Week 25

Most of the birds are quiet now, busy feeding young, the Swallows have left the nest and now can be seen flying around the site along with the adults who will soon be starting a second brood.

There has once again been a good movement of Swift thru the site again this week and if you look closely you may be able to pick out Swallows and House Martins.

Out in the woods Great Spotted Woodpecker, Nuthatch and Chiffchaff were all heard but now difficult to find due to the foliage.

Insects have been plenty this week highlights been Leafhoppers (always a little favourite), Butterflies included Speckled Wood, Large Skipper, Meadows Browns and Ringlets in good numbers.

Moths have include the return this week of the Narrow bordered 5 Spotted Burnet

But the highlight of the week has to go to the Popular Hawk Moth, which was found in the factory. The commonest of the Hawk Moths which are on the wing from May to July

Popular Hawk Moth

Week 24

A week of insects with plenty of Nettle Moths and Silver ground Carpet Moths about, flys, Hoverflies, Bees all going about their daily rituals, a couple of Spotted Longhorn beetles (my favourite beetles) were found hanging out on the bramble and the umbelliferous flowers (look out on hedgerows and woodland margins a favourite place for these beetles).

Birds included a nice family party of Long tailed Tit move thru the car park early one morning, a Male Bullfinch in the top car park, a great movement of Common Swift thru this week with the odd House Martin, and the Swallow family are still on the feeding runs. The nosiy birds this week have included the Song Thrush bar far the loudest I think, Blackbird, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Chaffinch and the explosive Wren

Butterflies this week have surprisingly been low on numbers, I think we are in the lull at the moment another 4/5 week should once again see good numbers, Speckled Woods have been seen most days with only Large Skipper and Meadow Brown being seen late in the week. Large Skipper has been seen in good numbers this week with them entering double figures, the Meadow Brown has just started its flight season this week so only a couple were seen.

Birds about : Blackbird, Blackcap, Blue Tit, Crow, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, House Martin, Jackdaw, Long tailed Tit, Magpie, Song Thrush, Swallow, Swift, Wren, Woodpigeon

Spotted Longhorn Beetle [Rutpela maculata]

Week 23

Holidays and bad weather hasn’t produced much in the way of playtime over the last few week and so it was this week with only Thursday the 8th being fit enough.

Birds out and about were Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Dunnock, Goldfinch, Great Spotted Woodpecker and a Goldcrest was heard, with Pied Wagtail in the car park.

The Swallows are now on feeding runs so they will be busy over the next few weeks.

Only Butterfly brave enough this week were Speckled Woods

On the moths front the Yellow barred Longhorn Moths have shown up this week along with Common Carpet and Silver Ground Carpets

Late evening produced Swift and House Martins over the top car park

Bird List : Blackbird, Blackcap, Crow, Chiffchaff, Dunnock, Goldcrest, Goldfinch, Great Spotted Woodpecker, House Martin, Jackdaw, Magpie, Pied Wagtail, Robin, Swallow, Swift, Wren

Bee

Week 19

Pleasant week with good sunny periods towards the week ending which resulted in a few species of butterfly appearing Orange tip coming in in good numbers, with Peacock, Speckled Wood and Comma briefly putting in an appearance. Other insects about this week are good numbers of St Marks Fly, a very common black fly that has its rear legs dangling when it flys and so named because they emerge around St Marks Day (25th April) and can be seen in flight in the month of May.

Birds have been few this week with mainly summer migrants taking top position Swallow, Blackcap and Chiffchaff all loud this week with the resident birds taking 2nd place the vocal ones being Wren, Song Thrush and Chaffinch

St Marks Fly

Week 18

A dry sunny week resulted in in 7 species of butterfly being seen this week Green-veined White, Large White, Orange tip, Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell, Small White, Speckled Wood, not in fantastic numbers but great to see so many species on the wing.

Another surprise this week was a new bird species, managed to track down a Garden Warbler, different in looks to a Blackcap but song very similar. Other birds this included Swallows (now around the usual nest site), Blackcaps battling it out with a Song Thrush on a morning to see who is the loudest, Nuthatch back around the bird table, along with Blue Tit, Great Tit and Robins, Bullfinch, Chiffchaff, Chaffinch, Wren and Jay out in the wooded areas

Species this week : Blackbird, Blackcap, Blue Tit, Bullfinch, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Garden Warbler, Great Tit, Jay, Mallard, Nuthatch, Song Thrush, Swallow, Wren

Small Tortoiseshell

Week 17

Well spring went and winter returned at the beginning of the week with freezing temps returning sending the insect life back to sleep, but we were given the glimpse of warmer weather at the end of the week.

On a  positive note a Willow Warbler was heard at the beginning of the week, wasn’t seen or heard in 2016, so a nice return.

Other species about the Chiffchaff has been quiet but the Blackcaps ( 4 now on site) more than made up for it, easily heard on most days and seen all but briefly. The end of the week brought major highlights when a few Swallows came thru and with them 2 Swifts, these however brought the attention of the local Sparrowhawk (which missed its intended targets), a Common Buzzard also came thru. Other birds of note the Great Spotted Woodpecker was heard, the Nuthatch have been busy, and a pair of Mistle Thrush were seen feeding young.

A Hairy Sheildbug was found and with the news of warmer weather next week insects may return

Bird List ; Blackbird, Blackcap, Blue Tit, Bullfinch, Buzzard, Crow, Goldfinch, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Great Tit, Jackdaw, Mistle Thrush, Nuthatch, Pheasant, Robin, Song Thrush, Sparrowhawk, Swallow, Swift, Willow Warbler, Woodpigeon, Wren

Week 16

A quiet week for me only managing to get out a couple of times no Swallows as yet seen by me but reported, and also reports of a Large Owl, probably Tawny from the nearby woods

On at the birdtable Great Tit, Robin and Blue Tit with Nuthatch nearby along with a Pheasant. Out in the woos Chiffchaff and Blackcap are still calling.

A male Orange tip butterfly was a nice find this week and first for the year

Orange Tip Butterfly