Monthly Archives: May 2018

Todays plan was down to Old Moor to see the Glossy Ibis and photo hopefully some Dragonflies and then up to North cave Wetlands for Hoverflies and Dragonflies.

The day started well with on arrival good views of the Glossy Ibis but always at a safe distance for my camera, Dingy Skipper was a nice new find for the year along Green Lane, the other target species happened with a bit of searching but I did finally manage to see a single Four Spotted Chaser, of which I did manage to get a photo of

Four Spotted Chaser at Old Moor

On then up to North Cave Wetlands were I managed to find a new Hoverfly for me a Cheilosia variabillis, dragonflies were a little bit more difficult with only a handful of Four Spotted Chasers about despite searching, should have been here yesterday one guy said….how many times have I heard that. I was hoping for a Broad Bodied Chaser, which didn’t happen, so I spent some time taking photos of the Four Spotted Chasers.

Azure Damselflies and Brimstone Butterflies were a nice distraction whilst watching the Four Spotted Chasers

Four Spotted Chaser and Brimstone Butterfly, North Cave Wetlands

Day List at Old Moor :- Avocet, Blackbird, Blackcap, Black headed Gull, Canada Goose, Crow, Coot, Gadwall, Glossy Ibis, Great Tit, Grey Heron, Greylag Goose, Jackdaw, Lapwing, Lesser Black backed Gull, Lesser Whitethroat, Magpie, Mallard, Mediterranean Gull, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Pochard, Redshank, Reed Warbler, Robin, Sand Martin, Tufted Duck, Woodpigeon

Brimstone, Dingy Skipper, Green veined White, Orange tip, Small White, Speckled Wood

Azure Damselfly, Blue tailed damselfly, Four Spotted Chaser

Day List at North Cave Wetlands : Blackbird, Blackcap, Black headed Gull, Blue Tit, Cettis Warbler, Chaffinch,

Brimstone, Green veined White, Orange tip, Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell, Speckled Wood

Azure Damselfly, Four Spotted Chaser

After early morning jobs I decided since the weather was great I would try my changes at Old Moor again for a few more migrants and insects.

Well I arrived at 11am and set off towards the Family Hide to nail the Mediterranean Gulls this time, it took a while looking thru all the Black headed Gulls, and a few Lesser Black backed Gulls but I found them this time amongst the Black headed Gulls on the first island, two birds seen at long last. Other birds seen from here were the Sand Martins now making home in the man-made bunker, Tufted Ducks, Mallards, Cormorants, Moorhen, Coots, Canada and Greylag Geese.

Down on to Green lane where there was a Reed Warbler singing away close to the path, I decided on trying to see it and with patience it finally paid off with some great views of a secretive bird, then I caught sight of a Green Woodpecker as it flew down the lane, Brimstones and Orange tips were flying by as I made my way finally to the Wader Scrape hide were I saw a single Avocet, Oystercatcher, Shelduck, and plenty more Black headed Gulls

Decided then on a walk down to Bolton Ings down along Warbler Way were there were plenty of Willow Warblers and a few Chiffchaff, but around the hide was a Common Whitethroat giving good views, Dunnock again, Pheasant a few Goldfinch. On the way back a few Speckled Woods were seen.

A quick walk around the Dragonfly ponds in the vain hope of some damselflies, but alas none were found.

Birds at Old Moor :

Avocet, Black headed Gull, Canada Goose, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Cormorant, Great Crested Grebe, Great Tit, Green Woodpecker, Greylag Goose, Lapwing, Lesser Black backed Gull, Linnet, Long tailed Tit, Magpie, Mallard, Mediterranean Gull, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Oystercatcher, Pheasant, Pochard, Reed Bunting, Reed Warbler, Robin, Sand Martin, Sedge Warbler, Shelduck, Starling, Tufted Duck, Whitethroat, Willow Warbler, Woodpigeon, Wren.

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I travelled back then and took in the Ingbirchworth area were I finally connected with a single Wheatear, relief didn’t think i was going to connect with one this year, lots of Woodpigeon and Stock Doves about.

On to the Langsett area in hope of Pied Flycatchers, but on arrival to the site I found extensive workings going on so I wasn’t hoping on picking any up and I didn’t but a solitary Common Sandpiper on the dam wall was a nice bonus.

The final place for the day was Broadstones Res. for the reported Grasshopper Warblers seen that morning, they were not found but a lovely male Whinchat was the bird find of the day. Along with the Whinchat was Common Whitethroat,Yellowhammer, Reed Bunting, Meadow Pipit, Willow Warblers

Birds Ingbirchworth Area :

Blackbird, Blue Tit, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Common Sanpiper, Goldfinch, Great Tit, Linnet, Oystercatcher, Pheasant, Pied Wagtail, Reed Bunting,Robin, Starling, Stock Dove, Wheatear, Whinchat, Whitethroat, Woodpigeon, Yellowhammer.

Common Whitethroat