Date: 23rd May 2025
Time: from 10:45
a.m.
Weather: dry, sunny, light
wind, 14°C to 16°C
I had a later start
this morning in order to wait for a better opportunity of seeing butterflies,
dragonflies and damselflies in the increasing temperature.
That was a good decision
and I recorded 8 new species for the site for 2025: Common Blue (1 plus 3
other “blue” butterflies which may have been this species and/or Holly Blue), Small
White (1), Emperor Dragonfly (1), Broad-bodied Chaser (at least 2 males and 2
females), Four-spotted Chaser (1), Large Red Damselfly (at least 2 mating pairs
but probably more), Azure Damselfly (at least 20), Blue-tailed Damselfly (1)
All records were in the
northern section of the site with all the dragonflies and damselflies seen
around the pond.
In addition, and before
I had even seen any of the above, I heard a singing male Common Whitethroat in
the northern section of the site. It was evidently very mobile and I eventually
saw it distantly in the northern paddock. This was my first record of this
species for the site for 2025 and much later than when I first see it in mid or
late April.
Other highlights during
my visit were as follows:
Lesser Whitethroat: singing male heard and
seen again in the usual area in the northern section of the site
Chiffchaff: at least 5 singing
males (none seen)
Blackcap: at least 5 singing
males (1 seen)
Great Spotted Woodpecker: 1 heard "drumming" in the northern section of the site and another heard calling in the woodland in the southern section of the site
Mallard: a pair seen on the pond in
the northern section of the site seemingly oblivious to my extended time spent
there watching the dragonflies and damselflies.
Butterflies: Small Heath (2),
Speckled Wood (3)
Species recorded during
this visit were as follows (heard only records in italics):
Common Whitethroat
Lesser Whitethroat
Blackcap
Chiffchaff
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Long-tailed Tit
Robin
Wren
Blackbird
Song Thrush
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Woodpigeon
Mallard
Common Blue
Small Heath
Speckled Wood
Small White
Emperor Dragonfly
Broad-bodied Chaser
Four-spotted
Chaser
Large Red Damselfly
Azure Damselfly
Blue-tailed Damselfly
Here are some photos
from my visit ….
Photo: male Broad-bodied Chaser
Photo: male Broad-bodied Chaser
Photo: male Broad-bodied Chaser
Photo: male Broad-bodied Chaser
Photo: Four-spotted Chaser
Photo: Large Red Damselfly
Photo: Large Red Damselfly
Photo: Large Red Damselfly
Photo: Large Red Damselfly
Photo: Large Red Damselflies
Photo: Large Red Damselflies
Photo: Azure Damselfly
Photo: Azure Damselflies
Photo: Azure Damselfly
Photo: Azure Damselflies
Photo: Common Blue
Photo: Common Blue
Photo: Small Heath
Photo: Dock Bug
Photo: Dock Bug
Photo: male and female Mallard
Photo: male and female Mallard
Site totals
for 2025 to date (2024 totals in brackets):
Birds = 42
(49)
Mammals = 3 (3)
Butterflies =
11 (17)
Dragonflies and
damselflies = 6 (11)
Reptiles = 0
(0)
Amphibians = 0
(0)
Total
species list for the site
Birds = 69
Mammals = 7
Butterflies =
25
Dragonflies and
damselflies = 14
Reptiles = 1
Amphibians = 0
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