OTMOOR - FIRST VISIT THIS YEAR

Having heard that RSPB reserve at Otmoor has just opened (partially) I got up early this morning to pay a visit. Arriving at 8 am it was already warm and sunny as I made my way towards up the main track to the bridleway, which is the part that is open. I could hear a cuckoo in the distance and a few warblers in the hedges, and saw a sedge warbler singing from its perch on a telegraph wire. 

Reaching the junction with the bridleway, I enquired if the turtle doves had returned this year, as I didn't manage to see one last year. I was told 'Yes, it was here 15 minutes ago but has flown off onto the marsh!!'  The area where I stopped was by some cattle pens and seed is put out for it to encourage it. However there were several wood pigeons and mallards devouring it, so I shouldn't think there would be much left!  Although I waited it didn't return, and I didn't even hear it purring from the large oak trees as on previous occasions. Continuing along the bridleway, I noted lapwings, a redshank, three shovelers, reed warblers and reed buntings. After the junction  with the paths to the hides and screens I got talking to someone who said there were some dragonflies around. in particular hairy dragonflies if I kept an eye out along the ditches. I continued and several metres further on a dragonfly  flew along the edge of the ditch before  settling on a bush just in front of me. I took some photos and then the man who I'd spoken to caught up with me and confirmed it was a hairy dragonfly.  

Looking the other side of the ditch, were lots of goose families,  both greylag and Canada geese. I also caught sight of a hare lolloping off into the long grass. On my return down the bridle way I found a further dragonfly which I believe is a female ruddy darter. 

I checked the area for the turtle dove again, but it wasn't to be seen,  A few people had seen a bittern in the reeds, and were standing waiting to see if it reappeared, so I waited a little while but felt a bit intrusive joining them, as it wasn't a hide or viewing screen.

I was a little disappointed not to see either cuckoo or turtle dove, but at least I had two new dragonfly species to add to my list.

hairy dragonfly

ruddy darter

view across Otmoor. Several goose families in this area

DRY SANDFORD PIT

Not wanting to travel too far in the afternoon heat, I opted to explore a new site near Abingdon. Dry Sandford pit is a  nature reserve owned by the BBOWT (Wildlife trust) and was formerly a limestone quarry. Within the quarry are now a range of habitats including ponds and streams, scrub and grassland and some fossil rich cliffs. 

As I was about to enter the reserve through a wooden gate, I got into conversation with someone who was also looking for dragonflies. We also started to talk about butterflies and he told me he had managed to see all the UK species. He asked which ones I still had to find, and suggested a few places, most of which I had read of, but as yet  am not sure when I will have an opportunity to visit them. It seems I need a holiday in the Lake District at the beginning of July,  just not possible with school termtime dates! In return I told him about the site in Gloucestershire where large blues can be found. This seemed considerably nearer for him (he lived in Stevenage!) than Somerset where he had seen them before. 

 I  followed one of the paths until I reached one of the ponds where I hoped I might add to my list of dragonflies and damselflies. Being so dry underfoot meant that some areas which may not normally be accessible due to  being very boggy, were easier to reach. With the help from another photographer, I was able to locate a keeled skimmer, a dragonfly with a powder blue body and grey eyes, which was another new species to add to my year list. There are apparently southern damselflies at this location, and I was told an area to search, but I  only found common blues. However, being only half an hour away from home, this is a place I could easily return to. 

keeled skimmer

DRAGONFLIES OF FARMOOR

Warm sunny weather always makes me want to visit somewhere where there is water so not wanting to join crowds at a country park, I opted for another visit to Farmoor Reservoir, and a walk by the river Thames. Everywhere was quiet, nothing of interest had been reported for a few days, hence no photographers. Coots, mallards and a few greylag geese were settled down resting on the shore by the causeway and black headed gulls on the rafts but no waders there today.  

I decided to follow the route  I took last week from the nature reserve along the river. I hoped I might hear and even see a cuckoo, but unlike last time, I did not hear a single one. I spent some time watching some reed warblers darting in and out of the reeds, perhaps they had  a brood of young to feed. A male reed bunting occasionally made an appearance too. 

