Recents

Around the county

Yesterday (Sunday 21/07) I had a really early start to do the fourth and final Breeding Birds Survey for the RSPB around my big old chunk of Earls Barton GPs. Before I began, around 05:40am I had a quick look from the Summer Leys main hide to track down the long-staying adult Black Tern. It took me no more than 30 seconds to locate it, sat on Round Island with it's face just starting to come into moult. This was the first year tick I'd got in what seemed like ages so was good to see, especially in what had been a lousy year so far for Black Tern in the county.

The survey lasted the usual 4 and a bit hours. I actually managed to find a pretty decent selection of stuff with a hunting female Peregrine around 06:25am, a Barn Owl early on, an eclipse drake Garganey, 1 Black tailed Godwit, 1 Green Sandpiper, 5 Snipe, 3-4 juv. Yellow Wagtail, 1-2 Kingfishers & 4 Pochard The 'autumn' appears to have well and truely begun! Having said that there were still a few Warblers in song, especially Reed Warblers with 20 singing males counted.

After the survey, I met up with Dave and Sam and we headed off to the north of the county. On the way up we stopped off at Twywell Hills & Dales to have a quick look for Marbled Whites. We saw a pretty good number of them with the added bonus of my first two Essex Skippers and plenty of Six-Spot Burnet Moths. There had been a significant influx of Crossbill into the country of the last couple of days and so it wasn't overly surprising that we had 2 over calling, however they must have been pretty high up as we failed to actually see them.

We then headed onto Wakerley Wood to look for Crossbill. Sadly none were to be found despite a walking a big old circuit of the wood. Butterflies included 3-4 Silver-Washed Fritillaries and 2-3 White Admirals. My photos of the Fritillaries were all blurred as they kept vibrating their wings dammit! The two below were a couple of Dave's excellent shots:

Our final stop was Fermyn Woods in the hope of getting goods views of Purple Emperor. The weather however was not playing fair and pretty much the whole time it was cloudy. We did see quite a few Purple Emperors around the tree tops, however we failed to see any remotely close other than one which zoomed between us before heading for the treetops. Other things of note were 2 Purple Hairstreak, 2 Silver-Washed Fritillaries and several White Admirals & Commas.

Bucknell's Purple patch

On Thursday evening (18/07) again had a quick stroll in Bucknell after work. Again managed to find another freshly emerged Purple Hairstreak stumbling about, as well as an apparent increase in Commas as well.

Yesterday (19/07) I had the day off work so before heading for London for the day, Em and I went for a stroll in Bucknell again. Was hopeful of finding an Emperor with them being generally more active mid-morning. Just 5 minutes along the main track, there it was my first Purple Emperor butterfly!! Yes! It flew around in front of us before finally landing on the path. It sat there for a bit before moving to a nettle. I then played roulette with the nettle and got it to wander onto my hand where we had it for about 5 minutes before it shot off into the canopy. It was all the more sweeter as they are far from numerous in Bucknell and to actually have it on my hand was just amazing. Something I'll never forget!

After the enjoyment of finding the Emperor we moved along a little further along the path. Soon I managed to find another target, with 2-3 Silver-Washed Fritillaries flying about around several large patched of brambles. Was very chuffed and after grabbing a couple of photos, we headed off after a really great half hour!

Purple Hairstreak

I've been heading down to Bucknell Woods most evenings after work in the hope of seeing a local Purple Emperor or whatever else I could find.

Between 17:45 & 18:50 I did my usual circuit, taking in the main track. Despite plenty of stuff about, there were no Emperors to be found. Best were 6-7 White Admiral, at least 3 Wood White, a couple of Large White and the usual Large skippers, Ringlets and Meadow Browns.

On my return along the main track, something caught my eye, a flash of purple and was staggered to find that it was in fact a very sorry looking Purple Hairstreak staggering around on the path. Was a beautiful thing, however its' wings were folded over and it was rather weak. I let it wander onto my hand before leaving it on a plant by the path. Certainly brightened up my visit!

Bucknell Wood and Farthinghoe

Photos from the last week or so (Top to bottom: Peacock caterpillars, a seed head, Wood White, Common Spotted Orchid, Ringlet & White Admiral)