May

While I was working at Organic Blooms, I photographed a Heineken Fly [Rhingia campestris] & Sharp-winged Drill [Dichrorampha acuminatana]. Belated news from 15th March 2022 - my first Moth of the year was Hebrew Character, which I found in one of the polytunnels.

Heineken Fly [Rhingia campestris]

Sharp-winged Drill

Breakheart Quarry
5th May 2022

Me & Dad went to Breakheart Quarry to look for the Grizzled Skipper. A Female Broad-bodied Chaser was the first Insect we saw. I spotted the first Grizzled Skipper, but it didn't hang around. At least 2-3 Dingy Skipper were also on the wing. A Sloe [Hairy] Shieldbug foraged along the quarry ledge. When the sun went in, we manged to find the Grizzled Skipper basking for long periods & gave fantastic views.

Broad-bodied Chaser [Female]

Grizzled Skipper

Dingy Skipper

Sloe [Hairy] Shieldbug

Grizzled Skipper

Yate
6th May 2022

I photographed some of the local birdlife in our garden. These included House Sparrows, Common Starlings & Wood Pigeons.

House Sparrow [Female]

Common Starling [Adult Summer]

Yate 8th May 2022

A few Moth species were seen in our Moth trap that morning. These were Light Brown Apple Moth, Chocolate-tip, Pale Tussock, Shuttle-shaped Dart, Ruddy Streak & Small Phoenix. A Female Holly Blue was doing a bit of egg-laying in our garden.

Chocolate-tip

Pale Tussock

Shuttle-shaped Dart

Small Phoenix

Holly Blue [Female]

Holly Blue [Egg]

Holly Blue [Female]

Latteridge & Yate 9th May 2022

While I was working at Organic Blooms, I photographed a Male Cockchafer Beetle, Mint Moth [1st of the year] & a Heineken Fly [Rhingia campestris]. Later that day, Mum found a Caterpillar of a Lesser Yellow Underwing Moth. Also I photographed a Scarlet Lily Beetle.

Scarlet Lily Beetle

Cockchafer [Male]

Mint Moth

Latteridge 10th May 2022

On the following day while I was working at Organic Blooms I photographed a Male Orb-weaver Spider [Larinioides cornutus] & Small Tortoiseshell Caterpillars.

Orb-weaver Spider

Small Tortoiseshell [Caterpillar]

Old Sodbury 14th May 2022

We had a few Moth species in the moth trap we put in the Old Sodbury area. Male Muslin Moth, Brindled Beauty, Seraphim, Pebble Hook-tip, Ruddy Streak & May Highflier. Plus a Giant Cranefly.

Muslin Moth [Male]

Brindled Beauty

Seraphim

Pebble Hook-tip

May Highflier

Ruddy Streak

Giant Cranefly

Latteridge & Old Sodbury 16th May 2022

While I was at Organic Blooms I photographed some Green Dock Beetles, Dock Bugs & a Male Cockchafer Beetle. While Dad was at work in Old Sodbury, he photographed the May Highflier Moth which was still present.

Dock Bug

Cockchafer [Male]

May Highflier

Latteridge
17th May 2022

On the following day while working at Organic Blooms, I photographed a Silver Y Moth, Swollen-thighed Beetles, Rhinoceros Beetle [which landed on my T-shirt], Common Zebra Jumping Spider & Small Yellow Underwing.

Silver Y

Swollen-thighed Beetle [Female]

Common Zebra Jumping Spider

Small Yellow Underwing

Dinas RSPB 18th May 2022

We went to Wales for a few days to look for the Spring woodland birds. On the way up, we popped to Dinas RSPB for Common Redstart, Pied Flycatcher & Wood Warbler. We had brief views of a Male Common Redstart bringing food to the Female in a nest hole, while incubating the eggs. A few Treecreepers were flitting around the woodlands seen along the boardwalk while a Common Sandpiper foraged along the stream. A pair of Pied Flycatchers were using only a couple of nestboxes & the Male was seen feeding the Female inside the box. One Wood Warbler was singing & showed well at times in the woods near the river. There was not that many birds singing around the reserve as there have been in past years. A Male Grey Wagtail was seen in the small stream on our way back to the car park and a Male Pied Flycatcher sang from an exposed perch. A Wren sang from a tree stump. A Juvenile Song Thrush was seen briefly on the woodland floor. At least 4 Spotted Flycatchers were chasing each other around the woods. We continued our journey to the cottage where were staying. A Canada Goose was unsually seen in the fields above Llyn Brianne Reservoir. Also a couple of Linnets & several Ravens were seen.

