MARSH FRITILLARIES AT THE COOMBES

 

I've visited The National  trust reserve at The Coombes, Hinton Parva (Little Hinton) on a  few occasions and on my last visit (during Covid), I spotted some Marsh Fritillaries there for the first time. I  subsequently discovered that it was the first year (2020) they had been recorded there! 

Today was a sunny afternoon and with  a couple of hours spare I decided to head over there again and see if there were any there this year too. If so, that  would save me a visit to my usual marsh fritillary sites further afield. 

I took the eastern path leading uphill along the side of the coombe and then headed downwards to the valley. Along the top there were a few Brimstones and a peacock but I saw little else. As I headed downhill I noticed a group of three photographers looking intently at the grass sided banks, presumably searching for butterflies too.  Catching up with them I found they had seen several marsh fritillaries which was good news for me. More fuel saved! 

We found some more Fritillaries also dingy skippers and small heaths then I found a green hairstreak. A blue species also flew past at speed but I was unable to ID it. Earlier they had seen a painted lady in flight  but I missed that one. The three gentlemen  were obviously keen photographers and had latest macro lenses.  They were also evidently very knowledgeable about all things to do with nature and I  learned that one had been watching the red footed falcon just after I was last Friday; another was the writer of an on line nature diary which I frequently read!  The third did lots of work for the national trust and had written several nature books. I was pleased to receive from them some advice on some other good butterflies sites. 

 I felt very insignificant! However they were generous in allowing me time  to take my own photos. One chap even helped me change my  cameras settings and gave me some photo tips! As it began to cloud over I spotted a marsh fritillary with open wings which allowed us to get very close up. It also allowed itself to be gently lifted onto someone's finger and then onto another flower! 

 Marsh fritillary

THIS AND THAT AT OTMOOR

 I went over to RSPB Otmoor this morning, though had nothing particular in mind to look for apart from a possible spoonbill sighting. Yesterday's breeze had abated so it was a pleasant couple hours in the morning sunshine. I didn't spot the spoonbill but in the area were three greylag families  hanging out together with 26 goslings between them!  

Just before entering the first screen, I stopped outside where various logs etc have been arranged on a bank to encourage lizards; I saw at least 3 here. At the first screen the water levels were high, so there were no waders, but ducks included mallards, gadwall, pochard and tufted duck. 

On the wetland areas were redshanks and little egrets whilst a marsh harrier could be seen distantly. I also heard and saw a cuckoo calling and heard plenty of warblers. 

On my return along the bridleway I looked for dragonflies, and spotted my first azure damselflies; there was also a hawker dragonfly but it didn't stop long enough for me to identify it.  

lizard

little egret

sedge warbler

reed bunting

ALL OF A FLUTTER AT ASTON UPTHORPE DOWNS

 After an enjoyable morning watching the red footed falcon, I spent  an hour or so at Aston Upthorpe, an area of chalk downland south east of Didcot, well known for its abundance of butterflies. 

It was sunnier than in the morning but there was a moderate breeze and I was worried that this might affect the butterfly numbers. On the walk down to the reserve, I met a lady coming back, clip board in hand who I guessed must have been doing some butterfly recording; she told me that there were some sheltered places and plenty of butterflies to see.

Although butterflies were not particularly numerous, I did spot eleven species. These were: small white, comma, brimstone, peacock, orange tip, green hairstreak, dingy skipper, grizzled skipper, small heath, small copper and brown argus (the last two new for the year). 

Some  (poor) record shots are below. 

looking  south down the valley

brown argus

grizzled skipper

small copper

brimstone

looking north up the valley

small heath

dingy skipper

peacock

comma

RED FOOTED FALCON

Living at the edge of three counties, (Wilts, Glos and Oxon)  I often look at a number of sightings websites to decide the best places to visit and birds to see.  However,  I  less frequently look at the Berkshire bird sightings unless I am considering a visit to my daughter who lives in that county. Today I was glad I did, as  I noticed an sighting of a RED FOOTED FALCON, which had been spotted a day or so ago. I was even more pleased to find that it was at some gravel pits only 15 minutes away from my daughter's home. 

Being a rare visitor to the UK I anticipated that it would generate quite a bit of interest, so decided to visit this morning, partly because it might not stay around long, and partly to avoid the popularity of a weekend. I noticed that the parking was in a pub car park, so was admittedly a bit concerned that owners might not be so pleased to see its car park filled with birders ( unless of course they popped in for a pint afterwards!). However, when  I got to the carpark about 8.45. a,m I found it quite empty. Maybe the bird had flown on and I hadn't had updated information? 

However, I decided it would probably be quite a pleasant walk anyway as the track led past the lake down to a the Kennet and Avon canal, It was overcast and a little chilly so I was glad of my  jacket.  I walked through a wooded area  and  stopped each time I could get a view of t the lake to see if I could spot any birds of prey which could be the falcon. I could only see swallows, house martins and swifts ( the last being a year tick). However, I could see a couple of people with long lensed camera/binoculars on the opposite side of the lake, though they didn't appear to be watchng anything in particular.  I continued walking as far as the canal,  and then returned.. still nothing. Another birder passed me and said he was looking for it too. I  remained where I was and then suddenly spotted a brownish red bird flying amongst the swifts. The red footed falcon? I only saw it briefly before it disappeared behind some trees. The person I had passed  returned and said he had seen it too and we decided  we would get a better view if we walked round to the other side to join the other birders which we did.

