Date: 26th July 2023
Time: from 10:15 a.m.
Weather: dry, sunny, light wind, 18°C to 20°C
This was my first visit to the site since way back on 8th July 2023. This was due to a number of factors, not least poor weather but also other commitments including attending the 3-day Global BirdFair plus some birding in Lincolnshire (see here).
The main purpose of my visit was to primarily record and photograph butterflies and dragonflies and damselflies plus to undertake my first Big Butterfly Count of 2023.
It proved to be an exceptionally good visit with 14 butterfly species and 6 dragonfly/damselfly species recorded. However, there was a marked decline in the numbers of Marbled Whites, "golden" skipper species and Meadow Browns since my last visit on 8th July 2023 but Gatekeepers were much more abundant.
My records included a new addition to my site list (Brown Argus), 2 additions to my 2023 site list for butterflies (Small Copper and Peacock) and 2 additions to my 2023 site list for dragonflies and damselflies (Migrant Hawker and Common Darter).
This year has already proved to be much better than 2022 ….
Butterflies: 17 species in 2022, 23 species to date in 2023
Dragonflies and damselflies: 7 species in 2022, 11 species to date in 2023
I recorded the following during my visit ….
Southern section north of St. Nicholas Lane (including a 15 minute Big Butterfly Count): Marbled White (1), Small Copper (1), Brown Argus (1 or possibly 2), Holly Blue (1), Ringlet (1), Red Admiral (1), Speckled Wood (1), Gatekeeper (at least 30), Meadow Brown (at least 10), Large White (at least 5), Migrant Hawker (2), unidentified medium-sized dragonfly species (possibly Migrant Hawker) (c.5)
This area is also already suggesting that there may be a good blackberry crop this year ....
“Hilly Road” to St. Nicholas Church: Common Blue
(1 male), Gatekeeper (at least 5), Meadow Brown (at least 5), Common
Darter (1 or possibly 2 females)
Photo: female Common Darter
Photo: female Common Darter
St. Nicholas Church and cemetery (including a 15 minute Big Butterfly Count at the Buddleia bushes in the central section of the cemetery): Peacock (7), Red Admiral (2), Comma (1), Gatekeeper (at least 25), Meadow Brown (at least 5), unidentified “white” species (Large White and/or Small White) (at least 5), medium-sized dragonfly species (at least 5)
Photo: Comma
Photo: Comma
Photo: Peacock
Photo: Peacock
Photo: Gatekeeper
Wooded area at the end of the track from Larkins Tyres: Speckled Wood (1), Gatekeeper (1)
Northern section and pond: Marbled White (1), Small Copper (1), Common Blue (3 males), Red Admiral (1), Peacock (1), unidentified “small skipper” species (Small Skipper and/or Essex Skipper) (3), unidentified “white” species (Large White and/or Small White) (at least 10), Gatekeeper (at least 15), Meadow Brown (at least 5), Emerald Damselfly (at least 2), Azure Damselfly (at least 1), Emperor Dragonfly (2), Ruddy Darter (at least 2 males)
Photo: male Common Blue
Photo: male Common Blue
Photo: Small Copper
Photo: male Ruddy Darter
Photo: male Ruddy Darter
Photo: male Ruddy Darter
Photo: male Ruddy Darter
Photo: Emerald Damselfly
Photo: Azure Damselfly
Bird activity was almost non-existent and I only recorded 8 species! However, this did include a female Sparrowhawk flying low and fast through the central section of the cemetery, 1 calling but unseen Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 calling but unseen Green Woodpeckers, 2 contact calling but unseen Chiffchaffs and 2 singing but unseen Blackcaps.
Species recorded during this visit were as follows (heard only records in italics):
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