Nott Too Bad

 My brother David and I took a trip up to Nottinghamshire to chance our arm at the raptor watchpoint near Wellbeck. Our principal target were the Honey Buzzards which have been making this area their home for many years now. With three birds having been seen recently we set out with with some optimism and were not to be disappointed.

Orange-tip and vole

Plenty of other would be observers were gathered on site and we joined them in their search. Common Buzzards caused a few false alarms, at least two pairs were in the area and a Red Kite drifted past. After a while a Honey Buzzard did do a flypast though it was distant and the views were far from ideal. Deciding to hang on in the hope of seeing the Honeys a little closer we added Sparrowhawk to our raptor list while there were a few Yellow Wagtails flitting around the cereal field in front of us. Realising that the HB's were not going to cooperate we left after a couple of hours but not before a female Orange-tip passed by.

Tree Pipits

Our next stop was in Sherwood Forest area visiting Nottinhamshire's largest heath at Budby. An increasingly grey sky was now delivering a few showers though they were light and didn't spoil our walk. The heath was host to at least six singing Tree Pipits and it was good to catch up with this sadly decreasing visitor. A Woodlark showed briefly as it flew up from some nearby grass while several Stonechats were also seen. Not a lot else to report other than a male Cuckoo while Small Heaths and Speckled Woods were also found.

Stonechats

Empress Of Harry's Park

 I'd hoped to get over to Fineshade Wood to look for the Chequered Skippers that have started to perform but a lack of a lift prevented that plan from taking off. Instead I had to settle for an excursion to Harry's Park Wood where I wanted to see if any Wood Whites might be present. There were not which suggests that the record of 2020 may well be an isolated occurrence. In truth the weather was not really helpful though with the sun being restricted to a few brief spells making insect watching a difficult business.

Painted Lady and Speckled Wood.

Best butterflies were a trio of Painted Ladies seen as I walked around, 2022 may well turn out to be decent for them which is good news after the last two poor years. Speckled Woods were the commonest species but there was not much competition as only Orange-tips and Green-veined Whites were also on the wing. My best ode today was a first for the year Emperor or perhaps that should be Empress as I found a female hawking along one of the rides during a brief sunny spell. I couldn't get a picture as she wouldn't land in view but some of the dozen or so Broad-bodied Chasers present were far more cooperative. The only other species showing were Common Blue Damselflies though only a few were noted. Little else to report apart from a calling male Cuckoo and a croaking Raven. 

Broad-bodied Chaser, Sloe Shield bug and Buzzard

Scarce Chasers And Co

 Alan Shorrock and I took advantage of the sunny weather to do a spot of ode spotting. We began at Barnwell CP before moving on to Deenethorpe enjoying a decent session in the process. Good numbers of both dragons and damsels were braving the blustery conditions and Barnwell in particular supported a good variety.

Scarce Chasers.

Highlight at the park were several Scarce Chasers, there were at least two of the beautiful immatures and also a mature male on territory. Other dragons included a few Four-spotted Chasers and a couple of Hairy Dragonflies. We couldn't find any Variables today but still managed a good haul of other species. Commonest were the Banded Demoiselles and Red-eyed Damselflies in waterside vegetation but decent numbers of Azures and Blue-tailed were also present. Least common were the three Common Blues failing to live up to their name and a single Large Red. Not too much other wildlife to enjoy though a Cetti's Warbler was heard singing and Alan saw a brood of Mandarin Ducks.

Barnwell ode selection

Our main target at Deenethorpe were White-tailed Damselflies and we were successful in our efforts as we found two. Other species in the same area were Banded Demoiselle and Large Red and Azure Damselflies. not much other wildlife on view other than a tatty Peacock which was presumably a veteran from last year.

White-legged Damselflies.

Blank Cheque

 My plan was to visit Fineshade Wood today in the hope of seeing the re-introduced Chequered Skippers that were first released in 2018. Although their site had been kept a secret the location was made public earlier this year confirming what many local naturalists already suspected or knew. With the weather looking more than suitable I duly made my trip and enjoyed sunny skies and plenty of warmth though not, I'm sad to report, any Chequered Skippers! 