Continuing along the river I took a turning to the left towards the Shrike Meadow hide and stopped on a bridge over a small stretch of water. I could hear reed warblers constantly in the reeds and some great tits obviously had nest in a nearby bush as they were constantly in and out. There were many common blue damselflies there but I also noticed a few large dragonflies. A four spotted chaser regularly stopped and clung to reeds but another larger  one, green and blue coloured  seemed to be continually patrolling the area,  in fact there were probably two or three of them. Having only just started recording dragonflies, I followed it through my binoculars, noting its large size, green head and blue body. However, I needed it to settle to confirm the species.  At last it found somewhere to stop and although it didn't always rest for long it kept returning to the same spot and I managed a few photographs, which confirmed it was Britain's largest dragonfly, an Emperor Dragonfly. 

path from the nature reserve to the river

view of the river

the first brood of mallard I've seen this year!

four spotted chased

pond where the dragonflies were

four spotted chaser

emperor dragonfly

MORGAN'S HILL REVISIT

The one butterfly species that has eluded me so far this year is the green hairstreak. I have tried to find it at three different sites already this year but with no success.  Being  a butterfly that emerges as early as April, I knew that its flight season was practically over, and if I  was to see it this year I would have to try again now before it was too late. So, with another free morning, again with glorious sunshine, I checked the Wiltshire Butterfly sightings blog and found that a green hairstreak had been seen 2 days ago at Morgan's Hill, a site that I visited last week. 

I knew the area where it would be likely to be seen, and made my way there, spotting a number of marsh fritillaries on  my way and also my first large skipper of the year. I checked the hawthorns and brambles next to the path, hoping that a green hairstreak might give itself away by flitting about between leaves but saw none. 

I then decided to look at some of the hawthorns on the opposite bank, and while there a photographer I have met on other occasions, started to chat, and in conversation I asked if he had seen a green hairstreak. 'Yes, just one,' he said, 'on that  small tree just behind you! '
It would be like looking for a needle in a haystack to scan every leaf on the tree so I had no real option other than to  wait and hope that I'd see a small dark butterfly rise from its resting place on one leaf and flutter over to another. And eventually I saw one leave the tree but it  fluttered  over to a  tree not too far away, although I could not see where it settled.  Hopeful that it might be what I was looking for, I moved over and fixed my eyes on the area I'd seen it.  At last I saw it once more as it flew and settled where I could  set my bincoulars on it. Yes, it was a green hairstreak, rather faded looking, but nevertheless I could now tick it off for the year!

I decided to spend a bit more time seeing what other species I could find, and was pleased to see my first meadow brown over in the quarry area. It didn't settle though, but I expect there will be hundreds more for me to photograph over the coming months!! Other species I found today included dingy skippers, common blue, marsh fritillary, red admiral, brimstone and small tortoiseshell. I had hoped I might find a wall brown but will have to wait another day for that. 

brimstone female

marsh fritillary

large skipper

green haistreak

THE PEARLS OF PRIDDY

It is always nice to be able add a new species to my butterfly list, and with a bank holiday free I decided it would be a good time to seek out a small pearl bordered fritillary. I have tried, unsucessfully on two occasions to find these at Bentley Wood near Salisbury but sadly was always too late , usually because family committments and/or unsuitable weather on a Saturday prevented me from going earlier. In fact the numbers have also been reducing there and the blog hasn't recorded any of them at all in recent days. Last year I visited Priddy Mineries in Somerset in the hope of finding one from a second brood but again had no success. 

However, now was in the middle of their usual flight perid so I was hopefully of adding this species to my  list of species seen. It was already sunny and quite warm when I left home at 7.45 a.m and after filling up with fuel, I made the trip down to Somerset, arriving shortly before 9.15. Two other cars were already parked in the long layby and as I shut the car door I suddenly saw an orange butterfly fly off . Could that be the  fritillary I was looking for.? 

Priddy mineries was once a lead mining area but is now a nature reserve with a wide range of flora and fauna. Priddy pools forms part of the reserve and supports all three types of newt and a range of dragonflies.

Heading down the main track I made for an area where I remembered I had seen most butterflies on my previous visit, passing a stonechat and whitethroat both perched up on some brambles. 

