A Bit Of A Quiet One

 Alan Shorrock and I stayed local today dividing our time between Willowbrook Industrial Estate and Priors Hall. The weather was much kinder with long sunny spells having replaced yesterday's rainy dross. Although it was one of my quieter days of the year so far those sunny spells did bring out a few insects and it was far from being a total loss.

Brown Argus, Holly Blue and Common Darter

No sign of the hoped for Whinchats at Willowbrook and there were not really any birds of interest to report. Only one species of dragonfly was present and that was Common Darter, six or seven were seen. Butterflies fared a little better with Gatekeeper being the commonest on show. Other species on the wing included Meadow Brown, Large White and Common Blue and there were at least three Holly Blues too. Best of the bunch was probably a Brown Argus with a rather tatty looking example posing rather nicely for pics.

Emperor, Brown Hawker, Ruddy Darter and Willow Emerald

Things picked up a little at Priors Hall and we certainly did better for odes. Several latish Four-spotted Chasers were present on one of the ponds and we also saw a female Black-tailed Skimmer. At least two each of Emperor and Brown Hawker were seen ovipositing and there were plenty of Ruddy and a few Common Darters as well. Damsel numbers are dropping off now but Common Blue, Azure and Blue-tailed are still on the wing while a female Willow Emerald was my first of the year at the ponds, I'm sure there will be plenty more. Best butterfly was perhaps Silver-washed Fritillary, at least two were noted confirming their continuing presence at the site. Half a dozen fresh looking Brown Argus joined a reasonable selection of the other species. Large Skippers are still showing in decent numbers but I only saw one Ringlet. Amongst the others noted were Brimstone, Red Admiral, Comma and Speckled Woods. Another lep made it on to the list with several Six-spotted Burnet moths being found including a trio nectaring together. Birds were a little thin on the ground and only a Kingfisher made it into the notes.

Insect selection.