Autumnal Equinox

 A beautiful Autumn day to mark the equinox with plenty of sunshine on offer which helped to offset the effects of a stiff breeze. Not for the first time in recent weeks I walked around Willowbrook Industrial before taking in the gullets at Priors Hall and several sites in Weldon.

Teal, Common and Ruddy Darters

My nature spotting began at the A43 pond in Weldon where a Teal was something of a site rarity, three Canada Geese were the first here for a few months too. Willowbrook was a little on the quiet side, no birds to report other than some passage Meadow Pipits while Red Admirals and Small Whites were the only butterflies on view. There were plenty of Common Darters on site as well as at least one Ruddy and I also saw a few Migrant Hawkers. The North Gullet at Priors Hall was dull though its southern counterpart was a tad more interesting. Several Willow Emerald damselflies were present around the ponds while a Small Copper butterfly was a welcome find near the Quarry Lake.

Small Copper, Comma and Southern hawker.

At Weldon I checked some Ivy bushes near the cricket club and found lots of Red Admirals. Sharing the flowers were plenty of Ivy Bees, hoverflies and wasps and this activity also attracted the attention of several Migrant Hawkers. A Comma was noted at the pocket park while several Banded Demoiselles were still active along the stream near the Woodland Park. Nearby the pond hosted good numbers of Willow Emeralds and I also found a Southern Hawker. A prior appointment meant that I had to head off half way through the afternoon so after a couple of pints in the George I caught my bus home.

Banded Demoiselle and Willow Emeralds