I don't know why it is, but Homo sapiens like to categorize things, attach labels, place objects in lists etc., but I find that the month of June is a bit of an enigma in terms of which season it belongs to, or more to the point, which biological season it belongs to, if there is such a thing. Early June is still definitely spring in my mind, but what is late June? I always think of 1st July as the start of 'ornithological autumn', and I feel that in the bird world, summer doesn't really exist.
Perhaps the latter half of June is summer. But then we have returning waders in late June, and I have already recorded Green Sandpiper, Whimbrel, Turnstone, and Sanderling for example. So perhaps there is no summer in the bird world, and starting from the beginning of January we have winter, spring, nearly autumn, autumn, and winter again. So there we have it, we are in 'nearly autumn'.
At the start of my previous blog post, written on 8th June, I hinted that the weather had turned cool and damp, and I hoped that adult birds were finding enough invertebrate food for their chicks. By mid-June, the weather was still driving me mad, and causing me no end of anxiety, worrying about our breeding birds!
So, it was such a pleasure to get out for a walk in some warm afternoon sunshine on 12th June from Jubilee Quay. It was very blustery from the west, so we knew that flying insects would be at a premium, just singles of Common Blue Butterfly, and Painted Lady.
We did spend an enjoyable half an hour in the company of four Little Egrets and a Grey Heron, as they foraged in a tidal pool just the other side of the pillars of the old ferry pier. It must have been a particularly good pool, because the Grey Heron was trying to feed, and keep the Little Egrets away at the same time.
So, it was such a pleasure to get out for a walk in some warm afternoon sunshine on 12th June from Jubilee Quay. It was very blustery from the west, so we knew that flying insects would be at a premium, just singles of Common Blue Butterfly, and Painted Lady.
We did spend an enjoyable half an hour in the company of four Little Egrets and a Grey Heron, as they foraged in a tidal pool just the other side of the pillars of the old ferry pier. It must have been a particularly good pool, because the Grey Heron was trying to feed, and keep the Little Egrets away at the same time.
Grey Heron and Little Egrets
The following morning, we managed to complete our WeBS count, and we even had to resort to woolly hats, as it was quite cold in the strong westerly wind. Nothing of note on our Fleetwood Docks section, other than a male and two female Eiders in the dock channel at Jubilee Quay, and 874 Herring Gulls roosting at the mouth of the channel.
Herring Gulls
It was sheltered walking along the path through the scrub to the old ICI reservoir on the estuary, and we recorded Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat, two Chiffchaffs, two Sedge Warblers, and a Blackcap. Plenty of Hogweed was flowering, along with Wild Parsnip, and Greater Burdock wasn’t far behind.
It was quiet on the reservoir, with just two pairs of Coots with a single chick each, singles of Mute Swan and Little Grebe, and three Moorhens.
It was quiet on the reservoir, with just two pairs of Coots with a single chick each, singles of Mute Swan and Little Grebe, and three Moorhens.
On the 15th June, moving from 'late spring', to 'nearly autumn', with the help of our three year old grandson, Alex, armed with his ‘moth tickler’ (a small paint brush used to check there are no moths tucked away in corners in the light trap after the egg cartons have been removed), Gail and I recorded 23 moths of 12 species in our garden light trap, including 10 Heart and Darts, a Bee Moth, a Bright-line Brown-eye (very worn), a Magpie, a Green Pug, a Clouded-bordered Brindle, and a Mottled Rustic. Still not rocking!
The following morning, I had a solo walk along the estuary from Jubilee Quay, and recorded a few plants and invertebrates.
Mugwort
As the tide ran in, 217 Herring Gulls, a Great Black-backed Gull, and six Lesser Black-backed Gulls roosted on the shore adjacent to the mouth of the dock channel.
Swallows were constantly hawking for insects below the quay wall, skimming over the water, flying backwards and forwards, and then into the hulk of the wrecks, where their nests are located. The only other birds of note were 15 Eiders floating in the mouth of the estuary.
A few butterflies were on the wing; two Red Admirals, 15 Painted Ladies, and a Small Tortoiseshell.
I sat on the quay, watching the Gulls flying in to roost, when out of the corner of my eye I caught sight of what I thought, for a nano-second, was a small mammal, but it was the largest Sea Slater that I have ever seen. I tried to photograph it, managed just one distant shot, before it realised I was pursuing it, and it disappeared into a crevice before I could obtain a better image.
Swallows were constantly hawking for insects below the quay wall, skimming over the water, flying backwards and forwards, and then into the hulk of the wrecks, where their nests are located. The only other birds of note were 15 Eiders floating in the mouth of the estuary.
A few butterflies were on the wing; two Red Admirals, 15 Painted Ladies, and a Small Tortoiseshell.
I sat on the quay, watching the Gulls flying in to roost, when out of the corner of my eye I caught sight of what I thought, for a nano-second, was a small mammal, but it was the largest Sea Slater that I have ever seen. I tried to photograph it, managed just one distant shot, before it realised I was pursuing it, and it disappeared into a crevice before I could obtain a better image.
