Well a little Flora and Fauna in Cumbria.
An enjoyable few hours yesterday, with visit's to Foulshaw Moss and Latterbarrow but sightings at both reserves were a little sparse to be honest....I think maybe I blinked too many times!
The one Osprey seen in the nest at Foulshaw a mile away in the haze from the viewing platform was hardly riveting stuff. But a walk along the newly erected board-walk at the north end of the reserve, proved to be a good idea as it produced good views of a male Stonechat and four juvenile. Five Raven and a lone Swift were over, a Willow Warbler heard, with Long-tailed Tits and juvenile Coal/Great/Blue Tits were on the feeders, and bird sightings couldn't have been much more sparse than that.
A few Common Lizard mostly scuttled below the board-walks as they were approached, but this one was a rather obliging individual.
Just two species of dragonfly noted, an immature Black Darter and a female Four-spotted Chaser, but an Odonata expert I spoke to assured me there would be thousands of dragonflies around in a couple of week time. With the exception of a few Large White, the only other three butterflies seen were a Large Heath, Gatekeeper, and Small Tortoiseshell.
At Latterbarrow, 2 Chiffchaff, a singing male Blackcap, and a Bullfinch were all heard, a Green Woodpecker heard calling was then seen to fly across the reserve. Butterflies were, a few Meadow Brown, 4 Comma, a Ringlet, Red Admiral, and Small Skipper.
A Barred Straw moth with only a moderate result in photographing, was the only moth seen all day, identified by its unique resting posture with the forewings held extended.
An enjoyable few hours yesterday, with visit's to Foulshaw Moss and Latterbarrow but sightings at both reserves were a little sparse to be honest....I think maybe I blinked too many times!
The one Osprey seen in the nest at Foulshaw a mile away in the haze from the viewing platform was hardly riveting stuff. But a walk along the newly erected board-walk at the north end of the reserve, proved to be a good idea as it produced good views of a male Stonechat and four juvenile. Five Raven and a lone Swift were over, a Willow Warbler heard, with Long-tailed Tits and juvenile Coal/Great/Blue Tits were on the feeders, and bird sightings couldn't have been much more sparse than that.
Common Lizard. Pete Woodruff.
A few Common Lizard mostly scuttled below the board-walks as they were approached, but this one was a rather obliging individual.
Immature Black Darter. Pete Woodruff.
Just two species of dragonfly noted, an immature Black Darter and a female Four-spotted Chaser, but an Odonata expert I spoke to assured me there would be thousands of dragonflies around in a couple of week time. With the exception of a few Large White, the only other three butterflies seen were a Large Heath, Gatekeeper, and Small Tortoiseshell.
At Latterbarrow, 2 Chiffchaff, a singing male Blackcap, and a Bullfinch were all heard, a Green Woodpecker heard calling was then seen to fly across the reserve. Butterflies were, a few Meadow Brown, 4 Comma, a Ringlet, Red Admiral, and Small Skipper.
Barred Straw. Pete Woodruff.
A Barred Straw moth with only a moderate result in photographing, was the only moth seen all day, identified by its unique resting posture with the forewings held extended.