The Natural History Of Staffordshire: Fauna and Flora (1 Viewer)

Neil-T · May 24, 2010

Doxey Marshes

After my trip to Aqualate, I decided to give one of my favorite spots on Doxey a go for the Dragonflies and Damselflies. All of the Damsels were Common blue, so didn't bother with photographs. There were a lot of Common blue Butterflies about along the side of the motorway, (see pictures).

I then decided to try the other side of the motorway, I went under the second bridge where there is a footpath, and straight away I saw a large Dragonfly hawking an hedgerow. I waited for it to land and noticed it was a four spot chaser, I then saw another large Dragonfly which I thought was another four spot, I got it in the bins and it was a Broad bodied chaser.

Not very good for birds here today, but the gragonfly season has started.

chris23565 · May 25, 2010

Chrysophylax said:
Saw one large dragonfly but it eluded me and was moving fast.
I managed to get this picture of a Caterpillar, any ideas what it is?
I have wrote the names of the Damsel species on the photograph (correct me if I am wrong) I think they are correct.

If you have any problems getting help with ID on your caterpillar try this website.

http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/f...pillars/16510-caterpillar-identification.html

Rob1991S-O-T · May 25, 2010

Chrysophylax said:
Saw one large dragonfly but it eluded me and was moving fast.
I managed to get this picture of a Caterpillar, any ideas what it is?
I have wrote the names of the Damsel species on the photograph (correct me if I am wrong) I think they are correct.

i think your immature damselfly is just a female common blue

Neil-T · May 25, 2010

Thanks Chris and Rob, looking in the book, the Damsel could be either according to the pictures. They are so close in colouration and markings, where's Carl when you need him.

carlj · May 25, 2010

i'm here - not long finished work, and am shattered lol. Immature male Common Blue - if you can't see segments 1 and 2, or the tail from above, then it's the antehumeral (shoulder) stripes. Azure has wider antehumerasl

Neil-T · May 26, 2010

Thankyou wise master, any idea on the catepillar?

carlj · May 26, 2010

Neil, moths are a pain for me but I believe your caterpillar is a Drinker moth

Carl

Adam M · May 26, 2010

Went for an evening walk today, just to enjoy the sunset really. What I ended up doing was standing 15 yards from a badger cub watching it scratch round for food, for about 5 minutes. Cracking views and one of my aims of this year complete. Now just to see an otter and water vole.

Adam

Adam M · May 27, 2010

Some photos from Coombes Valley yesterday morning. Bluebells out in force now, as are Buttercups in the top meadow. Bugles are coming out as well, along with Common Vetch.

Adam

paulthomas · May 27, 2010

valiantbirder said:
Went for an evening walk today, just to enjoy the sunset really. What I ended up doing was standing 15 yards from a badger cub watching it scratch round for food, for about 5 minutes. Cracking views and one of my aims of this year complete. Now just to see an otter and water vole.

Adam

Hi Adam,

If you want Water Vole in Staffordshire then go to Cheadle. It's the biggest remaining colony in the county. Aqualate is supposed to be the best place in the county to see an Otter but "best" means long odds against (as opposed to winning the lottery type odds against

). I'm spending a lot evening watching Badger cubs myself, seeing them grow in confidence as the days go by and watching them explore further and further away from the sett entrance and get up to all manner of mischief

Adam M · Jun 1, 2010

paulthomas said:
Hi Adam,

If you want Water Vole in Staffordshire then go to Cheadle. It's the biggest remaining colony in the county. Aqualate is supposed to be the best place in the county to see an Otter but "best" means long odds against (as opposed to winning the lottery type odds against ). I'm spending a lot evening watching Badger cubs myself, seeing them grow in confidence as the days go by and watching them explore further and further away from the sett entrance and get up to all manner of mischief

Where abouts in Cheadle are the water voles? Might nip over for them sometime soon.

I am giving some serious thought into nagging the uni to draw up a management plan to help them return to the site. I think on Springwatch last night it said 97% of water voles had been wiped out, which is a truly shocking figure.

Adam

paulthomas · Jun 2, 2010

valiantbirder said:
Where abouts in Cheadle are the water voles? Might nip over for them sometime soon.

There's a brook called Cicily Brook which runs through the east side of the town. It runs just behind the leisure centre, which is a good place to park. What I do then is follow the brook upstream and across the road. Then you've on probably the best section to see them although you'll need a bit of patience, especially because of all the dense bank-side vegetation. One of the best places is to actually keep walking upstream to where the brook comes really close to the tarmaced path. The voles there see people walking by all the time so a bit less shy.

valiantbirder said:
I am giving some serious thought into nagging the uni to draw up a management plan to help them return to the site. I think on Springwatch last night it said 97% of water voles had been wiped out, which is a truly shocking figure.

Adam

That sounds like a really good idea :t:. If you do get the uni's backing you'll need to get someone in to look and see what needs to be done to create a habitat for a sustainable population. I'd suggest you contact Nick Mott of Staffs Wildlife Trust. Nick is specialist in riparian mammals. He'll be able to advise you.

Adam M · Jun 2, 2010

Wood Horse-tail is out at Coombes, as are a number of flowering plants, Birds-Foot Trefoil, Pignut and Red Clover to name just a few.

Chimney Sweeper moths are also on site in good numbers. Someone has also reportedly taken a photo of a Common Lizard, I think the photo is getting sent to us and will possibly be on the blog or facebook group (no promises though).

In the moth trap in the garden last night, 33 moths, from 15 species.

Lime Hawk moth 2 (pic)
Small Pheonix 4
Silver Y 2
Cabbage Moth 1
Early Thorn 1
Herald 1
Brimstone 7
Rustic Shoulder Knot 3
Spectacle 1
Pale Tussock 1
Heart and Dart 3
Flame Shoulder 2
Common Marbled Carpet 2

Also popped two in the Moth ID forum, just waiting to be told they are just a different morph of a species I have already ID'd :-O

EDIT* Told you so, one was a different form of Shuttle Shaped Dart (which I had last week). The other though was a Clouded-Borderd Brindle.

Adam

Wimpy · Jun 2, 2010

Reel Big Fish

Sorry to all RBF fans, but spotted this monster high and dry by the stream to the left of the hide at Aqualate today.

You would suspect otters but the fish seemed intact.

Oh and can anyone help me out with the dragonfly?

Thanks

Acid John · Jun 3, 2010

The third photograph is a Banded Agrion.

Charlie Sargent · Jun 3, 2010

Doxey Marshes

A common blue and I think a large skipper from Doxey today.

carlj · Jun 3, 2010

Acid John said:
The third photograph is a Banded Agrion.

Generally known as the Banded Demoiselle - Calopteryx virgo

minkstone · Jun 4, 2010

Banded Demoiselle,
this afternoon on one of the pools on lady corner ( below parkhall golf-course ).

minkstone · Jun 5, 2010

Emperor Dragonfly,
On the large pool, lady corner this morning.

Topspot · Jun 5, 2010

Green Hairstreak in the Blythe Valley today

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