string boozel
Well-known member
As I was out watching a comedian last night and given that beer was almost certainly going to be involved I thought it would be prudent to book today off and so I used the opportunity to go nature spotting in the Welland Valley. Walking through the town I passed the boating lake where the population of Greylags is huge and seemingly growing while the Coots are also adding to their numbers. A Yellow Wagtail was heard as I walked towards Middleton where I hoped to begin a search for Beautiful Demoiselles along the river, one has recently been reported in Market Harborough so its not quite as far fetched as it sounds.
I've not been to this part of the river before but it's an attractive site, I was a little early at this stage for dragons but I did flush a lot of Banded Demoiselles on my walk through armpit high nettles, thank goodness I wore my jeans! During the course of the day I was to see many Bandeds along the river, always a pleasure to see this beautiful species even if I was unable to find any actual Beautifuls. A pair of Cormorants flew over on their way to Eyebrook reservoir while Swallows hunted over the riverside fields. A nice find here was a couple of Large Skippers which were my first of the year.
Not a lot to report from the Welland near Cottingham but a little further on at a point on the Jurassic Way I found over a hundred White-legged Damsels ( grid ref SP861920ish if you fancy a bash), many were immatures but a few were beginning to look more like adults. A few Large Reds were here too, I'm enjoying a good year for this species with sightings from many more sites than usual. Another good find here was a year first Meadow Brown while new brood Small Tortoiseshells are beginning to appear. Just down from Rockingham a Sedge Warbler was singing well, I also heard several Lesser Whitethroats during the day which were my first for a while.
I found another White-legged on my way to Gretton where the Welland meets the road but it was at the weir where I enjoyed a productive spell. White-legs again were common with many hiding in the long grass and nettles joining their frequent companions the Banded Demoiselles. As with the last visit there were a few Red-eyeds resting on the lilies and more Large Reds. Other species noted here were Common Blue, Azure and also rather a lot of Blue-tailed which included one of the violacea form. A Reed Warbler was singing here, I never heard it on my last visit so it may be a bird displaced from elsewhere. A battered and faded Small Torty here was most likely to be a survivor from last year, a true butterfly geriatric. Given that the day was pretty hot by now and the hill in Gretton fairly steep I popped into the pub on my way past for a medicinal lager and lime but after that it was back to business.
Brookfield Plantation was quiet with just a male Emperor hawking the rides and the old Sunday market site was a little dull too though I found more Bee Orchids, beautiful flowers and always worth looking for.
James.
I've not been to this part of the river before but it's an attractive site, I was a little early at this stage for dragons but I did flush a lot of Banded Demoiselles on my walk through armpit high nettles, thank goodness I wore my jeans! During the course of the day I was to see many Bandeds along the river, always a pleasure to see this beautiful species even if I was unable to find any actual Beautifuls. A pair of Cormorants flew over on their way to Eyebrook reservoir while Swallows hunted over the riverside fields. A nice find here was a couple of Large Skippers which were my first of the year.
Not a lot to report from the Welland near Cottingham but a little further on at a point on the Jurassic Way I found over a hundred White-legged Damsels ( grid ref SP861920ish if you fancy a bash), many were immatures but a few were beginning to look more like adults. A few Large Reds were here too, I'm enjoying a good year for this species with sightings from many more sites than usual. Another good find here was a year first Meadow Brown while new brood Small Tortoiseshells are beginning to appear. Just down from Rockingham a Sedge Warbler was singing well, I also heard several Lesser Whitethroats during the day which were my first for a while.
I found another White-legged on my way to Gretton where the Welland meets the road but it was at the weir where I enjoyed a productive spell. White-legs again were common with many hiding in the long grass and nettles joining their frequent companions the Banded Demoiselles. As with the last visit there were a few Red-eyeds resting on the lilies and more Large Reds. Other species noted here were Common Blue, Azure and also rather a lot of Blue-tailed which included one of the violacea form. A Reed Warbler was singing here, I never heard it on my last visit so it may be a bird displaced from elsewhere. A battered and faded Small Torty here was most likely to be a survivor from last year, a true butterfly geriatric. Given that the day was pretty hot by now and the hill in Gretton fairly steep I popped into the pub on my way past for a medicinal lager and lime but after that it was back to business.
Brookfield Plantation was quiet with just a male Emperor hawking the rides and the old Sunday market site was a little dull too though I found more Bee Orchids, beautiful flowers and always worth looking for.
James.