Hesketh Out Marsh (11.30-15.00)

3 Small Tortoiseshell butterflies and a Stoat were on the embankment.

Mere Sands Wood NR (16.00-17.30)

1 Comma and 3 Speckled Wood butterflies. 1 Brown Hawker dragonfly, Common Darters abundant, with 8 resting on a single wooden bench.

Yesterdays visit to Newchurch Common saw me add a new species of spider to the patch list. On Shemy Moss I found a cracking female 4-spot Orb Weaver (Araneus quadratus). She was the lime green form and in a typical 'sewn-together' clump of rosebay willowherb seed-heads. I have only seen this species in two locations before, on The Lizard, Cornwall and at Spurn, so a nice addition for me. A Common Lizard and a Common Toad were seen too. One Common Darter was the only dragonfly seen. Two Small Coppers nectared on Ragwort and lots of Speckled Woods were still about.

-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Saturday 17th of September 2016 02:58:49 PM

Added a new species to my patch list at Newchurch Common in an hours visit this morning with a Yellow-tail Moth caterpillar found & photographed, a stunning little caterpillar but with very irritant hairs. Lots of Small Coppers on the wing again, with double figures seen, the same for Speckled Woods. Otherwise just a Red Admiral and a Large White. A Brown Hawker was seen as well as a Migrant Hawker & lots of Common Darters.

Picture of the caterpillar attached for ID puposes so folk don't handle it!!!

-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Sunday 11th of September 2016 09:12:31 PM

Down at Newchurch Common today there were 2 Common Lizards still and several young Common Frogs. A Hornet was seen on the mosses part of the patch, a different area from the previous one, I wish I could find the nest! Several Speckled Woods were on the wing despite it being overcast, the onlyother butterfly being a Large White. The only dragonfly species present was Migrant Hawker, with two being seen, both hunting in the crowns of oak trees.

Moore NR 5.20-7.45pm

Speckled Woods were he only butterflies seen, they were plentiful though. 4 hawker dragonflies were around the treetops by Birchwood Pool, but they did'nt get close enough to get an ID.

By Pumphouse Pool, 4 Alder Leaf Beatles were on a clump of hazel, with a single 7 spot Ladybird nearby.

Nearly forgot, final word from Cornwall ..... maybe! Bedroom moths attracted each evening with the light on included several Common Rustics, a beautiful Frosted Orange ans a nice Green Carpet. Best name though has to go to a tiny spider we found, quite scarce, known as the Pink Prowler..... in the bedrooom, who'd believe it!!

A quick summary of the final three day of our Cornwall holiday.

On Mondat the most notable addition was a Golden-ringed Dragonfly at Windmill Farm NR along with another Painted Lady.

On Tuesday (& Wednesday) at Helston Loe we happened upon one of those wildlife spectacles that leave you amazed. As we walked down the path we noticed several Red Admirals in one area. On closer inspection they were attracted to a gash in an oak tree exuding sap. Up to 15 at a time were fluttering & perching on the tree trunk feeding on the sweet liquid. Also attracted to the sap were up tp 12 Hornets! These fantasic insects were feeding on sap but also hunting the Red Admirals! We saw one Hlornet catch a Red Admiral, cut through each of the 4 wings one by one and then sever the head befoure flying off with the butterfly's body! A fabulous spectacle to watch. We also saw a Violet Ground Beetle here, a Dor Beetle and displaying Beautiful Demoiselles. Again a Painted Lady was seen amongst many other butterfly species seen.

Today's other wildlife highlights in Cornwall included Grey Bush Crickets at Gunwalloe on the Lizard where we also saw Small Heath butterflies. At Windmill Farm NR we saw Emperor dragonfly and Common Darter as well as Common Blue damselflies. At Polgigga a single Beautiful Demoiselle was seen.

Neumanns Flash (Mostly in the rain 6.00-8.00 pm)

2 Brown Hawkers along the south bank. 1 Fox that calmly trotted along the path behind me at 8.00 pm.

In the sunshine at Newchurch Common I added a new species to the insect list, one that I had hoped for and sort of expected - Hornet (Vespa crabro). This huge predator flew around the meadow but never stopped for me to get a picture! Hopefully there may be a colony nearby and I wil get that picture on another visit. Another new insect was Orange Ladybird (Halyzia 16-guttata), found on bracken on Shemmy Moss (picture for ID info attached).

