This morning there were about twenty Chiffchaffs singing around the site and the first Blackcap was heard, giving a tentative song. Three Oystercatchers flew over the Deep Pit, making a lot of noise. As it warmed up, Small Sallow Mining Bees and Tawny Mining Bees were seen on the fence posts, and three Brimstones, three Comas, two Tortoiseshells and a Peacock were flying. PS.
This morning a Mediterranean Gull paid a brief visit to the Slurry Lagoon. A Raven flew along the river to the Enva site. During a brief spell of sunshine two male Toads, a male and a female Brimstone and a Peacock were seen – Spring is Springing! PS.
Mediterranean Gull – JV.
This afternoon on the Butterfly Walk, fifteen species of butterfly were seen, including a Painted Lady, three Essex Skippers, two Common Blues, two Brimstones and over ten Red Admirals. Also seen were some day-flying moths such as Common Purple and Gold, Latticed Heath, Shaded Broad-bar and Six-spot Burnet. PS
Painted Lady
Common Purple and Gold
Not just Brimstones, but today was a great day for butterflies. There were good numbers of Brimstones and Orange-tips about. Also seen were Red Admiral, Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell and Holly Blue. Two Swallows were feeding briefly over the Slurry Lagoon. PS
This morning a female Marsh Harrier was seen quartering the Slurry Lagoon. It then flew over the Plantation and the Wader Scrape before flying over the Severn/Trent farmland. Along the Lower Path, two male Brimstones were patrolling. PS.
The ‘Bird Walk – Migrants’ went well today with eight of us present. We saw Chiffchaffs, Willow Warblers, Blackcaps, Whitethroats, Sedge Warblers and Cetti’s Warblers. There were Swallows and Sand Martins by the railway bridge. As the morning warmed up butterflies emerged with Brimstone, Orange-tip, Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell, Green Hairstreak and Holly Blue all seen.
A female Redstart was seen crossing the Pylon Path towards the Deep Pit. Several Skylarks and Swallows flew through and a Lesser Redpoll flew over. A Brimstone was seen near the Pump House. IEP. PS.
This morning a Hobby was seen being mobbed by a Carrion Crow, over the dry end of the Slurry Lagoon. There were two Lesser Whitethroats singing and Meadow Browns and Ringlets were flying. Also seen were Emperor Dragonflies and Black-tailed Skimmers, several Small Tortoiseshells, Red Admirals and a Brimstone. PS.
In the evening a Green Sandpiper was seen on the Eco-park. JMD.
A male House Sparrow was seen this morning on the Lower Path, close to the river. This is a very rare sighting now at the lagoons. Also heard or seen were a Cuckoo, Green Woodpecker and Grasshopper Warbler along with four Brimstones, five Green Hairstreaks, ten Common Blues, four male Orange-tips, two Green-veined Whites, a Peacock, a Large White and a Latticed Heath. SC/PG.
Also seen this morning were three Hobbies, two Buzzards and a mass of gulls and terns catching flying ants. PS.
This morning at least three Green Hairstreaks were seen around the north end of the Deep Pit, laying eggs on the Bird’s-foot Trefoil. A Brimstone was also seen egg-laying on the Alder Buckthorn by the Pumphouse. Three to four Hobbies were seen hawking insects over the site. (One seen stooping briefly at the Hobbies looked suspiciously like a Merlin, but was very distant.) PS.