Thursday 6th June - Wyre Forest (Shropshire)

I have decided to dust of the cogs again, give them a squirt of WD40 and get the blog posts rolling again....enjoy!



This afternoon Tony and I decided to make the most of the warm weather and pay a visit to the Postensplain area of the Wyre to catch up with the Fritillary butterflies.  This turned out to be a good move as we saw good numbers of both Pearl-bordered Fritillary and Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary during the visit.  The other notable butterfly species encountered was Dingy Skipper.

The walk was also productive of the day-flying moth front with many Speckled Yellow encountered, as well as 2 Burnett Companion, 1 Mother Shipton and 1 Common Heath.  Three Brown Silver-line moths were also noted.  These night-flying moths are easily disturbed in the daytime and these individuals were put up whilst walking through the bracken.

Other interesting invertebrates recorded were a single ♀ Broad-bodied Chaser dragonfly, 3 Green Tiger Beetles and an Ashy Mining Bee.

One of the highlights of the visit for me was seeing a ♂ Great Spotted Woodpecker visiting a nest hole with mouthfuls of food.  Every time the adult left the nest there was the constant chatter of the juveniles calling...a really great sound, superb!

Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary















Pearl-bordered Fritillary















Broad-bodied Chaser (♀)

5 comments:

  1. Sounds like a good haul of species there Jason.
    I'm ashamed to admit that I've never seen a Pearl-bordered Fritillary

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  2. Did you squirt that knee of yours with the WD40 too jase :-0

    Like Phil, Ive never seen PBF of any species!

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  3. Wow, the Pearl-bordered Fritillary takes the biscuit, beautiful Jason.

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  4. Lovely to see the fritillaries Jason and good to see them together for comparison. I was hoping to see them for the first time this year but things have conspired against me so far and it's probably too late now.

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  5. Phil - it was a good day mate. As for the PBF's both species are very muched declined and the Wyre Forest near where I live is one of their strongholds so I'm lucky on that score. I do believe however that there has been a re-introduction program in Kent so you guys may see them in a woodland in those parts one day in the not to distant future

    Warren - It could bloody do with a squirt! I'm having to see a physio at the mo for it!

    Bob - Many thanks mate...they are stunning

    Jan - Thankyou. They are still on the wing in reasonable numbers in the Wyre due to the emerging late...so there is still time if you get chance

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