Thursday 29 May 2014

Whitecross Green Wood BBOWT Reserve 29th May

Had a quick look in whitecross Green Wood this afternoon during a brief, dry, sunny period.
Common Spotted Orchids just coming into flower. Also Yellow Rattle.
2 Blue Tailed Damselflies.
Orange Tip, Common Blue, Brown Argus and Speckled Wood were the only butterflies seen.
5 Burnet Companion Moths.

 Burnet Companion

 Blue Tailed Damselfly

 Common Blue

 Common Spotted Orchid

 Yellow Rattle

 Yellow-tail Moth Caterpillar

Sunday 25 May 2014

A week in Dorset

Just come back from a week in Dorset. On sunday 18th we headed to Lankham Bottom butterfly conservation reserve as it's a good site for Marsh Fritillary. As soon as we had parked the car and entered the reserve we were greeted with a marsh fritillary. After walking around the site 20+ were seen. Other butterflies seen were:-

Dingy Skipper 15+
Grizzled Skipper 5
G.V.White 2
Large White 1
Brimstone 6
Green Hairstreak 2
Common Blue 5
Brown Argus 20+
Small Tortoiseshell 2
Peacock 2
Wall Brown 1
Small Heath 8
3 Wood tiger moths were seen also 20+ Speckled Yellows

 Marsh Fritillary

 Marsh Fritillary

 Marsh Fritillary

 Green Hairstreak

 Crosswort

 Speckled Yellow

 Reserve sign
After here we made our way to the Cerne Abbas Giant Hill to see the big fella.We walked around the base of the hill and saw another 20+ Marsh Fritillaries flying around. 1 Duke of Burgundy was also seen and an Orange Tip and Holly Blue were the only other additions to the list. A few Early Purple Orchids were seen but well past their best.

 The Giant

 Duke of Burgundy

 Marsh Fritillary

On Monday 19th the weather wasn't that good so after seeing some good butterflies the day before we decided to do a bit of fossil hunting along the Jurassic coast at Charmouth. We found a few good fossils. A couple of Rock Pipit were seen on the cliff edge.

 Rock Pipit
On Tuesday 20th, again the weather wasn't that good in the morning so we didn't go out until later. When we did decide to go out we headed to Portland to have a look around a few of the quarries and do a little bit of a sea watch. Firstly we had a look around Butterfly conservations Perryfield reserve.
Butterflies seen here were:-

Dingy Skipper
Small White
Common Blue
Small Blue 6
Painted Lady
Red Admiral
Peacock
Wall Brown

 Small Blue
2 Hummingbird Hawkmoths were also seen. Also Ivy Broomrape.

 Ivy Broomrape
After here we headed to Portland bill to do a little sea watch for half an hour.
30+ Gannet, 1 Manx Shearwater, 20+ Guillemot, 8+ Razorbill and 7 Kittiwake were seen.

On the way back from here we stopped off at Cheyne weare. I had a walk around the quarry and found 8+ Wall Lizards basking on rocks. 5 more Hummingbird hawkmoths were seen here also 4 Painted Lady and 3 Red Admiral .While photographing the lizards I noticed I was being watched by a Fox cub.

 Wall Lizard

 Wall Lizard

 Wall Lizard
Fox Cub
 Fox Cub
On Thursday and Friday the weather again wasn't that good, so after seeing all the Butterflies that were around and no decent birds around we decided to do a bit of site seeing.

 Hardy's Cottage

 Hardy's Cottage

 Durdle Door

Thursday 15 May 2014

Otmoor 15th May

Lacewing

 Hairy Dragonfly

 Azure Damselfly

 Large Red Damselfly

 Blue Tailed Damselfly

 Four Spotted Chaser

 Golden-bloomed Grey Longhorn Beetle

 Froghoppers
Hairy Dragonflies seen today along the dyke between the new hide and Noke
6+ Four Spotted Chasers
Lots of Azure Damsels around also a few Large Red Damsels and Blue tailed Damsels.

Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell, Orange Tip, Green Veined White, Brimstone all on the wing.

I didn't get to see the Glossy Ibis as it flew off north towards the flood field half an hour before I arrived.
1 Turtle Dove was heard calling from an Oak tree along the main bridleway.
A few Hobbies were seen over Greenaways.

Monday 5 May 2014

Whitecross Green BBOWT Reserve 5th May

 Hairy Dragonfly

 Dingy Skipper
Hairy Dragonflies were seen today flying along the rides,only landing briefly.

Butterflies seen:-
Dingy Skipper 4
Grizzled Skipper 1
Small White
Green Veined White
Large White
Brimstone
Peacock
Small Tortoiseshell

After Whitecross Green I made a brief visit to Asham Meads BBOWT Reserve to look at the Green Winged Orchids. Most of them were just past their best. The meadow was also covered in cuckoo flower.

 Green Winged Orchid

 Green Winged Orchid

 Green Winged Orchid


Saturday 3 May 2014

Totternhoe,Beds 3rd May.

 Duke of Burgundy

 Duke of Burgundy

 Duke of Burgundy

 Duke of Burgundy

 Duke of Burgundy

 Duke of Burgundy

 Dingy Skipper

 Hawthorn Blossom

 Reserve Sign
Butterflies seen today:-
Dingy Skipper 8+
Brimstone
Small White
Green Veined White
Orange Tip
Green Hairstreak 1
Duke of Burgundy at least 4
Small Tortoiseshell
Peacock
Red Admiral

2 Raven were seen flying around.