[Emma]

Moths Galore!!!

Spent a very productive afternoon at Hurcott today, instead of heading to the wooded side of the reserve we headed over to the heath/dry grassland area on the other side of the road and what a good choice it was!! There were literally 100's of Six-Spot Burnett Moths on the hillside with their being 4+ on any one flower and they were also in all manner of positions mating! I have never seen so many in one area and this coupled with an influx of Cinnibar moth caterpillars on the ragwort the area was literally teeming with activity!! There were also several Small Skipper deep in the grass. The area was also alive with butterflies with a rather worn Marbled White being the highlight of the day; other species seen included Small Tortoiseshell, Small Copper, Gatekeeper, Ringlet, Large White together with a Migrant Hawker Dragonfly and a Azure Damselfly.

The birds are still fairly quiet there but we did manage to see Linnets, Chiffchaff, Green & Greater Spotted Woodpeckers, Common Buzzard, Magpie, Song Thrush and a newly fledged family of Blue Tits!

[Pam_m]

A pleasing warm and sunny afternoon was enjoyed at Hurcott in the grassland area on Saturday the 31st July. Butterflies and Burnets galore!!! Highlight birds being Kestrel, Buzzard, Sparrowhawk, Linnet and 7 Mistle Thrush on the telegraph wires. A splendid end to the month of July!

[woodwolf]

2 lovely drake Goosanders were still showing very well Sunday morning

[Emma]

Spent a few hours at Hurcott Wood yesterday afternoon, the pool was frozen over with not a bird in sight apart from a Buzzard perched in one of the trees on the far side! The woods were also quiet with just Long-tailed Tit, Blue & Great Tit, Treecreeper, Jay and Great Spotted Woodpecker being seen and Siskin, Goldcrest and Redpoll being heard only.

The gates to the heathland on the opposite side of the road to the car park were padlocked shut....does anybody know why or for how long they will be locked for? This is a super little area for birds and insects etc, it will be a shame if access has been stopped altogether.

[Graham]

Male and female goosander the only birds on the pool today. Peregrine falcon perched on top of pylons at Wannerton farm. Woods quiet, but GS woodpeekers and treecreepers quite vocal

[Emma]

Luckily the weathermen got it wrong today and the unexpected sunshine brought the birds out in force at Hurcott this afternoon! A Kingfisher was seen skimming over the lake by the car park and apart from a few Swallows and House Martins it was fairly quiet on the lake. Through the wood we managed to see Chiffchaff, Nuthatch, Chaffinch, Bullfinch, Blackbird, Robin, Blue & Great Tits were seemingly everywhere and a group of newly fledged Great Tits were seen enjoying the sunshine whilst calling out for food! The highlight had to be watching a pair of Great Spotted Woodpecker take food to its very vocal chicks! Whilst watching the GSW a Spotted Flycatcher was also seen, this was a first for us at these woods! We also managed to see our first Banded and Beautiful Demoiselles of the year along the brook together with Mayfly and a Broad Bodied Chaser Dragonfly.

[rjmartin]

Has anybody ever seen any Deer at Hurcott Wood? Somebody told me they had seen a good number of Roe there but I have visited on several occassions and have seen nothing ....

Any insights would be appreciated :)