This was a sheltered grassy area next to a grassy mound criss crossed with narrow paths. Initially there were not many butterflies about apart from a few small heaths so I took another track past a pond where some people were fishing. I did spot a couple of possible fritillaries but they were not near enough to identify so I returned to my original spot. It wasn't long before I  saw a couple of bright orange butterflies much closer. Eventually one of them landed, and I could see it was a fritillary. Another surprised me by  landing on my camera bag, and gave excellent views whereby I could identify  clearly the upper wings as a small pearl bordered fritillary!. However, my phone was inside the bag and my main camera could not focus at that close distance so no photo possible!  Eventually I managed to get a few shots of the fritillary with wings open amongst some dry grass. As it became warmer the butterflies seemed more reluctant to land and I had to be satisfied with watching them fluttering over the grasses. The maximum I saw at any one time was 3 but I think I saw about half a dozen individuals altogether in different places. 

As it was nearing lunch time I returned to the car stopping off for a while to sit in the warm sun by the large pool to admire the damselflies and dragonflies. After lunch I decided to walk a hundred yards or so down the road to Stockhill woods. This piece of woodland is known for long eared owls and nightjars but I was obviously not going to see them today. It was also busy with day trippers so after a short circular walk I headed back to the mineries.    It felt as if a breeze was picking up so I thought it might encourage the fritillaries to settle and close their wings. At my original spot I found a couple of butterflies and one of them did settle for a bit and I got a quick shot showing  the underwings with their 'pearls' although as before it was hidden amongst some grasses.  By now it was getting quite hot and more and more people were turning up at this beauty spot so it was obviously time to go!! However I pleased to add number 51 to my list of species seen, Only 8 more to go but several of these will necessitate trips up to the north of the country and one over to the Isle of Wight which will obviously need a bit more planning!

view from layby

track through the reserve

a peaceful spot by the pool

DAMSELFLIES AND DRAGONFLIES

As it was quite windy today I decided to visit a couple of neighbouring nature reserves, which are fairly local to me, and see whether I could find any damselflies or dragonflies in any sheltered spots. 

Coln Country Park, despite its grand name, is little more than a sailing lake with a path around the circumference. However it has attracted some rare birds in the past including great northern diver and a female long tailed duck; the latter being seen during 'lockdown' so was not broadcast for fear of attracting too many birders which was a shame  as it would have been a first for me.  The initial part of the footpath around the lake is  quite exposed so was pretty gusty, but providing good conditions for a group of windsurfers. However as I walked towards the opposite end, a band of trees provided shelter and here it was quite warm in the sunshine. There were a few birds on the lake; a great crested grebe and a coot was all I saw, although I heard reed warblers in the long reeds around the edge and a couple reed buntings were singing from their perches in some taller bushes. 

However, there were large numbers of blue damselflies; it was difficult to tell whether azure or common blue damselflies, but when checking google I have found you need to look for either a' mushroom' shape or a 'U' shape on the second segment of their body to determine which is which so   I therefore examined carefully my photos when I got home and realised that I had some of each! 

A larger dragonfly was also flying about and when at last it settled I was able to determine that it was a four spotted chaser. 

After completing my walk at Coln Country Park, I drove round the corner and parked at Whelford Pools, a  Gloucestershire Wildlife trust site. I have done some bird watching at this site before but as the hides are shut due to the coronavirus pandemic this was not my aim today. I walked partway along a footpath nothing the hundreds of blue damselflies but returned to the smaller of the two ponds where it was easier to spot and photograph the different species of damselflies. On the pond I noticed a species which had just a blue tip to its tail, so I took a few photos of different individuals. However when I returned home, I noticed that one was slightly different in having red eyes. No surprises -- this was a red-eyed damselfly, the others again, aptly named blue-tailed damselflies! 

Another local hot spot for dragonflies and damselflies is Lower Moor Farm, this time owned by Wiltshire Wildlife trust. Between the two sites ( Whelford and Lower Moor Farm) there can apparently be found seventeen different species but like butterflies, they have different flight periods. 

Coln country park - Bowmoor sailing lake

common blue damselflies

common blue  damselfly - note mushroom shape on second segment

azure blue damselfly - U shape on second segment

four spotted chaser

blue tailed damselfy

red eyed damselfly

WADERS, WAGTAILS AND WOOD WHITES

Beautiful sunny weather once again and who can resist being outdoors enjoying wildlife? A trip to Farmoor was my choice today,  now it has reopened, and there have been several reports of waders there which were of interest to me. 