Sea Slater the size of a small dog...
I was observing the comings and goings of some Bumblebees when I noticed an odd-looking fly. What stood out was its yellow head, with contrasting red eyes. I took some pictures, and to cut a long story short, worked out that it was a Ferruginous Bee-grabber. What a fabulous name.
Ferruginous Bee-grabber
After reading some information about it from the Wildlife Trusts, I found out that it is one of the thick-headed flies, from the family Conopidae, and is common. I have never seen one before, or perhaps I haven’t looked hard enough.
The females have an unusual egg-laying strategy. They hang around flowers, waiting for the right bee or wasp to appear, and they pounce and grab it, either on flower or in mid-air. They lay an egg inside the target’s abdomen, in the case of the Ferruginous Bee-grabber this is generally a species of Bumblebee, and then let it go.
When the egg hatches, it feeds on the inside of the host, eventually killing it, and pupating in the dead husk. Who knew? I certainly didn’t!
There are still quite a few Painted Lady butterflies at Jubilee Quay, and we had up to 12 over recent days. Other insect related observations there lately, have included two Silver Ys, a Speckled Wood, five Yellow Shells, a Cinnabar Moth, and a couple of Turnip Sawflies.
Our garden light trap has been out on a couple of occasions in late June, with our grandson and his ‘moth tickler’, eager to help. Our records have included a Double-striped Pug, a Garden Pebble, three Bright-line Brown-eyes, two Bee Moths, 19 Heart and Darts, a Gothic, 16 Large Yellow Underwings, a Blackneck (new for garden), a White Ermine, a Short-cloaked Moth (new for garden), a Dark Arches, two Garden Grass-veneers, a Straw Dot, two Flame Shoulders, a Grey Pug, and a Dusky Brocade (new for garden).
When the egg hatches, it feeds on the inside of the host, eventually killing it, and pupating in the dead husk. Who knew? I certainly didn’t!
There are still quite a few Painted Lady butterflies at Jubilee Quay, and we had up to 12 over recent days. Other insect related observations there lately, have included two Silver Ys, a Speckled Wood, five Yellow Shells, a Cinnabar Moth, and a couple of Turnip Sawflies.
Our garden light trap has been out on a couple of occasions in late June, with our grandson and his ‘moth tickler’, eager to help. Our records have included a Double-striped Pug, a Garden Pebble, three Bright-line Brown-eyes, two Bee Moths, 19 Heart and Darts, a Gothic, 16 Large Yellow Underwings, a Blackneck (new for garden), a White Ermine, a Short-cloaked Moth (new for garden), a Dark Arches, two Garden Grass-veneers, a Straw Dot, two Flame Shoulders, a Grey Pug, and a Dusky Brocade (new for garden).
Gothic
On the 19th June, Gail and I cleared our net rides at the Nature Park, ready to recommence our ringing studies shortly. I say cleared, it was more of a light trim by hand really. However, we had to be careful not to stand on the, literally hundreds (3-400), of Froglets! We also recorded Early Marsh, and Southern Marsh Orchids in our net rides.
Early Marsh Orchid
The previous day, we also recorded a couple of interesting, to us anyway, sawfly species. We had a walk through Larkholme Grasslands, recording a few plants, and looking for insects, and we came across what we think was a Tenthredo notha/arcuata/brevicornis. After a bit of research, apparently these three species are not separable, without work under a microscope.
Tenthredo notha/arcuata/brevicornis (above & below)
The other species, was a Figwort Sawfly that we came across in the garden.
Figwort Sawfly
We had seven Swifts, and two Swallows belting north at Larkholme Gardens, and I wondered where they were heading to on the Solstice, as it would be the start of ‘ornithological’ autumn in a week!
Towards the end of 'nearly autumn' we basked in temperatures far too hot for Gail and I, and on the 24th June, we had our first ringing session at the Nature Park since earlier in the spring.
It was pleasantly cool at 5:00 am, and we had a few hours of cooler conditions, before it warmed up.
We ringed 15 birds as follows:
Reed Warbler - 2
Cetti’s Warbler - 2
Goldfinch - 3
Blackcap - 3
Blue Tit - 1
Chiffchaff - 3
Willow Warbler - 1
Goldfinch
The birds ringed were a mix of breeding adults (brood patch & cloacal protuberance) and fresh juveniles, providing information on the breeding species on site.
Willow Warbler
Throughout we were serenaded by singing Cetti’s Warblers, Sedge Warblers, Reed Warblers, Chiffchaff, Whitethroat, and a ‘reeling’ Grasshopper Warbler.
It’s always pleasing to record Swifts screaming overhead, because it “means the globe’s still working”, as Poet Laureate Ted Hughes said. We had an alarm calling Skylark when opening one of the gates, so I suspect that we were a tad too close to some fledged young, but it is good evidence for a successful breeding attempt.
