Author: Walney Wildlife

It was reported to be the warmest October day for a few years and there were a few butterflies taking advantage, a few Small Copper on the reserve and in the garden, I counted 8 Red Admirals on one plant. Also a few Common Darter dragonfly were hunting through the swarms of insects.
Two young swans were paying a visit, could be from a previous brood, one on the fishing pond and one on the long pond , which proved to be a bad choice, as it was being harassed by the resident female, see photos.
Teal are now here,and in the early morning enjoy sitting around the edges of the various small islands in the long pond, to catch the warmth of the sun.
A Cormorant on the fishing pond had eaten too much this morning it was too heavy to take off, see photo.

Bri

The last of the swallows are taking advantage of the High Pressure and moving quickly through, we also spotted 3 Fieldfare passing through.
A pair of swans have arrived on the long pond and after a long battle, the resident pair lost, and have now been relegated to the smaller ponds.
Still quite a few Red Admirals about and the odd Small Copper.
Goldfinches numbers are down again but found a few feeding in the grass on the tip.
Once again with a clear view of the hills we can appreciate what a beautiful this is.

Not much to report at the moment,most of the summer visitors are on the way south, Swallows in the stable had two broods this year but unfortunately, even with the help of the first brood, they had to leave two behind to die in the nest.
There is an unusual coloured Carrion Crow often seen on West Shore Road. it looks like it has been crossed with a Magpie, see photo.
On the way home this morning we came across a young Common Lizard on the path over the tip.
We have also seen a couple of Dragonflies flying around the area between the two small ponds, but difficult to confirm, but appear to be similar to Southern Hawkers.

Bob and Bri

Over the past few years, we have suffered with theft and wilful damage of our equipment and the latest was to the Moth trap on Tuesday evening, see photo. The wires were all cut between the battery and the lamp control and then scattered around the surrounding area, the trap will be out of use until the damaged equipment is replaced.
Other insects attracted to the trap have been a Sexton Beetle and a Wolf Spider after easy prey.

Bob and Bri

There are still a few variety of butterfly to be seen, photos taken in last couple of days of:-
Red Admiral, Painted Lady, Wall, Small Heath, Meadow Brown, Common Blue and Speckled Wood.
Also found a Drinker moth attached to some Gorse, just looks like a leaf.

Bri

It has been fairly quiet over the past couple of weeks, lots of swallows flying through, stopping off for a quick feed on there way, also there have been a few House Martins, for the past few days, feeding over the ponds.
The Gold Finches are flocking again but there don’t appear to be in any large numbers.
A Barn Owl has been spotted hunting over the first field, first time this year.
The Viper’s Bugloss is now in bloom and can be found 100yards east of Gate 4, just follow part of the new coastal path, which was cleared in March for Country File’s visit, earlier this year..

Bri

One of the carved owls at the seat has been modified by a Woodpecker, see photo.
The long grass in the first field is still looking very good, lots of seed for the animals, at the moment the only other colour is from the few Purple-loosestrife flowers.
Some of the Heather is turning a ginger colour and dying because of the dry spell, it may recover when the rain comes.

Bob and Bri

This dry spell appears to have driven the dragonflies from the ponds, similar to the swifts and swallows, to the grassland

, where the food is more plentiful.
Meadow Browns ans Gatekeepers are flourishing with an occasional Small Tortoiseshell, but no sign of the Grayling.
We spotted a Heron in an unusual position yesterday, actually lying down on the spit in the long pond, and then there were two Oystercatchers being pestered by a Magpie.

Bob and Bri

Cannot believe this weather, pond levels are falling and all the natterjack ponds are dried up, luckily they had an early start this year.
Quite a few Song Thrush this year and they are often on the paths breaking up the snails but today one was throwing a caterpillar.
There has been a well worn Robin at the seat, see photo, he/she has lost it’s tail.
There are lots of insects around for the birds, with Swifts, Swallows, Sand Martins and House Martins all hunting in the same area, pity they don’t have ago at the clegs.
Came across an unusual site today, a Common Emerald moth, caught and died on a thistle plant.

Bob and Bri

Another hot day, but unusually clear, the Isle of Man was in view, and as can be seen, the turbines are just starting to encroach the view.
Yellow Bartsia are starting to flower, they have a long season, but unfortunately the area cleared of gorse, to erect the fence along the channel side, which proved to be prolific in the flower has now been claimed back.
Lots of Rudd, clearing up the bread crumbs, were spotted in the shallow water of the long pond.

Bob and Bri,