Wayne Bull's Wildlife Blog.: April 2014

Tuesday, 29 April 2014

Otmoor 29th April

Large Red Damselfly

Peacock

Woundwort Shieldbug

Froghopper

Drinker Moth Caterpillar

Plant Bug(Corizus Hyoscyami)

Plant Bug(corizus Hyoscyami)

Blue Tailed Damselfly

Oak Egger Moth Caterpillar

Dandelion

The main reason I visited Otmoor today was to hopefully see Hairy Dragonflies but unfortunately there were none around. Lots of other Insects were seen along the roman road and bridleways.
Butterflies seen today:-
Small White
Green Veined White
Brimstone
Orange Tip
Small Tortoiseshell
Peacock
Speckled Wood

There were about 6 Large Red Damsels along the roman road also 2 female Azure Damselflies here. 2 Blue Tailed Damsels were seen along the main Bridleway.
At least 6 Hobbies were seen over Greenaways.

2 Grass Snakes
1 Common Lizard

1 Muntjac

Saturday, 26 April 2014

Bernwood Meadows BBOWT Reserve 26th April

Green Winged Orchid

100's in flower in the meadow. Adder's tongue fern also around.

Thursday, 24 April 2014

Hartslock BBOWT Reserve 24th April

Lady Orchid

Pasque Flower Seedhead

Chalk Milkwort

Dingy Skipper

View from Hartslock

Made the most of the nice weather today and headed to Hartslock BBOWT Reserve to see how the orchids were coming along. 1 Lady orchid was just in flower while the Lady x Monkey orchid hybrids were in bud and I think still have at least a week and a half to 2 weeks to go before they are at their best.
The Pasque Flowers had mostly finished flowering and were starting to set seed.

Butterflies seen today:-
Dingy Skipper
Grizzled Skipper
Brimstone
Orange Tip
Small White
Green Hairstreak
Peacock

Tuesday, 15 April 2014

Sydling's Copse BBOWT Reserve 15th April

Green Tiger Beetle

Glow worm

Wood Anemone

Early Purple Orchid

Sydlings Gorze

Spent a couple of hours at Sydlings today. A few Early Purple Orchids were in flower in the grassy area.
Around 4 Green tiger Beetles were seen on the sandy area near the Gorze. The Glow Worm strolled past me while I was taking photo's of the Beetles. Wood Anemones, Bluebells in flower.
1 Gorze Shieldbug seen.
Large White, Small White, Green Veined White, Orange Tip, Peacock and Small Tortoiseshell all on the wing.

Sunday, 13 April 2014

Dorset Reptiles & Durlston Country Park 13th April

Went to Dorset today to do a bit of a Reptile ramble. We arrived at a reserve about 9.00 a.m and it wasn't long before we found a cracking male Sand Lizard basking on a Gorze stem. Around 5 Sand Lizards were seen at the site. We also had a couple of Common Lizards and 3 Slow Worms.
After walking around for a while we met up with Gary Powell from the Reptile and Amphibian Conservation trust who we had gone on a walk with a few years ago. He was checking a few tins in the area as he had heard of a melanistic Smooth Snake around and kindly asked us if we would like to join him and check the tin where it had been seen. We arrived at the tin and when he lifted it, there it was a Melanstic Smooth Snake with 3 normal one's. Rare as you like and a first for me! :-)