Lea Park, Thame, Oxfordshire

A busy day photographing pond life! Peter got some good shots of a mating pair of Large Red Damselflies (Pyrrhosoma nymphula) while his Mum was intrigued to see how quickly the fast developing Common Frog (Rana temporaria) tadpoles were attracted to the new lily!

Large Red Damselflies (Pyrrhosoma nymphula)

Common Frog (Rana temporaria) tadpoles

Emmington - Oxfordshire

The weather was so good today that I took an hour or so out over lunch to complete my first Wider Countryside Butterfly Survey (http://www.ukbms.org/wcbs.htm) of the year. I am conducting the survey on the same 1km Grid Square (SP7402 - Emmington in Oxfordshire) I survey for the BTO Breeding Bird Survey and will attempt to do 6 WCBS visits between now and the end of August.

Butterflies seen and then recorded on the WCBS website:

• Large White (Pieris brassicae); 4

• Small White (Pieris rapae); 6

• Green-veined White (Pieris napi);5

• Orange-tip (Anthocharis cardamines); 5

• Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas); 4

• Common Blue (Polyommatus icarus); a mating pair

• Peacock (Inachis io); 1

• Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria); 3

River Thame valley around Chearsley and Cuddington - Buckinghamshire

During the afternoon of Tuesday June 1st I enjoyed another walk in the shallow valley of the River Thame; but, this time, the area between Chearsley & Cuddington. There was a light breeze with temperatures between 14°C & 15°C, plus light rain for some of the time and zero sun.

Given the conditions I expected a birding day and so it proved in part. Of the birds, 30 species were seen or heard and subsequently recorded in Bird Track (http://www.bto.org/birdtrack/index.htm). Yet again I was able to get a good confirmed breeding record for the Bird Atlas (http://www.bto.org/birdatlas/index.htm):

• Great spotted woodpecker (Dendrocopos major); 1 recently fledged individual.

Other interesting observations included:

Insects:

• Damselfly, the Banded Demoiselle (Calopteryx splendens); 3 ♂ plus what I believe were 2 ♀. Two photographs of one female are included with this post; however, I have also sent them to iSpot (http://www.ispot.org.uk/frontpage) for verification!

Banded Demoiselle (Calopteryx splendens); possible ♀

Banded Demoiselle (Calopteryx splendens); possible ♀

ID of the above confirmed by David at iSpot with the following comment - '..the white false pterostigma near the wingtips confirm that it is a Demoiselle'.

Flora (this could be the star observation of the day or month or year!!):

• Observed some prominent clumps of sedge in one relatively botanically rich, for the area, damp meadow that appears not to have been grazed by cattle since at least the winter. Photographs of the inflorescence are included with this post. The closest I can get to in terms of identification is True Fox Sedge (Carex vulpina). This sedge is not common and one that appears (see map in NBN - http://www.nbn.org.uk/ ) restricted to the environs of the River Ray locally, with no record for this site’s 10K Grid Square. Another one for iSpot I think!

True Fox Sedge (Carex vulpina); possible

True Fox Sedge (Carex vulpina); possible

River Thame & its valley @ Starveall Farm, Buckinghamshire

During the late afternoon of Friday May 28th my walk took me around Starveall Farm and down into the shallow valley of the River Thame. About 75% sun during the walk but the breeze limited the temperature to 19°C at the start reducing to 17°C at the end. Nothing in particular targeted but enjoyed views of a range of birds, insects and plants. Of note were the following:

Green-veined White (Pieris napi)

Butterflies seen:

• Orange-tip (Anthocharis cardamines); 7

• Green-veined White (Pieris napi); 2

• Whites (Pieris sp.); 3

• Peacock (Inachis io); 1

Mayfly - possibily Ephemera danica

Other insects:

• Damselfly, the Banded Demoiselle (Calopteryx splendens); 3

• Mayfly, sparse swarming by the river and a short distance from it. I think they were all Ephemera danica given the large size and brown wing markings.

Ragged Robin (Lychnis flos-cuculi)

Flora:

• The notable plant in flower was Ragged Robin (Lychnis flos-cuculi). Seen in the ‘Rushy Meadow’ on the valley side.

Birds:
A good range of both resident and migrant species seen or heard during the walk as is normal for this site. Two good breeding records obtained for the Tetrad:

• Reed Bunting (Emberiza schoeniclus); ♀ seen obviously feeding young down by the River Thame;

• Starling (Sturnus vulgaris); rowdy group of adults and fledged young feeding around the River. I suspect they were attracted by the swarming Mayflies.

Other birds of note were:

• Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo); 1

• Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea); 2

Lea Park, Thame, Oxfordshire

Infrequently seen in the garden but seen and heard over the last week - Coal Tit (Periparus ater). A single bird viewed at feeders twice and heard once in song.

Rushbeds Wood and Lapland Farm

I spent most of this morning (09:40 to 12:25) doing a bird survey of Tetrad SP61S for the BTO Bird Atlas 2007-11 (http://tinyurl.com/2a3wtee). 23 species seen/heard during the 2 hour survey period with 3 others added after the survey was over.

Though I focused mostly on doing a comprehensive bird survey, there was some digression as the stunning weather brought out the spring butterflies (see list of 8 species below) and 5 Hornets (Vespa crabro). I am always in awe of this mighty insect. Well, it is mighty for the UK!

Butterflies seen:
• Orange-tip (Anthocharis cardamines); 12

• Green-veined White (Pieris napi); 2

• Common Blue (Polyommatus icarus); 7

• Dingy Skipper (Erynnis tages); 1

• Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus); 3

• Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria); 4

• Large White (Pieris brassicae); 2

• Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas); 2

Lea Park, Thame, Oxfordshire - May 21st & 23rd 2010

Families in the garden! House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) ♀ feeding a recently fledged chick around the bird feeder. This seemed to inspire a Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) to do the same with its offspring!