Eurasian Treecreeper [Juvenile]

Pied Flycatcher [Male]

Common Redstart [Male]

Common Sandpiper [Adult]

Pied Flycatcher [Male]

Wood Warbler [Male]

Grey Wagtail [Male]

Song Thrush [Juvenile]

Eurasian Wren [Male]

Eurasian Treecreeper [Juvenile]

Spotted Flycatcher [Adult]

Dinas

Cors Dyfi NNR & Ynys-hir RSPB 19th May 2022

We started our 1st full day in Wales at the Cors Dyfi Osprey NNR. Several Common Lizards were using the boardwalk to bask themselves in the sun. Large Red Damselfly was on the wing. We rescued the Caterpillar of a Drinker Moth from getting trodden on. The stars of the show were no doubt the Ospreys. The Female Telyn spent much of the time that we were there sitting on the eggs, while the Male Idris was out fishing in the Dyfi. He later brought a fish back, but it was still moving about after he landed on his favourite perch. The local Carrion Crows were mobbing Idris & he ended up flying to a low tree out of view. A Two-banded Longhorn Beetle was released from the Observatory Tower that morning. Also Bee Moths were seen [2 Males & 1 Female]. Afterwards we popped along to Ynys-hir RSPB [the former base of Springwatch from 2011-13] to see was about. There was certainly no Wood Warblers reported on the sightings board & no Common Redstarts, so we made the right decision of going to Dinas RSPB first of all. A Speckled Wood was taking some shade from the sun. Me & Dad went to see if can at least hear a Grasshopper Warbler, but nothing. We did have an obliging Sedge Warbler singing & showing well on top of the reeds along with a couple of Reed Buntings. A Large Damselfly, Four-spotted & Broad-bodied Chasers were on the wing. A few Pied Flycatchers were still singing about the reserve, again not as many as there used to be. A Hornet was hiding low in the vegation. A Dock Shieldbug was present nearby.

Back in the carpark near the visitor centre, there were 3 Grey Squirrels & a pair of Common Pheasants by the feeders. Finally on our way back to the cottage, we checked along the fast following river where we saw a Dipper foraging for insects, to take back for the Female.

Osprey [Pair]

Common Lizard [Adult]

Speckled Wood

Sedge Warbler [Male]

Reed Bunting [Female Summer]

Reed Bunting [Male Summer]

Large Red Damselfly

Four-spotted Chaser

Broad-bodied Chaser [Female]

Two-banded Longhorn Beetle

Grey Squirrel [Adult]

Common Dipper [Adult]

Dipper, VOR & Llyn Clywedog 20th May 2022

This morning we went back to see the Dipper which was still showing well on the nearby river. As the weather was not very nice, we did the Vale of Rhediol Light Railway. We started at Capel Banger, 5 miles east from Aberystwyth to see to see the first train of day past through. The loco in service that day was no 7 Owain Glyndŵr named after a Welsh leader who led a fierce and long-running war of independence with the aim of ending English rule in Wales during the Late Middle Ages. We next saw the train tackling the steep gradient along the line above the Rhediol Falls. At Devil's Bridge Station, no 7 takes an hour's rest from 11:30-12:30 at the headshunt, before taking the train back to Aberystwyth, so we stopped to have a drink in the cafe. In the afternoon we went to Llyn Clywedog to see the Ospreys there. During our visit, the Female Seren was sitting on the eggs (one hatched two days later on 22nd May 2022). The Male Dlyan was sitting in the nearby tree keeping an eye out for intruders like Red Kites & Common Buzzards that may fly near or over the nest. He then came in to take over the incubation duties, while Seren flew off to perch out of view. A Female Siskin & a Tree Pipit were seen from the hide. On our way back to the cottage, a Red Kite flew over the road near the reservoir.

Common Dipper [Adult]

No 7 at Capel Bangor Station

No 7 passing above the Rhediol Falls

No 7 at Devil’s Bridge Station

Osprey [Adult]

Tree Pipit [Adult]

Eurasian Siskin [Female]

Red Kite [Adult]

Ynys-hir RSPB

Llyn Clywedog

Vale of Rhediol Railway & Nant-yr-Arian 21st May 2022

We started our last full day in Wales at Aberystwyth Station with no 7 departing for Devil's Bridge. We had a drive along Nant-y-moch Reservoir, where we saw a Drinker Moth Caterpillar crossing the road, we moved it onto the verge. Not far from Dinas Reservoir, we saw some House Martins & Barn Swallows collecting grass to line their nest. Also 2 Northern Wheatears were seen briefly in the valley.

We went to Nant-yr-Arian for the Red Kite feeding station, which started at 3PM. A couple of Canada Geese & two Male Goosanders were swimming on the lake. At 3PM, the food was thrown on the bank for the Kites and they came down straight away. Some food was thrown into the lake and the Kites flew over & scooped up the food with their talons from the surface. A few Kites just picked up the food and ate it on the wing while others were simply happy to eat it on the ground. A Juvenile Grey Heron made a bad mistake of snatching the Kite's food and ended up flying around the lake with the Red Kites hot on it's tail. Me & Mum went to the Red Kite Hide, where we had excellent views of some birds feeding on the ground. We returned to Capel Bangor Station to see no 7 on her return to Aberystwyth with the last train of the day. We went back to see the Dipper on our last evening in the area.

