Wednesday 7th July 2010, Shenstone

Had a fantastic day at the patch yesterday with big highlights. Firstly I was able to confirm that there is a pair of Little Owls along Heath Lane, with the two birds sitting next to each other on the branch of a tree. Secondly, I recorded a new species of butterfly for the area, that being an Essex Skipper along Butts Lane. Essex Skippers are almost identical to Small Skippers but can be identified by looking at the tips of the antennae. On an Essex Skipper the tips are black, where as on Small Skipper they are orange/brown.

Male Essex Skipper - Shenstone, 7th July 2010: