Two interesting craneflies at Newchurch Common yesterday, Spotted Cranefly and the wierd red Tanyptera atrata, the latter being the first record for this 10km square according to the NBN Gateway site. Up to 4 Downy Emeralds were still on the wing and 1 Four-spot Chaser was too. Alder Fly was photographed. A Wolf Spider (Pardosa sp) carrying an egg sac was also photographed. Three Common Lizards were seen in the sun. I have now put a roofing felt square down to try to attract snakes, watch this space!!

Doc Brewster · Status: Online

A couple of reports from my local areas today.

I saw a huge Grass Snake swimming in the River Weaver near New Bridge down from my village, Moulton, today. She must have been close to 3 feet long and swam up onto the bank where I was standing giving fabulous views.

At Newchurch Common in the sun a couple of Common Lizards were seen. Butterflies included Small Copper, Peacock, Large White and Small White. All of yesterdays dragonfly & damselfly species were again seen, including approx 3 Downy Emeralds. A Scorpion Fly was noted as well as a Swollen-thighed Beetle, A huge Sawfly (Sirex juvencus) sometimes called Steel-blue Woodwasp was also seen.

Doc Brewster · Status: Online

One of my main reasons to go down to Newchurch Common last weekend was to see which Dragonflies and Damselflies had emerged, as I list all species on this patch.

Going down on Sunday morning (29th May) and Monday all day (30th May) gave me a great opportunity as it was bright and sunny. The main species of interest to others would be the Downy Emerald Dragonfly (Cordulia aenea), as it is scarce in the NW of England, and the Newchurch Common area is probably its stronghold up here and the easiest place to see this species. Over the two visits I saw at least 8 individuals, 4 on Sandiway Small Pool and 4 on Gull Pool, even a pair in cop on Small Pool. If viewing these can I please ask that people don't enter Gull Pool Wood, this is strictly Private and there are scout camps and the like held in here, so it is very unfair, even illegal, to be wandering round with binoculars and cameras near kids camping. Anyone caught WILL be reported to the police, I have spoken to the landowner who is a friend of mine now, and he assures me that this will happen. You can view an excellent Downy Emerald area (where I saw at least 4) on the south side of Gull Pool, from the lower path of the Whitegate Way just below a bench and down a set of steps, this is at SJ601687. just look over the fence into to small bay right by the path and they are there!

All other species seen were seen most easily on Sandiway Small Pool, where a single Four-spotted Chaser (Libellula quadrimaculata) was photographed. Also here in a big emergence were Red-eyed Damselflies (Erythromma najas), Azure Damselflies (Coenagrion puella), Common Blue Damselflies (Enallagma cyathigerum), Blue-tailed Damselfies (Ischnura elegans) and Large Red Damselflies (Pyrrhosoma nymphula). Other insects seen were Comma, Large White and Small White Butterflies, Cockchafer, Garden Chafer, Alder Leaf Beetle, Alder Flies, Common Red Soldier Beetle and a Sailor Beetle sp (Soldier Beetles with dark elytra).

As mentioned in my Birds thread the most depressing sighting was of 2 sizeable Red-eared Terrapins on Small Pool. One especially was hunting damselflies in the lily pads, these voracious alien predators will eat anything and there presence is bad news for the fauna of the site.

Away from fauna, a lovely find was a couple of 'heads' of Sulphur Slime Fungus (Fuligo septica), see picture below, a beautiful, bright yellow fungus that I have never seen before and much nicer than its name suggests biggrin

-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Wednesday 1st of June 2016 12:55:03 PM

Doc Brewster · Status: Online

On Monday morning (30th May) we saw a teneral Black-tailed Skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum) at Neumann's Flash, Northwich, on the north side of the bund between Ashton's and Neumann's Flashes.

-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Wednesday 1st of June 2016 11:46:57 AM

John Williams · Status: Offline

Hadyn Pool

1 Brimstone, 2 Large White, 1Holly Blue and 2 Speckled Wood butterflies.

1 "Epiblemma Cynosbatella" or similar species, "Bird Dropping Like" micro moth.

-- Edited by John Williams on Sunday 29th of May 2016 03:27:41 PM

Doc Brewster · Status: Online

Last day of the Scottish holiday was spent at a small dragonfly pond in the Abernethy Forest. We changed our plans when a quick stop revealed an emergence from the pond. The day's total was c.8 White-faced Darters, 3+Four-spotted Chasers and a single Large Red Damselfly. Also at the pool were several Dolomedes fimbriatus Raft Spiders, Tetragnatha spiders and a Common Lizard. Main plant interest was Round-leaved Sundew.

Doc Brewster · Status: Online

sorry posted in error off phone & unable to delete hmm

-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Monday 23rd of May 2016 08:13:34 PM

John Williams · Status: Offline

Rixton

Woodend Lane

1 Orange Tip & 1 Large White butterflies.

Rixton Clay Pits

6 Common Blue & 1 Holly Blue butterflies.

Several Azure & Large Red damselflies.

The pond where I used to see Great Crested Newts, now contains a shoal of Rudd as the area seems to have recently been flooded allowing fish to spread.