There were still hundreds of Froglets in the reedbed and scrub, and we also recorded a juvenile Smooth Newt, just 3 cm in length. A few plants were noted, and we packed up before it became too warm.
It’s always pleasing to record Swifts screaming overhead, because it “means the globe’s still working”, as Poet Laureate Ted Hughes said. We had an alarm calling Skylark when opening one of the gates, so I suspect that we were a tad too close to some fledged young, but it is good evidence for a successful breeding attempt.
There were still hundreds of Froglets in the reedbed and scrub, and we also recorded a juvenile Smooth Newt, just 3 cm in length. A few plants were noted, and we packed up before it became too warm.
A couple of days later, Gail and I joined our good friends Robert and Diana at their farm near Nateby, to check the Barn Owl box occupied in the old barn. The last time we checked the box there were three warm eggs, but we didn’t know when they had started laying the clutch, so we weren’t sure when the eggs would hatch.
Barn Owl
We were pleased to find two healthy chicks, probably about 20 days old, which were large enough to ring. What happened to the third egg, we are unsure. The two chicks were ringed, and returned safely back to their box.
It is worth mentioning, that Barn Owls and their nest sites, are afforded special protection under Schedule 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, and I hold a Schedule 1 Disturbance Permit for the purpose of Ringing and Nest Recording, which allows me to monitor the nests of these special birds.
It is worth mentioning, that Barn Owls and their nest sites, are afforded special protection under Schedule 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, and I hold a Schedule 1 Disturbance Permit for the purpose of Ringing and Nest Recording, which allows me to monitor the nests of these special birds.
On the 27th June, Gail and I had a better catch in our garden light trap, with an increase in numbers and species. We recorded 57 moths of 26 species, including a Common Emerald, a Marbled Beauty, three Riband Waves, two Fan-foots, six Garden Grass-veneers, 12 Large Yellow Underwings, five Bee Moths, a Common Plume, a Cabbage Moth, a Willow Beauty, and a Buff Ermine.
The following morning, I had a walk along the Wyre estuary from Jubilee Quay. It was quite blustery, so flying insects were at a premium, but it was pleasing to record eight Painted Lady butterflies. A couple of Large Whites, five Small Whites, and two Small Skippers, my first of the year, were also on the wing.
Small Skipper (above & below)
Birds were thin on the ground, although I did have 867 Herring Gulls roosting on the foreshore, where the dock channel joins the river.
It was quieter in our garden light trap on the 29th June, and Alex (3 and three quarter year-old grandson) has moved on from ‘tickling’ moths, to holding them! 29 moths of 18 species were recorded, including a Clouded Border, a Light Emerald, two Poplar Greys, two Scalloped Oaks, three Dark Arches, a Flame, two Riband Waves, a Single-dotted Wave, a Garden Grass-veneer, two Diamond-back Moths, and a Bee Moth.
It was quieter in our garden light trap on the 29th June, and Alex (3 and three quarter year-old grandson) has moved on from ‘tickling’ moths, to holding them! 29 moths of 18 species were recorded, including a Clouded Border, a Light Emerald, two Poplar Greys, two Scalloped Oaks, three Dark Arches, a Flame, two Riband Waves, a Single-dotted Wave, a Garden Grass-veneer, two Diamond-back Moths, and a Bee Moth.
On the first day of 'ornithological autumn' it was a better in our garden light trap, and we recorded 54 moths of 28 species, including five Riband Waves, a Willow Beauty, a Silver Y, three Fan-foots, seven Codling Moths, three Garden Grass-veneers, two Buff Ermines, two Swallow-tailed Moths, a Common Emerald, a Single-dotted Wave, two Dot Moths, two Mottled Rustics, a Common Footman (new for garden), a Bright-line Brown-eye, and a Dark/Grey Dagger.
Mid-morning I had a walk along the dunes at Rossall Point from the southern end of the golf course, and recorded 41 species of flowering plants without trying too hard, or should I say, 41 obvious species that I could identify! I have included a few pictures of some of them below.
Common Restharrow
Despite it being warm, it was overcast, and few butterflies were on the wing other than three Meadow Browns, a Red Admiral, two Common Blues, a Painted Lady, and a Large White.
Sedge Warbler and Reed Warbler were singing from the pond area of the golf course, Whitethroat was singing from the dunes, and a Meadow Pipit was carrying food, and alarm calling at me. I was obviously close to some young!
On the shore were my first returning Turnstones of the autumn, 105 of them, with a single Sanderling. It certainly is 'nearly autumn'.
Sedge Warbler and Reed Warbler were singing from the pond area of the golf course, Whitethroat was singing from the dunes, and a Meadow Pipit was carrying food, and alarm calling at me. I was obviously close to some young!
On the shore were my first returning Turnstones of the autumn, 105 of them, with a single Sanderling. It certainly is 'nearly autumn'.
