At
Nagshead, there was one Red Admiral butterfly on the
usual logging track at the cross roads with the long trail.
11th July 2010 – Nagshead in the late afternoon was very quiet in terms of
bird sound but there were 6 Red Admiral butterflies as usual along the main
logging track (See 8th July).
10th July 2010 – I made a short
visit ‘down the road’ to the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust at Slimbridge to look for the White-tailed Plover which had
been reported late yesterday. It
was apparently settled and feeding around the water to be seen from the Zeiss Hide when I arrived mid-afternoon. A beautiful bird in what appeared to be
fine plumage.
9th July 2010 – Slade Bottom, St Briavels again.
The day was hot and humid.
Surprisingly there were far fewer butterflies on the wing in this valley
compared to the 5th July.
At
Foxes Bridge, there were virtually no butterflies on the wing as the day had
become overcast yet the temperature and the humidity seemed to remain high.
8th July 2010 – Warm again. At Nagshead,
the woods were quiet in terms of bird song now that the breeding season is
over. Amazingly, there were 6 Red
Admiral butterflies along the trail as yesterday. These insects are very predictable but
the Wood Warblers which have been singing at several points along the long
trail have ceased and none were heard today.
7th July 2010 – Yet another warm
day. At the viewpoint at Newnham, there were 2 or possibly 3 Green Sandpipers on the
sandbanks on the river.
At
Nagshead, a juvenile Great-spotted Woodpecker on the lower
part of the short trail indicated local breeding. There were 4 Red Admiral butterflies
along the usual forest track (see 3rd July).
6th July 2010 – A warm day with
sunny periods and todays location was Daneway Banks to look for Large Blue butterflies. None were found and since none were
found last year as far as I know, and an earlier visit this year was
unproductive, it seems that this species is extinct here. A Gatekeeper
butterfly was new for the year,
bringing my total (for fun) to 37 species.
Along
the canal in Siccaridge Wood, an Emperor Dragonfly
was of note as were several Silver-washed Fritillaries.
5th July 2010 – Slade Bottom, St Briavels. Many
butterflies in this delightful valley including a large number of Comma
Butterflies. A Golden-ringed
dragonfly was of note.
Tidenham Chase and Poor’s Allotment. Not much water in the pond at the latter
but there were at least 4 Broad-bodied Chasers and 1 Four-spotted Chaser and 2
Emperor Dragonflies were over the bracken. At the new pond on the Chase, there
were another 3 Broad-bodied Chasers and near the pond an Essex Skipper
butterfly was a new one for the year.
4th July 2010 – Many Swifts
overhead at Edgehills Bog on a generally windy but
overcast day.
3rd July 2010 – 2 White Admirals at
Cannop Ponds on a warm day with sunny periods.
At
Nagshead RSPB Reserve, there were 7 Red Admirals
along the forest track between the long and short trails.
2nd July 2010 – At Nagshead after overnight rain, the woods were exceedingly
quiet after the activity yesterday.
At Cannop Ponds, specifically on the cycle
track just to the north of the northern pond, I found my first White Admiral
butterfly of the year. Of note also, there were very many froglets
on the cycle path near the southern pond.
They were on the move after the rain had freshened up the habitat after
the long dry and warm spell.
1st July 2010 – Overcast, breezy
and mild. 19 deg. C. at 0925. At Nagshead, a
Grey Wagtail at the Nursery Pond was unusual. The woods were full of juvenile birds in
family parties including a Coal Tit and Nuthatch families along the lower part
of the short trail. One Wood
Warbler was still singing along the long trail.
At
Symonds Yat, both adult
Peregrines were on show and what appeared to be one juvenile appeared several
times at the entrance to the nest hole and did some preening. There is still some fluffy white
feathers in the wings and the head pattern is indistinct but I would think that
the bird will fledge in the next two or three days which is about right based
on the estimates of hatching and changes of behaviour of the parents.
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