A week relaxing in Cornwall to re-charge the batteries. Some birding, some butterflies and some plants. No “heavy stuff” but nevertheless pleasant to see “Cornish” Chough, Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary, a few new plants and stunning views of Common Dolphin in Coverack Bay for a couple of hours on the 29th May 2011. Other butterflies were Painted Lady; Red Admiral; Meadow Brown, Large Skipper and Wall were all year ticks. New plants were Dropwort; Red Broomrape and Hairy Tare. A new Beetle – Oedemera nobilis – Thick-legged Flower Beetle. Images – Red Broomrape; Dropwort, next 4 Chough; Small Pearl-bordered […]
A morning birding on Cannock Chase, Staffordshire for spring migrants. No sooner had we started our walk, we quickly encountered a superb Wood Warbler, followed by Redstart, Tree Pipit, Cuckoo and several Willow Warbler, Common Whitethroat, Blackcap & Garden Warbler. At the favoured location, we found a pair of Pied Flycatcher, more Redstarts and Tree Pipits. Eventually the elusive Dartford Warbler was found and along our route we had many Green Hairstreak butterflies and the Common Heath, a day flying moth. Elsewhere, at Blithfield Reservoir 4 Arctic Tern, a distant drake Garganey, a Greenland Wheatear and a Yellow Wagtail. The […]