I took my usual route along the causeway, where often waders are to be found at the shoreline of the reservoir. On either side, great crested grebes, mallards, gadwall and mute swans were dotted about  on the water, with pied wagtails flitting up and down on the causeway walls. 

Half way along I  hadn't seen any waders and had  begun to wonder whether the waders were still around, but l then looked down and spotted a trio of tiny waders just ahead of me. There were two sanderlings and a dunlin feeding at the edge of the water. I walked past them for a bit,  and then sat on the wall and waited for them to approach which they did before turning back and retracing their steps. Farmoor has provided some great opportunities for close up views of waders. Dunlins are frequent visitors, and this one was in its summer plumage, sanderlings are less frequently seen so it was pleasing to see them today. At the far end of the causeway nesting rafts were occupied by blackheaded gulls, coots and a couple of greylag geese. 

I learned that just before my arrival there were some turnstones about, but disappointingly they had  flown off , though checking the blog later they did return .With sunny weather set to continue I hope to back,  as there are often terns and swallows etc there too.

From the causeway I decided to go down the sloping path to the nature reserve and take a walk along the banks of the River Thames which adjoins it. It was a tranquil scene and I could hear two cuckoos calling from trees on the opposite bank, but I couldn't spot them; they may well have been quite distant. Someone told me that they are quite mobile and he had seen them, both in flight, the female being an unusual rufus bird. 
Just below the opposite bank I spotted a couple of grey wagtails. After discussion with another birder we decided they were young birds, and in fact we realised there were actually four of them. In my quest for dragonfly species I saw several male banded demoiselles and lots of azure blue damselflies. A green  individual  caught my attention; but although I initially thought it might be a new species, checking it on google, it turned out to be a female banded demoiselle.  

great crested grebes

sanderling and dunlin

sanderling

sanderlings

three amigos!

by the Thames

juvenile grey wagtail

When considering what butterflies I still needed to add to my year list, I  realised that wood whites were already on the wing and a good place for them is at Bucknell woods, a site I visited last year for the first time. As it would be just over half an hour further on from Farmoor, I decided to head north toward Silverstone where the woodland is situated and arrived at 1.45 pm. After eating my lunch I walked up the main track where I had seen the wood whites last year.  As I glanced ahead, I caught sight of a roe deer  standing in the middle of the track albeit somewhat distant,  but after staring at me for a few seconds it quickly disappeared amongst the trees.  I spotted a few whites but they were larger and had a stronger flight than the species I was looking for and hoped that I hadn't made the journey in vain.   Eventually I saw  a white butterfly with rather a weak flight fluttering along the grass at the side of the track, which conveniently settled close by;  its rounded wings confirming its identity as a wood white. After this  I saw probably about ten individuals, but that was the only one that settled. 

WATERHAY WARBLERS

I decided to carry out today's exercise  this morning, through a visit to Waterhay in the Cotswold Water park. Arriving at 10.15, the car park was considerably more full than I've seen it before, though I must admit I don't often go there on a Saturday morning.  I hoped that there would not be too many times when I'd need to squeeze into the hedgerow to allow people to pass! 

As I left the car, the first sound that struck me was that of a cuckoo calling, my first this year but hopefully the first of several. I decided to take the path leading to Lake 82 rather than direct to Cleveland Nature reserve, as last year I'd heard and seen a grasshopper warbler there, and there have been reports this year too. However,  their unmistakeable reeling sound was not heard today. A reed bunting was perched up in a bush nearby and also sedge warblers and reed warblers both singing at the same time, and allowing a comparison to be made between the song.  The increased leafiness of the trees, however, made photography difficult..

I left the lakeside to rejoin the main track where some sandmartins were perched up on some wires. I could see a blackcap singing, but with garden warblers having a similar song, I couldn't confidently say whether there were any garden warblers around the area which was a species I had hoped to find. Heading back to the carpark, along the main path, I heard chiffchaffs and willow warblers. It was then I bumped into a friend with her family who are keen birdwatchers. They had their binoculars focussed on a bush at the side of the path and on enquiring, it was a garden warbler!  I could see it clearly through binoculars but sadly the sun was right behind it, allowing only a dark silhouetted photo. 

I have also started noticing dragonflies and damselflies, so was pleased to find a new species, a male banded demoiselle, its  blue green body gleaming in the sunshine.

view over lake 82

reed bunting

sedge warbler

banded demoiselle damselfly