Will that affect the newts?. 1 marsh orchid.

John Williams · Status: Offline

Woolston Eyes No. 3 Bed

1 Common Carpet moth was the only butterfly/moth seen in 2.5hrs on the bed this morning.

Doc Brewster · Status: Online

Another mention of note was our only dragonfly so far, a rare one too, White-faced Darter. A newly emerged individual was seen getting caught by a Common Lizard & eaten, both were alive so both on the holiday list! Large Red Damselfly also seen. Only butterfly species so far is Orange-tip.

Doc Brewster · Status: Online

A bit obvious but not always seen in numbers, we have had lots of Red Squirrels up in the Speyside area this week whilst on holiday. They have included a pregnant female and three chasing at Loch Garten RSPB. We have probably seen at least 9 different ones in 3 days on Speyside whereas some years they have seemed harder to see. Today we also had Tongues of Fire fungus on Juniper, very spectacular. Red Deer were numerous in the Findhorn Valley and a few Roe Deer have been seen locally but more dead ones have been seen as road kill than I have ever seen before.

John Williams · Status: Offline

17.05.2016 (PM)

Woolston Eyes No 3 Bed

6+ Garden Carpet moths on the meadow area.

John Williams · Status: Offline

Risley Moss NR

PM

6 Brimstone butterflies, 2 Four Spotted Chaser dragonflies and 2 Large Red Damselflies.

John Williams · Status: Offline

Newmanns Flash

3 Dingy Skipper butterflies.

Haydn Pool

1 Holly Blue, 1 Comma, 1 Green Veined White, 1 Orange Tip and 2 Peacock butterflies.

Marbury Park

Clouds of black caddis flies along the fishermans path.

Doc Brewster · Status: Online

Early this morning an addition to my Newchurch Common Mammals seen list, a beautiful Vixen carrying prey. She was in superb condition probably due to the super-abundance of Rabbits here. Nice stands of Herb Robert out too. White Field Slug (Deroceras reticulatum) photographed too.

Doc Brewster · Status: Online

At Newchurch Common today several Common Blue Damselflies and Large Red Damselflies on the wing, many teneral forms of both. Speckled Wood, Brimstone, Orange-tip, Green-veined White and Large White butterflies too but no vannessids this afternoon, strange!

John Williams · Status: Offline

Woolston Eyes (09.45-13.00)

1 Brimstone, 1 Comma, 2 Peacock and 5 Small Tortoiseshell butterflies. Lots of white butterflies too, but most did'nt settle long enough to be properly identified.

St Mark's Flies abundant with Common Whitethroats and Long Tailed Tits seen catching the insects in flight.

John Williams · Status: Offline

White Coppice/ Heatherlea Woods

Several Orange Tip and Small Tortoiseshell butterflies were along the moorland edge, whilst a couple of Peacock butterflies were on the bluebells in Heatherlea wood.

Bumblebees abundant throughout, I can't recall seeing so many on a spring walk before.

Doc Brewster · Status: Online

At Newchurch Common today in the sun there were several butterflies, namely Brimstone, Speckled Wood, Small Tortoiseshell, Orange-tip, Small White and Green-veined White. A large emergence of Seven-spot Ladybirds was evident. I also discovered a large 'colony' of solitary mining bees (yet to be IDed), which had the attentions of a parasitic wasp species too. Large numbers of St.Mark's Flies were everywhere, they don't bite and are great bird food, so I like them smile

-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Friday 6th of May 2016 11:07:38 PM

Doc Brewster · Status: Online

On the Sefton Coast today Small Tortoiseshells, Peacock, Small Whites and best of all in the dunes at Ainsdale the nationally scarce, but local to this area, Northern Dune Tiger Beetle. Worth going to have a look at, digiscoped picture attached to help with ID if you go looking smile

David Lumb · Status: Offline

Small Tortoiseshell at Clough House Farm

Peacock at Entwistle Reservoir

Orange Tip at Wayoh

Green-veined White, Peacock, Small Tortoiseshells, & Speckled Woods at Turton Golf Course

John Williams · Status: Offline

Neumanns Flash

Early Evening

1 Small Tortoiseshell butterfly by Neumanns Flash.

1 "Pipistrelle" sized bat giving close views in the NE corner of Neumanns at dusk.

David Lumb · Status: Offline

Weasel on Turton Golf Course yesterday

Doc Brewster · Status: Online

The last week at Newchucrh Common has seen me add two new mammal species to my site list here, Bank Vole & Common Shrew. These are additions to sightings of Grey Squirrel and Rabbit and evidence of Mole, Fox and Mink.

Doc Brewster · Status: Online

At Newchurch Common yesterday (21st) I recorded a few Small Tortoiseshells, a Peacock butterfly and my first Large White of the year, easily IDed as it was a large, well-marked male. Seven-spot Ladybird seen this week too as well as a Red Admiral here. I photographed a cracking Yellow Slug (Limax flavus) as well as several 'flat-backed millipedes' (Polydesmus species).

The sunny weather is certainly bringing out wildlife other than birds for our interest smile