May 2023

We went to the Somerset Levels to see the Great Reed Warbler. We started at Ham Wall RSPB with excellent views of Garden Warblers. A few Hairy Dragonflies showed well resting in the grass before they took to the air & headed off elsewhere. A Cetti's Warbler showed briefly near Loxton's Marsh. A Male Brimstone nectared on a Dandelion. A Female Blackcap was near the 2nd viewing platform and a Peacock Butterfly basked in the sun. Unlike the other Warblers seen that day, the Male Great Reed Warbler didn't show all that well. It was just perched half way up the reed stem on a small bush singing. A few Orange Tips were on the wing. From the 1st viewing platform were a couple of Eurasian Whimbrel. Also a Male Common Whitethroat. A couple of Great White Egrets were having a bit of fight, before one of them flew off & accepted defeat. At least 4 Nursery Web Spiders rested on the leaves by the old canal. A Moorhen family were in a safe haven on a small pond near the car park.

Cetti’s Warbler [Male]

Hairy Dragonfly

Garden Warbler [Male[

Hairy Dragonfly

Garden Warbler [Male]

Brimstone [Male]

On our way home, we headed over Tealham Moor. A Meadow Pipit was feeding young nearby. Three Roe Deer ran across the field. A Male Reed Bunting perched in small bush. The star bird of the day was a stunning Male Channel Wagtail, which showed well singing on a fence post. It remained until 31st May 2023. Sadly we left it too late to see the Great Reed Warbler again at Ham Wall RSPB as it was last seen & heard on 10th June 2023.

Blackcap [Female]

Peacock

Great Reed Warbler [Male]

Orange Tip [Male]

Nursery Web Spider

Great White Egret [Pair Summer]

Eurasian Whimbrel [Adult]

Moorhen Chick

Hairy Dragonfly

Common Whitethroat [Male]

Meadow Pipit [Adult]

Roe Deer [Male]

Reed Bunting [Male Summer]

Roe Deer [Male]

Channel Wagtail [Male]

Pilning Wetlands, Northwick 4th May 2023

Me & Dad went to Pilning Wetlands to see the Temminck's Stint, which showed very well on the rear wader pool with Little Ringed Plovers, Avocet & Dunlin.

Teamminck’s Stint [Adult Summer]

Dunlin [Flock Summer]

Pied Avocet [Adult]

Little Ringed Plover [Adult Summer]

Breakheart Quarry & Selsley 7th May 2023

Me & Dad went to Breakheart Quarry to see the Grizzled Skipper. The supporting cast were Peacock Butterfly, Red Admiral & Dingy Skipper. No sign of any Grizzled Skippers.

On our way to Selsley Common, we saw a Brown Hare in one of the fields. Around the common at Selsley Common was a Large Red Damselfly, Tree Pipits, Green Hairstreak, Silver Y Moth, Green-winged Orchids, Early Purple Orchids & Orange Tips. But no Duke of Burgundys & Small Blues that day.

Peacock

Dingy Skipper

Red Admiral

Large Red Damselfly

Brown Hare

Tree Pipit [Male]

Green Hairstreak

Early Purple Orchid

Orange Tip [Male]

Green-winged Orchid

Yate 9th May 2023

A Female Holly Blue was egg-laying in our garden.

Dorset 9th-12th May 2023
Arne RSPB 09/05/23

On the first evening in Dorset, we expolored around Arne RSPB's Coombe Heath. The weather was a mix of sunshine & showers. A few Sika Deer were in the woods near overfolw carpark. Due to the showery weather, it meant that the wildlife on the heath were keeping their heads down. A Nuthatch & Stock Dove were by the feeders. On Middlebeare Heath were Greenfinches, Goldfinches & Linnets. We then headed to our flat in Poole.

Sika Deer [Females]

Nuthatch [Adult]

Greenfinch [Female]

Poole & Arne RSPB
10/05/23

We headed to Poole Quay to catch the Birds of Poole Harbour boat and headed out around the harbour. The star birds were 2 Juvenile White-tailed Eagles perched on one of the islands in Poole Harbour. Other birds seen between Poole & Wareham were Mute Swans, Barn Swallows, House Martins, Sand Martins, Great Black-backed Gulls, European Shags, Common Swifts, Little Ringed Plovers & Cetti's Warbler. Also a leusitic Sika Deer was foraging in the reedbeds with normal individuals.

We then headed along to Brownsea Island to have a quick look for the Forster's Tern, but no sign on lagoon from the sea wall. We did have Bar-tailed Godwit & 2 Dark-bellied Brent Geese.

In the afternoon, we walked around Coombe Heath, where we saw 2 Ospreys. In the carpark, we rescued a Male Cockchafter Beetle after apparently flying into our car window. It eventually flew off out of harm's way. A Male Dartford Warbler showed very well in the evening singing. A few Sikas ventured out to graze in the fields.

