Jurassic Lark

With the weather holding out I decided to take a stroll along to Harringworth Lodge Lake via Brookfield Plantation, Gretton and from there along the Jurassic Way. While it was overcast for much of the morning the clouds did part leading on to a lovely sunny afternoon.

Walking along Cockerell Road I noted more Marbled Whites feeding on the Marjoram patch in company with some Meadow Browns. Brookfield held many Ringlets of which one showed some aberrant under wing markings.

Close up of a Ringlet's under wing showing aberrant markings.

With cloud cover now at 100 % things quietened down for a while with little insect activity apart from a few hardy browns. Thankfully conditions improved at Harringworth Lodge Lake and the sun's rays breathed some life into the scene. On the lake itself Coots and Tufted Ducks dominated though Mallard, Great Crested Grebe, Dabchick and Grey Heron also put in an appearance. Emperor dragonflies and Four-spotted Chasers joined both Common Blue and Blue-tailed Damsels over the water. By now an increasing number of butterflies were beginning to appear with both Meadow Browns and Ringlets particularly common. Today was also excellent for Small Tortoiseshells with many seen while good numbers of Commas and about half a dozen Red Admirals were seen.

Great Crested Grebe, Harringworth Lodge Lake

Two species of darters were also present in the area, they're still scarce at the moment but I'm sure that numbers will continue to rise as July progresses. An overflying Yellow Wagtail was a decent find, they're never common in this area,

A Common Darter.

Walking on along the Jurassic Way I reached the butterfly field where many browns were on the wing including many Small Heaths. A little further on at the flooded quarry near Gretton a Raven passed by giving its typically croaky call. Amongst the dragonflies I added Red-eyed and Large Red Damsels, both will soon be coming to the end of their flight season but they're making hay at the moment.

One of many second brood Commas seen today.

From here it was back through Brookfield where the hawkers are beginning to show with two Brown Hawkers, my first of the year and at least three Southerns taking a toll on the small insect population. There were also a few Fallow Deer grazing in the rides, their constantly flicking tails suggesting that they were as bothered by the cleggs as I was. Speckled Woods made their way on to the day list and joined the three common whites, Small, Essex and Large Skipper,

Bored of the Flies, the Fallow Deer were suffering from the constant attention of biting flies.

So that was that, a fairly taxing stroll but with enough rewards to make it worthwhile.


Undoubted bird highlight was this adult Peregrine seen during the day.