A boozy catch up with former work pals last night meant that yesterday's blog post is somewhat late. Alan Shorrock and I spent another few hours failing to see Chequered Skippers for the third and final time at Fineshade though we did see a few things that stopped the trip from being a total waste of time. Despite the sunny conditions butterflies remain scarce, the finger of blame is being pointed at last year's drought and this Spring's cold spell.
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| Grizzled Skipper and Brown Argus. |
Birds were better than I expected with a couple of Crossbills the highlight, we heard them several times and got a flight view too. A quartet of other decent birds were heard as we walked through the wood, Nightingale was probably the best though Grasshopper Warbler, Cuckoo and Raven were no slouches either!. A first ever view of a Greater Butterfly Orchid provided some botanical interest while dragonflies were represented by Emperor and Broad-bodied Chasers.
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| Orange-tip and Greater Butterfly Orchid. |
Despite the no show from the Chequereds we did catch up with a few butterflies with Grizzled Skippers, Brown Argus and a couple of late Orange-tips being seen. Before retreating to the beer garden at the Queen's Head in Bulwick we stopped briefly at Blatherwycke village. Here about five Scarce Chasers were holding territory at the bridge, this may explain the origins of those seen in Fineshade Woods or at Deene or Priors Hall. Other dpecies included Hairy Dragonfly as well as a teneral Banded Demoiselle.
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| Scarce Chaser and Banded Demoiselle |
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