Due to a lack of success with the birds we decided to take a look at the invertebrates in the set-aside along Butts Lane. Butterflies were fairly scarce with only a few Small Whites and Green-veined Whites on the wing. We did however see a Small Tortoiseshell caterpillar on a Nettle leaf, 2 rather nice Lacewings (Chrysopa Perla) and a ♀ (Oedemera Nobilis) beetle.
Small Tortoiseshell Caterpillar:
Lacewing (Chrysopa Perla):
♀ Thick-legged Flower Beetle (Oedemera Nobilis):
From Shenstone we headed down the road to Grimley gravel pits. Our first stop was Holt...a traditional place for Turtle Dove and Spotted Flycatcher. We didn't manage to get either of these species but I did take the opportunity to photograph a rather stunning ♀ Beautiful Demoiselle.
We then headed on to the Camp Lane pits at Grimley. At the north end (which is currently being landscaped with pools and scrapes being put in) we recorded 6 Ringed Plover, 2 Dunlin, 1 Redshank, 1 Little Ringed Plover and 4 Lapwing.
On the main pool were 1 Dunlin, 5 Lapwing, 1 Oystercatcher, 8 Common Tern, c.60 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 5 Herring Gulls and 3 Black-headed Gulls. A Sedge Warbler was singing at the SE corner of the main pool and another from along the causeway. Reed Buntings were also heard singing. Other species seen were were Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Gadwall, Tufted Duck, Mallard, Canada Geese and a single Greylag Goose. Also along the causeway was an immature Black-tailed Skimmer dragonfly.
Common Tern - Grimley:
Black-tailed Skimmer (imm.) - Grimley:
Beautiful Demoiselle (♀) - Holt:
Great set of pics once again, Jason. Yeah, the birding as certainly died off patch-wise.
ReplyDeleteThanks Dean.
ReplyDeleteYep it certainly has...its a good job that many of us bloggers are general wildlife enthusiats and can find other things of interest during the birding lean spells.
Lean, lean, lean!! Its that time of year Jase. Although a nice passage migrant rarity might just turn up - a Reed warbler would do me!!
ReplyDeleteBetter shot of the B D than mine :-)
Yes, even when it's quiet on the bird front there is always something of interest. Nice photos!
ReplyDeleteYou did see quite a lot at Grimley though, it sounds like a good place to visit.
Re. Reed Warbler...Yeah I know that feeling Warren...Lesser Whitethroat would do me...not had one on my patch this Spring...my best hope is prob a juv on autumn passage.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely Shy...there is always something...Grimley is an interestying place but can be hard to work as there are many smaller pools and pits dotted around (thank heavens for gravel extraction)...I generally only tend to do Grimley once every couple of weeks as I'm concentrating more on Shenstone this year.