There were about half a dozen people standing together in an opening between some trees which gave a view over three islands in the lake which the falcon had been favouring the previous day. They had also seen the falcon and were waiting for it to return which it did. It flew back and forth in front of use, twisting and turning,  occasionally being chased by some crows or gulls, or even turning and chasing them off itself. . At one point it was joined a by a single hobby ( another year tick)  which then perched distantly in some  trees.  Eventually the falcon itself perched for about half  a  minute in a tree  on one of the islands and I took some record shots. Having enjoyed some great views of the red footed falcon,  I eventually decided I had better go, Time was getting on and I had arranged to stop for lunch at my daughter's before going on a butterfly spotting trip during the afternoon when more sunshine was forecast.

Distant shot of red footed falcon

NESTING AND NURTURING AT SLIMBRIDGE

 I paid a late Spring visit to Slimbridge this afternoon where, as expected, the breeding season is getting well underway.  On the Rushy Pen, a crane was sitting on its nest, whilst from the Zeiss hide I  watched a pair of  Cranes feeding in the long grass, their recently hatched youngster(s)' heads  occasionally popping into view.

Also on the Rushy, avocets and black headed gulls were nesting, and a  pair of little ringed plovers, whose nest was being protected from predators by a wire cage placed over it by the Centre staff. Whilst watching, a pair of jackdaws came close and both parents ( out of the cage) were feigning injury in order to entice the jackdaws away. 

At various sites on the Centre, I came across families of greylag geese, with their broods of goslings. I also saw one family of Canada geese, a coot chick, but oddly enough, no mallard ducklings!  

From the Discovery hide I saw an oyster catcher and chicks which had nested on the roof, then parachuted down to the ground, although they were too distant to photographs. There was also a mute swan with 6 small cygnets, and good numbers of avocets feeding in the shallows.

Unusually, I didn't record any new species for the year today, but did get chatting to a lady from the States, who was spending 5 weeks over here while her daughter took her University exams and was making use of her time to do some birdwatching in the Gloucester area; she was enquiring what she might be able to see at this time of year. I accompanied her on the summer walkway towards the Severn river, but the tide was right out and there were only a few shelducks and gulls. However on the field alongside the path were three golden plover and a couple of swallows perched on the barbed wire.

 

EMERALDS AND PEARLS

 Yesterday I had a walk in the Cotswold Water Park hoping I might see some hobbies flying over one of the lakes. When nearly there I realised had left my camera bag and binoculars at home...aarrgh! However,  I decided to continue as I thought I would probably be unable to get any photos anyway and I had my phone on my camera that would give me a record shot of anything interesting.

After parking, I followed a lane and then turned off left onto a footpath. After walking for 15 mins I suddenly noticed a dragonfly fly across and land on the hedge next to me. It was green and shiny and  a new species to me. I'd read of Downy Emerald dragonflies being seen in the area so guessed that was probably the species I'd found. The dragonfly remained motionless for some time so I was able to take some good close ups on my phone  to use for ID purposes. I later worked out that this must be a male  Downy emerald because of the club shape of its abdomen.

Walking further on I came to the lake and  a sign telling me that this was Flagham Fen where a colony of beavers were living. A hide nearby gave good views of the  lake but  sadly I saw neither beaver or hobby !

This afternoon I had a training session after work so again decided to stay local. I therefore visited the woodland of the Bathhurst estate to see pearl bordered fritillaries. A couple of weeks back I looked for them but it was probably  too early as I saw none. Today however was different.  I saw probably a dozen individuals.  Sometimes I could see as many as 6 at one time. With sunny skies and a moderate breeze they were reluctant to settle though eventually I managed a few photos. 

 

Downy emerald dragonfly

pearl bordered fritillary

 

MORGAN'S HILL

 I went over to Morgan's Hill this afternoon to search for butterflies, particularly looking for grizzled skippers which on some earlier years seem to have evaded me. 

The weather was mostly sunny though with a slight north easterly breeze. However, there are some sheltered spots  on the hill so I headed for these in particular. 

On the path leading onto the reserve I found a lady photographing green hairstreaks,  she told me she'd seen some wall butterflies but I didn't see any here.  However there were brimstones and orange tips and some small/green veined whites.  

I checked an area where in the past I have found Marsh Fritillaries but it is a bit early for those and I didn't see any. I did find a Duke of Burgundy here though. 

In the quarry area where it was more sheltered there were dingy skippers and a few grizzled skippers too. I saw an orange coloured butterfly flying around, which I assumed was a comma or small tortoiseshell but  when it settled very briefly I could see it was in fact a wall butterfly. Although I saw it several times, it never settled for long enough to get any photos. 

green hairstreak

dingy skipper

duke of Burgundy

grizzled skipper

duke of Burgundy

view from the entrance to the reserve

l