Quality If Not Quantity.

Hard to know where to begin with notes from a richly rewarding circuit of Birk Bank and surrounding area, with at least three sightings of stand out quality.

Bombus monticola.  

It really does have to start with a bumblebee that has always been uncommon in Lancashire, and one that I yearned to find and was eventually fortunate to do so, it was the sight of the enigmatic Bilberry Bumblebee. 

The footage is a combination of mine and Ian Mitchell's. I have yet to ID the plant the Bilberry Bumblebee was on in the first section of the video, but in the second, the food plant was Bird's-foot Trefoil, with a Cuckoo calling in the distance.

Cuckoo.

Soon after I crossed Ottergear Bridge, one of 2 Cuckoo seen/heard today, flew by me and promptly landed atop of a tree, it was pursued and mobbed by a Tree Pipit which put the Cuckoo to flight....I saw neither of these birds again.

Birk Bank Bog.

In the video, of 2 Keeled Skimmer male seen, this is the one with the black mark on the left side of the abdomen previously seen on 5 June. Each time the second male came on the scene, it was immediately chased off, and returned to precisely the same spot on the same perch every time it moved off. Replies to my query about the mark, two experts agreed that it is the result of a scratch against undergrowth, or more likely caused during mating. 

Also on the bog, at least 6 Four-spotted Chaser and a good number of Large Red Damselfly with many coupled, also at least 20 Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary. Butterflies were in the unbelievably low bracket again, with just 2 Speckled Wood in my book today.

And The Rest....

Five singing male Blackcap, a Garden Warbler by Gragg Wood, also in this area, an adult Song Thrush was accompanied by a juvenile, and the expected and ever present Willow Warbler singing in good number.

Scorched Wing. Pete Woodruff.

When I found this moth, I instantly thought it had burns to its wings. Imagine my surprise to learn it's a Scorched Wing....Never heard if it, another first for me.

Saturday 10 June.

Fifteen minutes on the bank of the River Wyre downstream from St Michaels produced at least 50 Banded Demoiselle. Also good views of a male Blackcap, a Whitethroat, and 6 Speckled Wood....Great stuff. 

And Finally....

Andrew Cornall reports to me, 3 Keeled Skimmer at Birk Bank on Friday, including pairing and egg laying. This is the peak count to date of Keeled Skimmer at Birk Bank bog. 

Also Friday, Ian Mitchell's image of the Keeled Skimmers, clearly shows the cause of damage to the males abdomen during mating.

Thanks to Andrew Cornall and Ian Mitchell along with many others, for continuing to keep in touch with me, usually overloaded with interesting records and images. 

Also some excellent news from Steve Graham, when he reported a male Keeled Skimmer around the runnel at Ottergear Bridge 5 June. And Pat Waring who reported 2 Common Sandpiper chicks at Marshaw 4 June.

I'm also grateful to Martin Jump for his excellent Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary header, and for his good company this week.