White-tailed Eagle [Juveniles]

Sika Deer

Little Ringed Plover [Adult Summer]

Dark-bellied Brent [Adult]

European Shag [Juvenile]

Osprey [Adult]

Cockchafer [Male]

Osprey [Adult]

Cockchafer [Male]

Dartford Warbler [Male]

Sika Deer [Juvenile Male]

Brownsea Island NT 11/05/23

We caught the boat over to Brownsea Island NT & spent a couple of hours waiting for the Forster's Tern to appear on the lagoon. We saw plenty of Sandwich Terns and Common Terns before the Forster's Tern dropped into the lagoon at the back near the sea wall, which gave good but rather distant views. This 1st Winter bird has been going out to fish in different places around the Jurassic Coast from Hengistbury Head to the east & Arne RSPB from Shipstal Point to the south-west. It had mainly been seen on Brownsea Lagoon, where it remained until 19th May. A pair of Mediterranean Gulls were nesting amongst the Sandwich Terns. Also Black-headed Gulls, Oystercatchers & Avocet were on lagoon.

Common Tern [Adult Summer]

Sandwich Tern [Adult Summer]

After catching the boat back to Poole, we headed to Corfe Castle, Swanage Railway. 34028 Eddystone crossed Corfe Common heading for Swanage. We saw a few trains near Norden. D8568 & the DMU plus 34028 Eddystone returning from Swanage & taking the empty stock back as far as Corfe Castle. We saw a Peregrine Falcon perched on top of Corfe Castle itself.

In the evening sunlight, we had the best views of Dartford Warblers singing yet.

Common Tern [Adult Summer]

Sandwich Tern [Adult Summer]

Mediterranean Gull [Adult Summer]

Forster’s Tern [1st Winter]

Pied Avocet [Adult]

Eurasian Oystercatcher [Adult Summer]

D8568 near Norden

DMU near Norden

34028 Eddystone near Norden

Peregrine [Adult]

Dartford Warbler [Male]

Wareham & Portland 12/05/23

We started our last day in Dorset on a heathland. We saw a Male Wall Brown & Slow-worm. The star creatures were the Sand Lizards. The Males were partically attractive in their breeding green condition. By the middle of July, they have moulted into conditon which is similar as the Female.

We then headed towards Weymouth & Ferrybridge. While we were at Ferrybridge, a report came in of a Moltoni's Warbler [a Subalpine Warbler subspecies] was seen in Observatory Quarry, Portland Bill after being ringed & released early in the afternoon. We went to have a look in the quarry, just in case it appeared again. The regular Little Owl was still present on it's favourite ledge. Despite thorough searching by other birders, the Warbler could not be relocated.

Sand Lizard [Male]

Sand Lizard [Female]

Wall Brown [Male]

Slow-worm

Sand Lizard [Male]

Eurasian Hobby [Adult]

Little Owl [Adult]

Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway 13th May 2023

Me & Dad went to Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway Cotswold Festival of Steam Gala that was held from 12th-15th May 2023. We based ourselves for the day at Hayles Abbey Halt between Toddington & Winchcombe. The resident engines that were in action during the gala were 7820 Dinmore Manor, 35006 Peninsular & Oirental SN Co & 7903 Formarke Hall running as former sister 6999 Capel Dewi Hall. Four visiting engines for the event were 11243 normally based at the Ribble Steam Railway near Preston, Lancashire but currently on long term loan to the East Lancashire Railway, 31806 from Swanage Railway, 75014 Braveheart [ran without nameplates for the gala] from Dartmouth Steam Railway, 78019 from Great Centrail Railway & 4079 Pendennis Castle from Didcot.

In between trains, we saw a Male Common Whitethroat & Common Swifts plus 3 Traction Engines.

7820 Dinmore Manor

11243

31806

75014 Braveheart [minus nameplates]

35006 P&O Steam Navigation Co

78019

7903 Formarke Hall as 6999 Capel Dewi Hall

4079 Pendennis Castle

Common Whitethroat [Male]

Common Swift [Adult]

Yate 17th May 2023

I photograped this Cucumber Spider in our garden.

Breakheart Quarry
18th May 2023

We went back to Breakheart Quarry to see Grizzled Skipper. We managed to see one Butterfly on the wing this time, but was very flighty plus a Dingy Skipper. A Mistle Thrush was seen on the entrance road.

On our way to Selsley Common, we saw the Brown Hare in the same field as last time. Around the common at Selsley this time were a few Duke of Burgundys. It was also lovely to catch up with a couple of Fly Orchids & Fly x Bee Orchid Hybrid which were in flower there. The Tree Pipit showed better this time round. In the garden that morning, was an Angle Shades Moth.

