July

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Wildlife in and around the city of Bristol

www.landcaretrees.co.uk

The birds of

South

Gloucestershire

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Scotland & North east

Scotland - Cairngorms

Bristol and Avon Bird

Sightings

Ham Wall RSPB & Catcott Lows NNR 31st May 2019

We went to Ham Wall RSPB to see what was about. A Grey Heron flew over the path. We also saw pair of Blue-tailed Damselflies copulating. On the way to the Avalon Hide, we saw a good number of Small Tortoiseshell and Peacock Caterpillars feeding on the Stinging Nettle leaves. From the Avalon Hide, a Bittern flew past and a Great White Egret was feeding in front of the hide. The Great Crested Grebe pair had 4 stripy chicks. There were also a few Gadwall, Mallard with ducklings, Tufted Ducks, Coots & Moorhen from the hide. A couple of Marsh Harriers were quartering the reeds in search of prey. A few Four-spotted Chasers were on the wing along with a Female Black-tailed Skimmer, which was our first of the year. We saw another Bittern fly past the hide. There were quite a number of Hoverflies on the wing which included Sun Flies [Helophilus pendulas]. A few Common Blue Damselflies were abundant as well. A Speckled Wood Butterfly was basking near the car park. In the car park was a Female Common Blue Butterfly of the blue-form. We went to Catcott Lows NNR to look for the Garganey & Cattle Egrets. We saw a flock of Black-tailed Godwits in front of the hide. A few more ducks were seen including Gadwall, Mallards, Tufted Ducks & the star bird we came to see was the Garganey. The Male was seen swimming & standing on one of the small islands in the middle of lake. A few Cattle Egrets flew past behind the lake and landed in the field beyond. The birds were all in breeding plumage. A few Lapwings were present on the reserve and a couple of Mute Swan & Greylag Geese swam past the hide.

Great White Egret [Summer]

Four-spotted Chaser

Grey Heron [Adult]

Bittern [Adult]

Great White Egret [Summer]

Gadwall [Male]

Great Crested Grebe [Family]

Mallard [Family]

Common Blue [Female]

Speckled Wood

Lapwing [Adult]

Black-tailed Godwit [Flock]

Garganey [Male]

Glapthorn Cow Pastures
23rd June 2019

We went to Glapthorn Cow Pastures in Northamptonshire to see the Black Hairstreaks. We saw several of them feeding on Brambles & gave excellent views. They have only a short flight period from Late June-Early July. This species never opens it's wings while at rest, like with White-letter & Green Hairstreaks. Other Butterflies also included Painted Lady, Large Skipper & White Admiral, which I didn’t manage to get a picture of. Another Insect, we saw during our visit was a Yellow & Black Long-horned Beetle [Rutepela maculata]. Close by was a Male Dark Bush Cricket. After we saw a few more Black Hairstreaks we headed back.

We called into Slimbridge WWT on the back home, as there was report of a Male Little Bustard. The bird had been showing on & off most of the afternoon on the Dumbles. However, by the time we got there it had became more elusive. The bird showed very briefly in long grass & had it's head up. After a while, we gave up. In early August, a Male Little Bustard turned up in West Yorkshire, presumably the same individual.
It remained in the area until 11th August 2019.

Black Hairstreak

Black Hairstreaks

Painted Lady

Yellow & Black Longhorn Beetle

Pittville Park, Cheltenham 1st July 2019

We went up to Pittville Park in Cheltenham in the early evening to look for the Black-crowned Night Heron at the lake. The bird is a nocturnal species & during the day it roosted in the trees on the island in the middle of the lake. The bird had been present since 30th June 2019 & showed well during the morning. The Adult eventually showed itself and started feeding at the the edge of the lake from 8:15-8:44PM.

