A late morning, to early afternoon visit, starting overcast before brightening up. A moderate to fresh southerly breeze blowing, temperatures reaching around 20 degrees C.
Good numbers of Common Darter Sympetrum striolatum still active, with a few Migrant Hawker Aeshna mixta still displaying breeding behavior with several pairs in cop, along with a single female ovipositing on Carp Lake.
Migrant Hawker – Aeshna mixta
Common Darter – Sympetrum striolatum
Four species of butterfly active including a tatty Small White Pieris rapae along the western path, along with a single Speckled Wood Pararge aegeria. Near the Dragonfly ponds several Small Copper Lycaena phlaeas were active, along with a further two along the path to Turret Hide. Red Admiral Vanessa atalanta was trying to shelter in Black Dyke out of the wind.
Red Admiral – Vanessa atalanta
Small Copper – Lycaena phlaeas
True Bugs included a Field Damsel Bug Nabis ferus in the north-west corner. A Hairy Shieldbug Dolycoris baccarum was along the Northern Path, with a few Spiked Shieldbug Picromerus bidens also found around the reserve.
Hairy Shieldbug – Dolycoris baccarum
Beetle-wise only three species of Ladybird noted, 7-spot Ladybird Coccinella septempunctata failry numerous with a few 22-spot Ladybird Psyllobora vigintiduopunctata found along Dryham Lane. Several Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis were found inside Turret Hide.
7-spot Ladybird – Coccinella septempunctata
Bird-wise, nothing out of the ordinary though the lone Pink-footed Goose Anser brachyrhynchus associating with the Greylag Geese Anser anser was showing well on Main Lake from the hide. A Kestrel Falco tinnunculus was trying to catch Dragonflies from the northern hedge, though didn’t appear to succeed. Finally four Curlew Numenius arquata were having a clean up on Island Lake.
Pink-footed Goose – Anser brachyrhynchus
Curlew – Numenius arquata
Kestrel – Falco tinnunculus
Birds (34)
Black-headed Gull – Chroicocephalus ridibundus
Blue Tit – Cyanistes caeruleus
Carrion Crow – Corvus corone
Common Gull – Larus canus
Coot – Fulica atra
Cormorant – Phalacrocorax carbo
Curlew – Numenius arquata
Gadwall – Anas strepera
Goldcrest – Regulus regulus
Goldfinch – Carduelis carduelis
Great Tit – Parus major
Greylag Goose – Anser anser
Jackdaw – Corvus monedula
Kestrel – Falco tinnunculus
Lapwing – Vanellus vanellus
Little Grebe – Tachybaptus ruficollis
Long-tailed Tit – Aegithalos caudatus
Mallard – Anas platyrhynchos
Moorhen – Gallinula chloropus
Mute Swan – Cygnus olor
Pheasant – Phasianus colchicus
Pink-footed Goose – Anser brachyrhynchus
Pochard – Aythya ferina
Robin – Erithacus rubecula
Rook – Corvus frugilegus
Shelduck – Tadorna tadorna
Shoveler – Anas clypeata
Siskin – Spinus spinus
Snipe – Gallinago gallinago
Sparrowhawk – Accipiter nisus
Teal – Anas crecca
Tufted Duck – Aythya fuligula
Wigeon – Anas penelope
Woodpigeon – Columba palumbus
Beetles (3)
7-spot Ladybird – Coccinella septempunctata
22-spot Ladybird – Psyllobora vigintiduopunctata
Harlequin Ladybird – Harmonia axyridis
Butterflies (4)
Red Admiral – Vanessa atalanta
Small Copper – Lycaena phlaeas
Small White – Pieris rapae
Speckled Wood – Pararge aegeria
Dragonflies (2)
Common Darter – Sympetrum striolatum
Migrant Hawker – Aeshna mixta
True Bugs (2)
Field Damsel Bug – Nabis ferus
Hairy Shieldbug – Dolycoris baccarum
Spiked Shieldbug – Picromerus bidens
Reptiles (1)
Grass Snake – Natrix helvetica