The Chequered Skipper

Hello

As many will know the Chequered Skipper butterfly was re-introduced into the Rockingham Forest complex a couple of years ago and the project appears successful. The Chequered Skipper was extinct in England although there is a distinct and separate population in north west Scotland. This was the first year that details of where to find this introduced butterfly were released and people have been visiting Fineshade Wood to see it. It appears that it was quite an early flight season and there haven't been any sightings the last few days and guided tours have now been suspended until next year (the best way to see one of these distinct skippers). Congratulations go to the project organisers and many people involved, I hope to see one locally next year!

I'm still very much catching up on admin associated with the last few tours but managed to spend some time this afternoon checking nest boxes on the Kelmarsh Estate where there was evidence of Stock Doves and Tawny Owls using some of the bigger boxes. The tit box season is almost over with just some late broods still active. Lynne Barnett has worked hard at managing the small nest boxes on the Kelmarsh Estate again this year and although there have been mixed results, the productivity for Great Tits and Blue Tits appears to be up on last year. A nest box at Rabbithill Spinney successfully fledged nine juvenile Marsh Tits!

A visit to Harrington Airfield yielded just a pair of Grey Partridge as the only birds of note; Common Spotted Orchids are numerous this year but we are still looking for Bee Orchids which seem to be scarcer every year.

Three Avocets were reported at Lilbourne on the A5 pools this evening (present at 7pm) and the singing Spotted Flycatcher remains at Hanging Houghton.

Regards

Neil M

Chequered Skipper.

Dingy Skipper courtesy
of Robin Gossage.

Green Tiger Beetle courtesy
of Robin Gossage.

Nomada sp courtesy of
Robin Gossage.