BIRDING THE LUNE ESTUARY THE FOREST OF BOWLAND AND BEYOND......................................................MEDITTERANEAN GULLS CONDER POOL PETE WOODRUFF

Tuesday 4 July 2017

Flora & Fauna In Cumbria.

Well a little Flora and Fauna in Cumbria.

An enjoyable few hours yesterday, with visit's to Foulshaw Moss and Latterbarrow but sightings at both reserves were a little sparse to be honest....I think maybe I blinked too many times! 

The one Osprey seen in the nest at Foulshaw a mile away in the haze from the viewing platform was hardly riveting stuff. But a walk along the newly erected board-walk at the north end of the reserve, proved to be a good idea as it produced good views of a male Stonechat and four juvenile. Five Raven and a lone Swift were over, a Willow Warbler heard, with Long-tailed Tits and juvenile Coal/Great/Blue Tits were on the feeders, and bird sightings couldn't have been much more sparse than that.


Common Lizard. Pete Woodruff.

A few Common Lizard mostly scuttled below the board-walks as they were approached, but this one was a rather obliging individual. 


Immature Black Darter. Pete Woodruff.

Just two species of dragonfly noted, an immature Black Darter and a female Four-spotted Chaser, but an Odonata expert I spoke to assured me there would be thousands of dragonflies around in a couple of week time. With the exception of a few Large White, the only other three butterflies seen were a Large Heath, Gatekeeper, and Small Tortoiseshell

At Latterbarrow, 2 Chiffchaff, a singing male Blackcap, and a Bullfinch were all heard, a Green Woodpecker heard calling was then seen to fly across the reserve. Butterflies were, a few Meadow Brown, 4 Comma, a Ringlet, Red Admiral, and Small Skipper.  


Barred Straw. Pete Woodruff.

A Barred Straw moth with only a moderate result in photographing, was the only moth seen all day, identified by its unique resting posture with the forewings held extended.

2 comments:

  1. Hi Pete
    Nice photos. Yes,regarding species numbers things do seem down insect wise this year. I would regard Foulshaw & Latterbarrow as 'hotspots' compared to the wider countryside so rather a cause for concern. When BC report that 2016 was the fourth worst butterfly year on record following a poor 2015 its affects are going to be seen out and about. Cheers Steve

    ReplyDelete
  2. It's quite pathetic that three hours at a location like Foulshaw Moss could produce no more than 12 butterflies, 9 of which were Large White, and Latterbarrow no more than 16 butterflies of 5 species.

    It will be interesting to eventually see the BC report for 2017 Steve, and many thanks for your feedback.

    ReplyDelete