Local Wanderings

After getting a lift over to Deenethorpe Airfield I began my walk back towards Corby taking in Deene, Priors Hall and Weldon. Although there was quite a lot of cloud about during the day it did at least stay dry and I saw a few things of interest.

Wheatear.

Still plenty of brown butterflies on the wing though some of the Meadow Browns and Ringlets are beginning to look a little tatty. Gatekeepers on the other hand are still looking pretty sharp and they were one of the commoner species seen today. Other browns in the area included a Speckled Wood and several Small Heaths. Whites were fairly numerous too and I saw all three of the commoner species. Peacock numbers are certainly on the rise and I saw my first of many here. Perhaps my best butterfly was an Essex Skipper, they've not been that common this year. Only one dragon was seen and that was a Brown Hawker. Best bird was a Wheatear, in recent years I haven't seen many autumn birds so it was good to catch up with this one.

Tatty twosome, Meadow Brown and Ringlet.

At the village itself a White-legged Damselfly was the most interesting species while nearby Deene Lake inflow held a good sized flock of Lapwings. Highlight on the main part of the lake were two immature Shelducks which suggests local breeding. A quick look at the vegetation near the dam produced two male Willow Emeralds, there may well have been more but I didn't spend too much time searching.

Willow Emerald and Ruddy Darter.

Best bird at Priors Hall was a female Mandarin, this is becoming a regular site for them. Several Silver-washed Fritillaries were seen though they didn't land while a single Marbled White may prove to be my last of the year. Other butterflies added to my day list included Common Blue and Large Skipper. Not many odes about today and certainly no Willow Emeralds unfortunately but it is still early in their season. Ruddy Darters were the commonest dragon as more and more take up territory at the ponds. Plenty of Common Darters continue to emerge but they still appear to be maturing away from the water. Apart from these there were only a couple of Emperors, Common Blue and Blue-tailed Damselflies.

Marbled White, Lapwings and juvenile Wren.