Sunday July 7

A morning of sunny intervals with a very light northerly breeze.

Dave arrived and announced we should look out for Hairstreaks today as both common species had already been seen at Marsh Lane. Before long we were staring at some hedgerow Elms between two Oaks in the hope that the diminutive butterflies would flutter by, and indeed they did. Unfortunately they kept fluttering and without seeing one perched we were unable to confirm which they were.

A little further down the same hedge some Blackbirds were going ballistic at something. We hung around for some time before an Owl sp disappeared out of the back of the hedge. Was it going to be a frustrating morning?

Happily we had already had one success, as a large orange butterfly which perched in a hedge near Netherstead could be identified as a Silver-washed Fritillery, the first of the year.

Silver-washed Fritillery

As the morning heated up, the butterflies became more and more numerous. Particularly abundant were Ringlets, and Meadow Browns. Not far behind were Small Heaths, Large and Small Skippers, and Marbled Whites. Several Small Whites, Large Whites, Green-veined Whites, and Small Tortoiseshells were also seen before Dave spotted a Comma. Unfortunately I missed it, but he repeated the trick at Stapenhill Wood and this time I added to my year-list. Another new one for the year was a Gatekeeper which flew by without stopping.

Until we reached the Flash Field there was not much to comment on bird-wise, save for a party of four recently fledged Green Woodpeckers at Netherstead. However, a juvenile Little Owl and anxiously calling parent bird set us up for a reasonably productive scan. The Shelducklings are all still alive and are close to fledging, two Little Ringed Plovers, a Snipe, two Lapwings, and at least seven Green Sandpipers hid behind the clumps of sedge, and a single female Teal flew in.

A preening Green Sandpiper

The walk back through the flower-rich meadow bordering Morton Brook was as entertaining as always, and the highlight for me was two Six-spot Burnets feeding on Knapweed.

Six-spot Burnet

Dave felt we had seen this moth species here before, but I can't recall them. You may have counted the spots and got to four (or maybe five). The large spot at the base of the wing counts as two nearly joined spots when the moth is spread out in a collection tray, hence the name.

Dragonflies always get up a little later than butterflies, and by the time we were back at the dragonfly pools we had amassed a decent list. These included a Brown Hawker which allowed itself to be photographed in the grass near Stapenhill Wood, and a host of newly emerged Small Red-eyed Damselflies.

Brown Hawker

Small Red-eyed Damselfly

Plenty of Emerald Damselflies are now mating, along with Common Blues and Azures, while each pool we looked at was being overflown by the odd Emperor, and many Black-tailed Skimmers and Four-spotted Chasers.

The whole place is a testament to what can be achieved when chemicals are not routinely sprayed everywhere.