Otherwise several Brown Hawker Dragonflies, over 30 Common Darters, a Migrant Hawker, Common Blue Damselfy, Red-eyed Damselfly and Blue-tailed Damselfly. Also most of the common butterfles still present.

Second report is from today, 16th August:

Another new dragonfly species with a male and female Banded Demoiselle seen on Sandiway Small Pool, a long distance away from the nearest running water so not at all expected.

Another butterfly was seen in addition to yesterdays ten, namely Small Tortoiseshell.

On Shemmy Moss a nearly 3.5 inch long insect caught my eye, as it would. This turned out to be a spectacular Ichneumon Wasp, one of the Dolichomitus species (not ID-able to species level without a pinned specimen & a microscope!!). As with a few other insect finds on this patch this is a scarce insect for the UK and may be a Cheshire first again! (see attached picture - the antennae are approx 0.75 inches long, the body is an inch & the ovipositor 1.5 inches, quite a beast!)

From Martin Mere, a nice rich variety of butterflies were about including my best ever view of brimstone, plus painted lady, meadow brown, a possible small skipper, red admiral, peacock, speckled wood, orange tip, comma, large white and tortoiseshell.

Ventured onto my patch again and little new to report.

Common Lizard again seen as well as Common Toad. Red Admiral the only noteworthy butterfly along with 6 commoner species. Still lots of Red-eyed Damselflies, possibly hanging on later than normal.

The mossland part of my patch is a Cheshire Wildlife Trust site and today I met with 3 folk from the CWT for a chat. I discussed the records that I have been accruing over all taxa. I will now be supplying all the data for the site to them and will continue to monitor the site for them as it is under-recorded, which is bad news for such a fantastic site. It is great to think that my data will now be formalised and be used directly by those who manage the site. I look forward to a long & productive association

Whixall Moss, Shropshire/Clwyd

10.00-16.00

Lots of Black Darter dragonflies, a few Common Hawkers and 1 male Black Tailed Skimmer.

4 Emerald Damselflies.

Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper and Peacock butterflies plentiful, the later especially so on the Buddleia bushes by the canal. 1 Painted Lady butterfly there also.

Also 3 Brimstone and 2 Small Copper butterflies along the mossland trail. 2 Common Lizards, 3 small Common Frogs and 1 small Common Toad here too.

If folk want to see good numbers of Black Darter dragonflies locally then get down to Newchurch Common.

They were in good numbers on the adjacent Shemmy/Abbots Moss areas on 31st July (all part of my patch centred on the fishing lakes!). Black Darters were in tandem & ovipositing as were Common Darters. A worn Four-spotted Chaser was seem as well as a male & female Emperor. Four Brown Hawkers completes the dragons! Red-eyed, Common Blue & Blue-tailed Damselflies were seen on Newchurch Common as well as my first ever Emerald Damselfy there.

A Holly Blue near the parking area was a new butterfly for patch & one of 11 species seen, including 5 Small Coppers, a Common Blue, Red Admiral, Peacock, Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper, Speckled Wood, Large White, Small White and an egg laying Green-veined White.

Two moths noted were a Silver-Y and a Common Carpet.

All not bad for a mainly overcast day with only a few sunny intervals.

27.07.2016 5.15-8.15pm

Moore NR, Walked from Lapwing Lane to halfway House along the ship canal, and returned via Upper Moss Side.

The heath by the canal produced : 2 Silver Y and 2 Broad Barred White moths. 1 Violet Ground Beetle and 1 Common Blue Damselfly.

A few Meadow Brown butterflies were still around.

In the scrub alongside the canal Gatekeeper butterflies were numerous.

Just one dragonfly was seen, and that was alongside the canal, could'nt be sure of species but it looked like a "Blue tailed Skimmer".

Moss Side produced 1 Yellow Shell moth, and lots of horseflies, but as it was a little cooler than last week, they appeared to be more sluggish and dopey, which was fatal for them.

