It was good to get out again and the Butterfly Conservation event today dragged me out to Warton Crag near the RSPB Leighton Moss site, the event not being till 1pm we decided on going up early and having a wander around the Leighton Moss site.
We started around the Eric Morecambe hides picking up very little due to the storm damage, so alas the pools were nearly dry, so no Avocets to be seen but we picked up a solitary Greenshank, numerous Oystercatchers, Shelduck, Gadwall, a solitary Little Egret and a female Chaffinch we rescued after flying into one of the hide windows, On the way back to the car park we picked up a couple of reeling Grasshopper Warblers
On the reserve we caught up with the Spoonbill and a few Black tailed Godwits, a few Sedge Warblers but no Reed. Also of surprise were no Marsh Harriers and no Black headed Gull colony
On then to Warton Crags for the butterfly walk along with Martin Wain of the Butterfly Conservation. Martin explained a lot about the crags its history and the butterflies of Warton and their needs. Butterflies of the day were of course the Pearl bordered fritillary of which there were plenty but very difficult to photograph, numerous Green Hairstreak
Other butterflies on the day at the crag were Dingy Skipper, Holly Blue, Small Heath, Orange-tip, Green veined White,.
We didn’t see the Peregrine or Ravens of Warton Crag
Green Hairstreak
Pearl bordered Fritillary
Huddsbirder 