Grizzled Skipper

Angle Shades

Dingy Skipper

Grizzled Skipper

Mistle Thrush [Adult]

Brown Hare [Adult]

Duke of Burgundy [Male]

Duke of Burgundy [Male]

Fly x Bee Orchid Hybrid

Fly Orchid

Tree Pipit [Male]

Highnam Woods RSPB & Forest of Dean 20th May 2023

We popped to Highnam Woods RSPB to look & listen for Nightingale. We saw Four-spotted & Broad-bodied Chasers in the woods. Tadpoles & Pond Skaters in & on temporary puddle. We had a couple of brief views of a Nightingale flying across the path & a little bit of song, but was getting past it's peak & late in the day. We headed to the Forest of Dean to look for Wood Whites, but no sign. A couple of Burnet Companion Moths were seen along the forest ride. A Common Toad was found underneath a bit of wood. A pair of Pied Flycatchers were nesting in one of the nestboxes. A Spotted Flycatcher was reported which Mum saw, but Dad and I missed it. A Cardinal Beetle was in a forest ride.

Four-spotted Chaser

Broad-bodied Chaser [Female]

Broad-bodied Chaser [Male]

In the late afternoon/early evening, we went to Dean Forest Railway Panniers & Prairie Gala. The locos in action were 5541 [which had already finished it's day duties, by the time we arrived], 9681 [newly overhauled] & 1369 visiting from South Devon Railway.

Pond Skater

Common Toad

Pied Flycatcher [Male]

Pied Flycatcher [Female]

Pied Flycatcher [Male]

1369 at Norchard

9681 at Lydney Junction

Moths, Yate
21st May 2023

In our Moth Trap that morning were Waved Umber, Treble Lines, Bright-line Brown-eye & Heart & Dart.

Waved Umber

Bright-line Brown-eye

Treble Lines

Dorset
24th-26th May 2023
Arne RSPB 24/05/23

We returned to Dorset for the 2nd time this month. Our first was a visit to Arne RSPB & walked around to Shipstal Point. A few Common Shelducks, Large Red Damselflies, Southern Marsh Orchid, Four-spotted Chasers, Grey Squirrel, Cricket-bat Spider, Sika Deer, Tortoise Bug & Green Hairstreak. In the evening the Dartford Warblers showed very well collecting food for their youngsters.

Four-spotted Chaser

Large Red Damselflies

Southern Marsh Orchid

Four-spotted Chaser

Cricket-bat Spider

Sika Deer [Juvenile Male]

Sika Deer [Female]

Tortoise Bug

Green Hairstreak

Dartford Warbler [Male]

Wareham, Swanage & Durlston Head Country Park 25/05/23

In the morning, we spent 2 hours with the volunteers from the Birds of Poole Harbour watching the Ospreys that are nesting nearby which was the reason for our return visit to Dorset. A Woodlark was also seen feeding young near the viewing platform. In the afternoon, we popped to the usual area by Corfe Castle, Swanage Railway where the DMU & 34028 Eddystone were hauling the day's passenger services.

We popped along to Durlston Head Country Park for a walk around. A few Common Guillemots were nesting on the cliffs & swimming on the water. Also a couple of Herring Gulls flew past along with a Fulmar. A Song Thrush and Common Whitethroat were singing nearby. We had a look in Swanage and stopped at Middle Beach in Studland. As the weather was so hot, it was busy at both places. We caught the chain ferry back to Poole. A couple of Oystercatchers foraged on the estuary early evening.

We stayed out a bit longer on the heath until the Nightjars came out & started to churr and fly around the heathland.

Osprey [Pair]

Woodlark

34028 Eddystone near Norden

DMU near Norden

Fulmar [Adult]

Razorbill [Adult Summer]

Common Guillemots

Song Thrush [Male]

Eurasian Oystercatcher [Adult Summer]

European Nightjar [Male]

Common Guillemots

Arne RSPB & Lodmoor RSPB 26/05/23

Our final morning in Dorset started with another look at the local Dartford Warblers. We for another walk around Coombe Heath at Arne RSPB. The creatures of note were Sand Wasp, Cricket-bat Spider, Tree Pipits & Stonechats.

We moved on to Lodmoor RSPB where we saw Black-headed Gulls, Common Terns, Robin, Common Whitethroat, Gadwall, Grey Heron, Reed Bunting, Little Egret, Coot & Mediterranean Gulls.

Dartford Warbler [Female]

Sand Wasp

Cricket-bat Spider

Common Tern [Adult Summer]

Simon King Talk

Common Tern [Adult Summer]

Mediterranean Gull [Adult Summer]

Little Egret [Adult Summer]

Grey Heron [Adult]

Mediterranean Gull [Adult Summer]

Eurasian Oystercatcher [Adult Summer]

Cormorant, Grey Heron & Black-headed Gull

Common Tern [Pair Summer]

Common Tern [Adult Summer]

Yate 27th May 2023

Me & Dad popped to Yate to see 50008 Thundrer working in tandem with 67028 on the Retro Devon Belle 11 from Huddersfield-Paignton on the outward & return journeys.

Hawkesbury 28th May 2023

Me & Dad popped out to Hawkesbury to see what Butterflies were about there. Brown Argus, Common Blue, Orange Tip plus a few Moths such as Mother Shipton, Dark Strawberry Tortrix & Cinerous Pearl [Anania fuscalis].