Ynys-hir RSPB & Cors Dyfi 13th July 2019

We went up to Wales to see the Ospreys. Our first port of call was Ynys-hir RSPB. Dad dropped us off at the reserve, while he went into Aberystwyth to pick up his paintings from the police station there. (They had been stolen from Chipping Sodbury and somehow turned up in Wales.) Me and Mum explored around the reserve. It was very quiet and we didn't see much in a way of wildlife except a Juvenile Robin, Wren & Male Blackbird in the woodlands. We also found a drey of a Grey Squirrel. From the Marian Mawr Hide, we saw a Female Sparrowhawk catch what looked a Stonechat and it flew past the hide. Plenty of Meadowsweet [Filipendula ulmaria] were in flower around the reserve. After Dad then joined us as we continued around the reserve. A Sedge Warbler was foraging for food for it's youngsters. Loads of Grey Squirrels were seen around the woodlands. The feeders had a few species which included Great Tits, Blue Tits, Blackbirds, Chaffinches & Siskin. The best highlight of the day was a Female Common Pheasant with 7 Chicks. Afterwards, we headed up to Cors Dyfi to see the Ospreys which gave us wonderful views. The Lizards, as always were seen on the boardwalk to the Observation Tower. Back in the visitor centre, I saw a Jay and Great Spotted Woodpecker fighting over a feeder.

Sparrowhawk [Female]

Common Pheasant Family]

Wren [Adult]

Sedge Warbler [Adult]

Grey Squirrel [Adult]

Common Pheasant [Juvenile]

Lesser Redpoll [Female]

Common Lizard [Adult]

Common Lizard [Juvenile]

Great Spotted Woodpecker & Jay

Jay

Osprey [Family]

Slimbridge WWT 14th July 2019

We went to Slimbridge WWT for a couple of hours to see what was about. We saw a Male Gatekeeper in the car park. We started at the Rushy Pen with some Avocets with near grown Juveniles & a couple of Juvenile Yellow Wagtails bathing.

A Pied Wagtail and a few Black-headed Gulls present. A Small flock of Black-tailed Godwits flew over the pen & landed on the Tack Piece. At least 3 Green Sandpipers showed well on the opposite bank from Robbie Garnett Hide. The same flock of Black-tailed Godwits were present in front of the hide, along with some Common Shelducks. A Wood Pigeon was nesting in the hide. A Red Admiral was feeding on brambles outside. On South Lake were the usual Coots, Moorhens, Black-headed Gulls, Mute Swans etc. I also photographed some captive birds there.

Avocet [Juveniles]

Black-headed Gull [Juvenile]

Avocet [Juvenile]

Avocet [Adult]

Pied Wagtail [Juvenile]

Black-headed Gull [Adult Summer]

Common Shelduck [Female]

Common Shelduck [Juveniles]

Wood Pigeon [Adult]

Mute Swan [Adult]

Red Admiral

Bahamas at STJ, Newport RSPB & Forest of Dean 20th July 2019

We headed to Severn Tunnel Junction in the morning to see 45596 Bahamas passing through with an excursion to Hereford. Afterwards, we popped along to Newport Wetlands RSPB for a cup of tea and lunch. A couple of Marsh Helleborine were in full flower by the visitor centre. We had a bit of walk around part of the reserve to look for Bearded Tits, but no sign. Saw a few Cinnabar Moth Caterpillars. Before heading back home, we went to Nagshead RSPB in the Forest of Dean to see if the Common Redstart was still showing by the Lower Hide. We didn't see any, but saw a few Emerald Dameslflies by the pond.

45596 Bahamas

Marsh Helleborine

Cinnabar [Caterpillar]

Emerald Damselfly [Male]

Sparrowhawk at Yate
25th July 2019

I woke up early that morning, after hearing the birds making a panicking call. I looked from the bathroom window & saw that a Sparrowhawk was in the back garden. It had just caught one of the Starlings unfortunately. The bird is a Juvenile, identified by the amount of white downy feathers in it's plumage. It had started to pluck the bird and Mum said she didn’t want the mess it makes, so went into the garden thinking it would fly off with its prey. To her surprise, the Sparrowhawk flew one way and the Starling the other. I couldn’t believe It was still alive! It later perched up in the tree opposite the front garden waiting to try again.

Lower Woods, Inglestone
21st July 2019

Dad and I went to look for the White Admiral at Lower Woods NNR in Inglestone. We didn't see any at all, but saw lots of other Butterflies. These included Gatekeepers, Small Skippers, Meadow Browns, Ringlets, Marbled White, Red Admiral, Peacock, Essex Skippers & Sliver-washed Fritillares plus a Female Valsina-form.