Tuesday, 30 July 2024

Visit to Noak Bridge Nature Reserve – 30th July 2024

Date: 30th July 2024

Time: from 9:45 a.m.

Weather: dry, sunny, light wind, 22°C to 25°C

This was my first and long overdue visit to the site since 21st June 2024.

The main purpose of my visit this morning was to again record and photograph butterflies, dragonflies and damselflies.

I had a very successful visit with 9 new records for the site for 2024Red Admiral, Green-veined White, Small White, Large White, Emperor Dragonfly, Ruddy Darter, Willow Emerald Damselfly, Stock Dove, Sparrowhawk

I recorded the following during my visit:

Butterflies: Brimstone (1), Ringlet (1), Red Admiral (3), Peacock (2), Green-veined White (1)Small White (at least 10), Large White (1), Speckled Wood (2), Gatekeeper (at least 10), Meadow Brown (at least 5)

Dragonflies and damselflies: Emperor Dragonfly (1), Ruddy Darter (3), Willow Emerald Damselfly (1), unidentified hawker species but possibly Brown Hawker (at least 5)

Generally, but as expected during the summer months, birds were more difficult to see and hear. However, I still managed to record the following: Sparrowhawk (1 heard calling in the wooded area behind Willow Pond), Stock Dove (1 heard calling in the wooded area behind Willow Pond and another heard calling in the wooded area around Fox Pond), Chiffchaff (1 heard calling), Blackcap (1 heard alarm calling), Mallard (3 eclipse males on Willow Pond), Moorhen (2 adults and 6 well-grown juveniles on Willow Pond)

I didn’t see any Edible Frogs at Meadow Pond, which is not surprising given the height and density of the vegetation, but I did record this species for the first time at Fox Pond. Here, at least 10 jumped in to the water as I approached and then most, if not all, eventually re-emerged further away on the edge of the pond, enabling me to get some photos.

Species recorded during this visit were as follows (heard only records in italics):

Blackcap

Chiffchaff
Blue Tit
Long-tailed Tit
Robin
Wren
Blackbird
Carrion Crow
Magpie
Stock Dove
Woodpigeon
Mallard
Moorhen

Edible Frog

Brimstone

Ringlet
Red Admiral
Peacock
Green-veined White
Small White
Large White
Speckled Wood
Gatekeeper
Meadow Brown 

Emperor Dragonfly

Ruddy Darter
Willow Emerald Damselfly

Here are some photos from my visit ….















Photo: Willow Emerald Damselfly
















Photo: female Ruddy Darter















Photo: female Ruddy Darter

Photo: female Ruddy Darter

Photo: female Ruddy Darter
















Photo: Brimstone
















Photo: Green-veined White















Photo: Small White
















Photo: Large White

Photo: Large White















Photo: Meadow Brown

Photo: Meadow Brown

Photo: Peacock
















Photo: Red Admiral
















Photo: Edible Frog

Photo: Edible Frog

Photo: Edible Frogs




























Photo: Edible Frogs



























Photo: Edible Frog



























Photo: Edible Frog



























Photo: Edible Frog




























Photo: eclipse male Mallard



























Photo: eclipse male Mallards

Site totals for 2024 to date (2023 totals in brackets):

Birds = 35 (36)

Mammals = 3 (2)
Butterflies = 12 (15)  
Dragonflies and damselflies = 9 (11)
Reptiles = 0 (1)
Amphibians = 1 (2)

Total species list for the site:

Birds = 49

Mammals = 4
Butterflies = 22
Dragonflies and damselflies = 15
Reptiles = 2
Amphibians = 3

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Restore and rewild our natural world
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Stay safe, stay well, stay strong, stay connected with nature

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