Date: 17th July 2021
Time: from
9:30 a.m.
Weather: dry,
sunny, light wind, 19°C to 22°C
My last visit to the site was way back on 31st May 2021.
Since then, I have been unable to find an
opportunity to visit due to preparing
for, receiving and then recovering from a health-related procedure in early
June which was then followed by short trips away to Somerset and Wales and
Yorkshire.
Given that the weather forecast now
suggests that we can expect a few days of warm/hot sunny weather, I decided
that a long overdue visit should be made, primarily in search of butterflies
given the launch of the Big Butterfly Count.
This
spring and early summer has been extremely disappointing for butterflies,
mainly as a result of the many days of cool, wet and windy weather. By my
last visit to the site, I had only recorded 6 species compared with 21 species
for 2020 as a whole.
However,
my recent visit to RSPB Vange Marsh and the abundance
of butterflies at that site suggested an improvement.
This certainly proved to be the case with my visit this morning and I was able to add 7 species to my year list for the site: Marbled White (at least 20), Large and/or Small Skipper (100+), Meadow Brown (100+), Large White (20+), Gatekeeper (1) and Red Admiral (1). In addition, I saw Comma (2) and Speckled Wood (2), both of which I have already previously recorded this year.
The
number of Marbled Whites was both notable and welcome and I do not
recall seeing so many before at the site. In previous years, I have seen small
numbers in the grassland area at the southern edge of the site where it borders
St. Nicholas Lane but this morning I saw them here but also in the south west
corner of the site both around a large area of Bramble and the adjoining
grassland.
As
in previous years, this area of Bramble in the south west corner of the site
was proving to be very attractive for large numbers of butterflies, bees,
hoverflies and other insects.
Given
the warm weather, it was disappointing not to see any dragonflies or
damselflies.
With
regard to birds, the intensity of bird activity and bird song peaked in May and
this morning I only recorded 12 species.
Nonetheless,
I still heard the brief song of 2 male Blackcaps and a single Song
Thrush. The other highlights were 2 Swifts flying over St. Nicholas
Church and a Green Woodpecker calling in the same area.
As
I walked home, I was alerted to the call of a Common Buzzard as I
approached the junction of Basildon Road and Czarina Rise and I eventually
spotted the bird soaring extremely high up.
Species
recorded during this visit were as follows (heard only records in italics):
Blue Tit
Long-tailed Tit
Robin
Photo: Marbled White
Photo: Marbled White
Photo: Small Skipper
Photo: Small Skipper
Photo: Small Skipper
Photo: Shieldbug species
Site totals to date (2021 totals in brackets):
Mammals = 6 (5)
Butterflies = 21 (13)
Dragonflies and damselflies = 7 (0)
Reptiles = 1 (0)
Amphibians = 0 (0)
Stay safe, stay well, stay strong, stay connected with nature
No comments:
Post a Comment
If you feel like commenting on my blog, you can contact me by completing the comment form below. I will respond to all comments and enquiries and constructive criticism will always be welcomed.