Red Admiral and Painted Lady

While it may still be a day or two too early for them I was slightly annoyed to find that many of the grassy rides that I'd hoped to check were closed off. This will no doubt benefit the skippers but will not help any would be observers. As it was I had to stick to the main paths and with cyclists, dog walkers and joggers etc for company made my failed attempt to see our exciting new arrivals. Although I failed to see the main attractions I did manage to find singles of both Dingy and Grizzled Skippers. The former did a bunk before I could record the event but the Grizzled did me proud. My first Red Admiral of the year was a welcome find and I was also glad to photograph a Painted Lady in the county. Other species noted today included Speckled Wood, Green-veined White, Orange-tip, Brimstone and Peacock. There were several day flying moths to enjoy too and these included Mother Shipton and Cinnabar.

Grizzled Skipper and Mother Shipton

Best birds were a male and female Cuckoo which were heard calling during most of my visit. Another bird calling was a Raven though this was it as far as interest was concerned as there were no other avian highlights to report. The rides hosted good numbers of Common Blue Damselflies and at least two Azures while a second Broad-bodied Chaser of the year was appreciated. By now my lift was on the way so it was time to put my papillos and camera back in the backpack and head for home.

Cinnabar, Brimstone and Broad-bodied Chaser

Slow Going

 Alan Shorrock and I had a far from interesting day split between Eyebrook Reservoir and Geddington. After a cloudy and rather cool start conditions improved leaving a fine and sunny afternoon. With bird migration beginning to slow down are attentions are drawn more towards insects and there were a couple of interesting ones to save the day from complete failure.

Buzzard with mobbing Magpie and Broad-bodied Chaser

Eyebrook was really rather dull and an Osprey carrying an impressively large fish over the bridge was the only real star. Plenty of Swifts and Common Terns were feeding over the water but that really was that and we left without adding much of interest to our day list. Our travels then took us to the fringes of Geddington where we took a stroll towards the Chase. A first stop at the Brickyard Garden turned out to be quite decent and we saw our first Broad-bodied Chaser of the year. The female was pretty cooperative and allowed us to take some good photos. Other insects here included Holly Blue and Orange-tip while a Common Blue butterfly was seen nearby. Whilst walking on the edge of the Chase Alan spotted a Painted Lady which was my first in the county this year. Unfortunately it didn't settle but it's beginning to look as if this may be a good year for them so hopefully more obliging individuals will follow soon. Little else to report apart from a Small Heath seen on the outskirts of the village.

Holly and Common Blues

Frampton Stints

 I enjoyed an after work visit to Frampton Marsh today in the company of my brother and we not only managed to see a few good birds but also avoided a soaking from the forecast rain. In fact it was sunny when we arrived and the light conditions were fine though things did deteriorate the longer we were there.

Spoonbills and Temminck's Stint

Good birding began almost immediately with a sighting of two adult Spoonbills seen from the visitor centre and to make things better they were awake! We didn't linger too long in this area however and made our way along to the sea wall from where a Temminck's Stint had been reported. Luckily for us it didn't take too long before this diminutive cracker showed giving us some good and prolonged views. It's been quite a while since my last sighting of a Temminck's so I was more than happy to watch this one feeding. Doubling our stint quota was a Little which showed well though distantly on the salt marsh. A third wader of note was a Curlew Sandpiper which if anything was even further away than the Little Stint but we did get decent views through the scopes. With the grey clouds beginning to loom threateningly and the first little spots of rain beginning to fall we did not hang around for much longer but both of us were happy with our tally. One final thing of note were the half a dozen or so Painted Ladies that were seen suggesting that this may be a good year for them.

Little Stint and Curlew Sand record shots and Painted Lady

Thank Goodness For Redstarts!

 My brother and I went on a bit of a road trip down to the Forest of Dean today enduring the first rain for some time and also a lack of interesting birds! The RSPB reserve at Nag's Head promised a selection of decent stuff but sadly failed to deliver much at all. We put in plenty of effort and walked for several miles around the reserve but still struggled to find many of the specialities though thankfully there were a couple of exceptions!

