Me, my camera and a few butterflies

Hello

I visited the Fermyn Wood complex today, spending just over four hours around Fermyn, Lady and Souther Woods admiring the butterflies and other creatures, particularly during the first couple of hours with strong sunshine. The Silver-washed Fritillaries were probably the stars of the show, flying around at super speeds but also feeding on bramble flowers and allowing close approaches. There was at least one of the 'valezina' form in Fermyn. Several White Admirals were also whizzing around and also have a fondness for bramble flowers and although Purple Emperors were seen I failed to confirm one. Purple Hairstreaks were particularly numerous, particularly in Fermyn and a long list of common butterflies put in fine performances. Hummingbird Hawk-moths were busy and there were several other day-flying moths about. Three Common Lizards were showing on a log pile and birds included a Spotted Flycatcher. Odonata included Blue Emperor, Southern Hawker and Brown Hawker.

I subsequently visited Fineshade and spent about an hour on the southern outskirts of the wood near to the old railway line and Top Lodge. Here also there were Silver-washed Fritillaries and a couple of White Admirals and other butterflies included at least ten Marbled Whites. A Slow worm was a nice find.

A visit to nearby Blatherwycke Lake coincided with an Otter fishing in the southern section and birds noted included three broods of Gadwall, four Little Egrets, a Kingfisher, two Mandarin Ducks, a first summer Hobby and a Black Swan. Odonata included Blue Emperor and Banded Demoiselle. Deene Lake attracted four Green Sandpipers, a Little Egret and a Black Swan plus Brown Hawker and Banded Demoiselle.

A quick return to Fermyn later yielded a couple of fast-flying canopy butterflies that were either White Admiral or Purple Emperor but they were quickly away before I identified them.

Dave James did well to find a late Black Hairstreak butterfly at Stonepit Close, Old Sulehay today.

Eleanor took a walk around Harlestone Heath today and saw two Spotted Flycatchers just inside the A428 entrance and two Siskins within the complex. A female/immature Common Redstart was at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell. A Barn Owl was between Scaldwell village and Hanging Houghton this evening.

Adrian saw a warbler briefly early this morning at Weekley Wood Avenue, Kettering which could have been a Dartford Warbler but unfortunately the bird wasn't seen again. There was negative news from Lilbourne with respect to the Pectoral Sandpiper of the last two days.

Nine Black-tailed Godwits and two Common Sandpipers were at the Summer Leys LNR this evening and birds at Stanford Reservoir included a Curlew, seven Common Sandpipers, a Great White Egret, four Little Egrets, a Hobby and three Cetti's Warblers.

Regards

Neil M

Silver-washed Fritillary.

Silver-washed Fritillary
of the 'valezina' form.

Comma.

Common Lizards.

White Admiral.

Banded Demoiselle.