House Martin [Adult]

Goosander [Male]

Drinker Moth [Caterpillar]

Goosander [ Males]

Red Kite [Adult]

Red Kite [Juvenile]

Red Kite [Adult]

Grey Heron [Juvenile]

Red Kites chasing the Grey Heron

Red Kite [Adults]

No 7 at Capel Bangor Station

Tregaron Bog NNR 22nd May 2022

On our way back home, we popped to Tregaron Bog NNR to see what we could see. Garden Warblers were singing everywhere along the track but we only saw them briefly. Also there were Siskins, Lesser Redpolls, Meadow Pipits and a distant Common Cuckoo. We saw a couple more Cuckoo in flight only. Stonechats and Whinchats were by the river and there were Bogbeans & Beautiful Demoiselles. It was a hell of a long walk we did around the area & we didn't see very much of we wanted to. We drove the scenic route through the valleys on our way home, where we saw 2 Northern Wheatears.

A great few days in Wales!

Eurasian Siskin [Male]

Stonechat [Female]

Stonechat [Male]

House Sparrow [Male]

Meadow Pipit [Adult]

Garden Warbler [Male]

Bog Bean

Beautiful Demoiselle [Male]

Northern Wheatear [Female]

Nant-y-moch

Nant Irfon

Latteridge 23rd May 2022

While I was working at Organic Blooms, I photographed some Green Dock Beetles, Large Elder Sawfly Larvae & a Female Walnut Orb-weaver Spider.

Green Dock Beetles

Large Elder Sawfly [Caterpillar]

Walnut Orb-weaver Spider [Female]

Latteridge 24th May 2022

On the following day while I was working at Organic Blooms, I photographed my first Painted Lady Butterfly of the year.

Selsley 27th May 2022

Me & Dad went to Selsley Common to see the Duke of Burgundy. Quite a few Skylarks were seen around the common. The first Butterfly we saw was a Dingy Skipper. Surprisingly there was a good number of Small Blues on the wing. Common Twayblades were in flower. Adonis & Common Blues were on the wing. Selsely Common also has lots of Green-winged Orchids. Another Painted Lady was seen that day. Even some Fragrant Orchids were out in flower earlier than normal. We did manage to see the last possible 2 Duke of Burgundys on the wing, but they had passed their peak. Just in time then! We found a few Small Blues along the road verges.

Skylark [Adult]

Dingy Skipper

Common Blue [Male]

Small Blue [Male]

Duke of Burgundy

Painted Lady

Green-winged Orchid

Common Twayblade

Fragrant Orchids

Small Blue [Male]

Duke of Burgundy

Chew Valley Lake

We went to Chew Valley Lake, as a report came on Rare Bird Alert, that 3 Black-winged Stilts had been seen on the Dam near Picinc Site no 1. We saw the 3 Juveniles at the end of the main dam & showed very well. They remained in the area until the end of the day. They must have flown overnight, as there was no report of them the following morning. A couple of Juvenile Pied Wagtails were being fed by the parents on the dam. There was not much from the Stratford Hide apart from 2 Great Crested Grebes.

Old Sodbury & Chew Valley Lake 29th May 2022

We went to look in the Moth Trap that morning to see what there. The species were Clouded Brindle, Small Square-spot, Treble Lines, Setaceous Hebrew Character, Marbled Minor, Buff Ermines [all Males], Flame Shoulder, Pale Tussock, Silver-ground Carpet, Common Swift & White Ermine.

Small Square-spot

Clouded Brindle

Treble Lines

Setaceous Hebrew Character

Flame Shoulder

Buff Ermine [Male]

Pale Tussock

Silver-ground Carpet

White Ermine [Male]

Marbled Minor

Common Swift

Small Square-spot

Me & Dad then went to Watery Lane, Yate to see 6233 Duchess of Sutherland passing through with her support coach from Bristol St Phillps HST Depot-Butterly MRC [her home base] where she was roster for special services during the Queen's Platinum Jubliee Weekend on 3rd & 4th June 2022.

6233 Duchess of Sutherland, Yate

Black-winged Stilt [Juveniles]

Pied Wagtail [Juvenile]

Great Crested Grebe [Pair Summer]

Black-winged Stilt [Juveniles]

Latteridge 31st May 2022

While I was working at Organic Blooms, I photographed a Small White, Swollen-thighed Beetle, Pearl Green Lacewing, Dark Strawberry Tortrix/Common Marble, Male Common Scorpion Fly, Lesser Whitethroat [1st time I managed to photograph one with my Canon Powershot] & a Female Walnut Orb-weaver Spider.

Lesser Whitethroat [Male]

Swollen-thighed Beetle [Male]

Pearl Green Lacewing

Common Scorpion Fly [Male]

Dark Strawberry Tortrix/Common Marble

May 2022