Redstart

First bird of note and certainly one of the highlights of the day was a male Redstart which showed well from one of the hides. It was so good that we popped back in for a return visit after a fruitless slog around the Long Trail in a failed attempt to see Wood Warbler. My brother David managed to see a Spotted Flycatcher in the same area but I couldn't get on it before it flew while we both saw a female Redstart which showed briefly. Tables were turned in the flycatcher stakes with a Pied which was singing in oaks near the hide. I managed three brief views of what was a fairly mobile bird but my brother failed to see it. Very little else of note was found, there were four Fallow Deer feeding quietly in one part of the reserve and a rather showy Garden Warbler which treated us to some good views before it disappeared back into cover. Not our most productive sortie perhaps but the image of that Redstart will stay with me for a while.

Garden Warbler

Buzzin'

 Glorious sunny weather prompted me to take a trip to Priors Hall where I was hoping to see some decent insects. Butterflies in particular responded to the weather and I was able to add four species to my year list. Dragons and damsels did not feature quite as strongly though the day was not without an ode highlight or two..

Grizzled Skipper, Common Blue, Green hairstreak and Small Heath

Dingy Skippers were the commonest butterfly today and they were joined today by at least four Grizzled Skippers too. At first they didn't appear to want to settle but eventually a couple did and I was able to get some photographs. A similar situation happened with my first Common Blues of the year, initially they were charging about as if supercharged but I did find one that settled for a brief moment. Other firsts for the year were a couple of Green Hairstreaks and five or six Small Heaths. Several day flying moths were on the wing today and these included a Cinnabar and two mint moths. My butterfly list was completed by Brimstone, Small White, Orange-tip, Peacock and Speckled Wood.

Mint moth, Four-spotted Chaser and Large Red Damselflies

Around the ponds my first Four-spotted Chasers of the year were emerging with most heading for nearby tree tops though a few presumably more mature individuals were taking up territories. Another dragon patrolling the ponds was Hairy Dragonfly, most of the ponds had at least one or two in residence. Commonest damsel was Large Red though growing numbers of other species are growing. Azure, Blue-tailed and Common Blue damselflies were all noted.

Willow Warbler, Whitethroat and Skylark

There were not too many birds to report other than a male Cuckoo which was heard calling throughout most of my visit. A single Brown Hare added a bit of interest while a swarm of Honey Bees perhaps added rather more than I would have liked! Happily I managed to survive without being stung and made it to the George where a couple of ciders helped to slake my thirst.

Swarm!

Wicksteed Delivers Damsel Delights

 After a welcome if not necessarily healthy breakfast in the Samuel Lloyd pub in Corby Alan Shorrock and I ventured out to Wicksteed Park in Kettering. Our main focus were the Variable Damselflies which have colonised this site and which have already been reported from here this year. Although there was a brisk and rather cool westerly breeze blowing and despite the fact that it wasn't as sunny as the forecast had suggested we enjoyed plenty of success.

Variable, Red-eyed and Common Blue Damselfies.

Nettles between the main and fishing lake were sheltering plenty of damselflies including lots of tenerals. Variable Damselfies were probably the commonest species though most of the newly emerged individuals appeared to be Red-eyeds. Other species sharing the nettle patches included Common Blue, Azure and Blue-taileds. It was good to see so many Variables at what is their best site in the county and we saw a variety of ages as well as both male and females. The fishing lake itself was rather exposed to the breeze and not quite so productive though I did find some Banded Demoiselles between the lake and the River Ise and we also saw a couple of Hairy Dragonflies.

Green-veined White and Small Tortoiseshell.

There was not a huge variety of butterflies on the wing though it was good to see Holly Blues at yet another site. Other species noted included Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell, Brimstone, Orange-tip and Green-veined White. Birdwise it was quiet though I caught up with my first Swifts of the year and also heard a Cetti's Warbler.

New lives.