A Lune Circuit.

A most enjoyable circuit of the River Lune, Halton - Crook O'Lune - Halton, in the good company of Steve Graham.

There is a good colony of House Martin, with at least 20 nests at one location in Halton where we started our walk. At least 5 Common Sandpiper were on the river, with Grey Wagtail and Pied Wagtail including one young being fed, and a Little Egret at the weir. As the walk progressed, 4 Song Thrush, a few Sand Martin, and 2 Blackcap. Another surprise was, just 2 Willow Warbler heard in song throughout the 2.5 hour circuit, a Swift was in view briefly over the Crook O'Lune as we made our turning for the return.

Another first for me, was a Treecreeper creeping up the tree as they do, it eventually gave good views sunbathing with wings spread in the fork of a tree. Chiffchaff heard, and Goldcrest seen, and on arrival back at Halton, a singing Garden Warbler.    

Find of the day was in the odonata camp, with a Banded Demoiselle above the river on the return leg.

I was privileged to be invited for refreshments at Steve's before continuing our day with a visit to Birk Bank primarily for dragonflies. On the garden pond, a pair of Broad-bodied Chaser included the female egg laying, several Azure Damselfly and Large Red Damselfly.

Keeled Skimmer.

If you're fortunate enough to find pairing Keeled Skimmers, you've got to try to get some footage haven't you! 

In the video you hear Steve explaining to me, of the two males we saw, it's the one with the 'scratch' that is paired with the difficult to see female, but its wings can be seen below the males abdomen.

At Birk Bank, 3 Keeled Skimmer, also at least 8 Four-spotted Chaser with Large Red Damselflies and 14 Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary. On the bird scene, a Cuckoo heard, Raven over Clougha, and a singing Blackcap, and as we made a move to leave, a Roe Deer was at the back of the bog.

Regarding the paired Large Red Damselflies which landed of Steve's shirt, I can only suppose the lower individual is either a female variant, the variation relates to age, or the female may have been egg laying under water which has led to her tail segments being worn....Just thoughts.  

A rewarding day, the enjoyment of which was only dampened by the paucity of butterflies, the total count of which came to a staggeringly low count of 22 of just 3 species, 9 Common Blue, 7 Speckled Wood, and 6 Orange Tip, and included a walk through the beautiful Hermitage Field Community Meadow at the Crook O'Lune where unbelievably we saw not a single butterfly.

Bilberry Bumblebee.

 

Ian Mitchell sent me a short video of his record of the Bilberry Bumblebee at Birk Bank. Although the bee was difficult to keep up with, there's the bonus of a Cuckoo calling in the background....Great stuff, great record, well done Ian.