A trip up north yesterday brought some nice butterflies. We went to Heysham Moss and Warton Crag. list 15 in all as follows:

Heysham Moss

Large White
Small White
Green Veined White
Peacock
Red Admiral
Small Copper
Large Skipper
Meadow Brown
Speckled Wood

Warton Crag

Gatekeeper
Grayling
Common Blue
Ringlet
Small Skipper
Northern Brown Argus

A couple of hours at Boilton Wood Preston yesterday afternoon brought a nice selection of butterflies.

1 White Letter Hairstreak
5 Comma
1 Peacock
1 Red Admiral
Gatekeeper
Meadow Brown
Large White
Small White
Speckled Wood
3 Ringlet

Visiting my parents in Devon I had the opportunity and weather to see some great butterflies while out walking. here are highlights by site:

Aish Tor Dartmoor 17.07.16
Small White
3 Gatekeeper
10+ Grayling
1 Small heath
Meadow Brown
Ringlet
2 Large Fritillary that did not land so could not be Identified to species

Hope's Nose, Torquay 18.07.16 while on a very quiet seawatch
2 Gatekeeper
Small White
Green Veined White
Ringlet
1 Common Blue
Meadow Brown
2 Wall
2 Small Skipper
1 Marbled White

Ashclyst Forrest, Exeter 18.07.16
15+ Silver Washed Fritillary (many throughout forest)
2 White Admiral
Meadow Brown
Small White
Large White
Ringlet
Speckled Wood (including some very small examples)

St Kilda and Outer Hebrides

Common Seal, Grey Seal
Common Dolphin, Harbour Porpoise, Minke Whale, Basking Shark, Risso's Dolphin
Common Blue & Meadow Brown Butterflies and Small Magpie Moth

At Newchurch Common a new butterfly for the year, Gatekeeper, with lots now on the wing. 8 butterfly species in all, including Comma, Small Skipper, Large White, Small White, Green-veined White, Speckled Wood and Meadow Brown. Lots of Cinnabar moth caterpillars and one adult moth. A Silver-Y moth too, nice to see as it is a migrant (seen in massive numbers on the European Championship Final in Paris the other night, including one on Ronaldo's face!). Black Darter and Brown Hawker dragonflies were seen with the 4 common damselflies (previously mentioned) on this site. Finally a Common Lizard was seen on the mossland area.

A picture of Black Darter is attached as an ID help, taken with my phone, filesize reduced for quick loading too.

-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Thursday 14th of July 2016 10:20:04 PM

Late Entry 7th July 2016, early evening.

2 July Highflyer moths, 1 on Haydn and 1 by the mound on Newmanns, I had trouble with the ID of these, but a slightly blurred image on my phone matches perfectly with an image

on the "UK Moths" website. I found another small moth though, similar to a Small Heath butterfly, brown patterned underwing, which rested with wings closed just like a butterfly.

It appeared to have a preference for brambles, and was on the mound. I'm still working on the ID of this one, hence the late posting.

Went onto Newchurch yesterday accompanied by invert mega-expert Paul Hill. We had a good scout round & racked up dozens of species that are too obscure to list here. Ones that I will mention are another Four-dotted Footman Moth, Paul tells me the previous find was probably only the 5th reported ever in Cheshire, so this was the 6th  I also found a Bog Bush Cricket, again very rare in Cheshire and has a National Status of Notable B (whatever that means  ). A single Black Darter dragonfly was seen as well as 3 newly emerged Common Darters. Butterflies included, Comma, Large & Small Skippers, Large White, Meadow Brown and Speckled Wood. A couple of Common Lizards were seen including a pregnant female.

Down Newchurch Common in the sunshine today. Great day with a new dragonfly for patch - 2 female Black Hawkers seen. Also 2 new butterflies, 2 Small Skippers and 3 Ringlets (picture below).

Also a three reptile day with 3 Common Lizards, a Grass Snake and a Red-eared Terrapin, as well as two amphibians, Common Frog & Common Toad.

Other insects included Common Carder Bee, Violet Ground Beetle, the hoverfly Xylota segnis, and a Grass Veneer moth species.