April 'Odds and Sods', Pt.2 - 25th to 29th April, 2023

Pt.2 of my 'mop-up' account of April covers a shorter period than Pt.1 but contains coverage of some events that, for me, were quite exciting. So here we go:-

Tuesday, 25th April                    Sence Valley Forest Park ; Garden

There had, the previous day, been a report of a Whinchat and two Wheatear in the most recently planted area of Sence Valley FP. It was an area of this place that I had not previously visited, so decided that it was time that I took a look.

I parked my car in a spot that was relatively close to the area and set off along the perimeter path. I soon spotted a likely looking bird on the fence, way ahead of me. It was, unfortunately, somewhat into the light, and I was unable to make a positive ID with my binoculars. I continued down the path taking record shots as I approached, and was starting to get within a sensible distance when couple with dogs came from the opposite direction and spooked the bird, which disappeared over the newly planted trees. I can, however, see from my shots that it was a Wheatear that I'd seen. From the white on the belly, it appears to have been a male, but I'm not sure about that!

Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe) (male?) - Sence Valley FP

I waited there for quite a while, hoping for the bird to return, and keeping myself occupied by trying to photograph passing gulls.

Black-headed Gull (Larus ridibundus) - Sence Valley FP

The bird did not return, so I set off to go to Horseshoe Lake, briefly calling in at the hide at Stonebridge Pool on the way. Nothing of interest was seen from the hide, but Orange-tip butterflies and and a hoverfly were photographed from the path that lead round to Horseshoe Lake.

While I was trying to photograph a female Orange-tip, a male arrived and the female demonstrated that she was ready! I got better photos of the female on her own, but thought this less-than-sharp image to be more interesting.

Orange-tip (Anthocharis cardamines) (female+male) - Sence Valleyy FP

hoverfly (Eupeodes luniger) (male) - Sence Valley FP

At Horseshoe Lake, the best that I could find to photograph was a Black-headed Gull.

Black-headed Gull (Larus ridibundus) - Sence Valley FP

Also, while there, I spotted a pair of small and very colourful flies that were attracted to the trunk of a small tree - I neglected to note the species of tree. The flies were Gymnocheta viridis which, as adults, feed on pollen and nectar, but prefer to rest on trunks of trees..

fly (Gymnocheta viridis) - Sence Valley FP

It was time to return to my original location to see if my luck would change. On the way, I stopped for a fine male Orange-tip.

Orange-tip (Anthocharis cardamines) (male) - Sence Valleyy FP

As I approached the access to my original location, a couple with two dogs arrived from the area that I was heading for, which didn't give me any confidence that I'd fare better on my return. However, as I reached the corner, I spotted the Whinchat on the fence ahead. I made a cautious approach and noticed a Wheatear just behind the Whinchat. The Whinchat was relatively cooperative and I managed some shots that I'm quite pleased with.

Whinchat (Saxicola rubetra) (male) - Saltersford Valley CP

Whilst the Whinchat was relatively confiding and stayed put as I walked past on the other side of the 'path' (more like a 'ride' in its width), the Wheatear, a definite female, kept moving ahead of me until I got to a point where the path split and I could approach at a greater distance, and manage some shots.

Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe) (female?) - Sence Valley FP

Thus ended a very pleasing visit.

That night the moth trap went out, but only resulted in one moth. It was, however, a beautiful Purple Thorn - a species that I have only once before had the pleasure of finding in my trap.

Purple Thorn (Selenia tetralunaria) (male) - from garden on 25th April, 2023

Wednesday, 26th April                    Garden

During breakfast in our conservatory, I noticed a warbler high up in the Viburnum and managed to get a glimpse of reddish legs, identifying it as a Willow Warbler, rather than a Chiffchaff (which has blackish legs). I did manage a record shot of this species which rarely visits our garden.

Willow Warbler (Phylloscopus trochilus) - garden on 26th April, 2023

I was in the garden later this day, and noticed something floating on the surface of our mini-pond. It was a very dead Large Red Damselfly, and the first damselfly I had seen this year.

Large Red Damselfly (Pyrrhosoma nymphula) - garden on 26th April, 2023

I had not been expecting to see this species so early, as it was over two weeks earlier than the first emergence from our mini-pond last year, and this year seemed to have got off to an even colder start. However, on checking the pond, I found evidence (by exuviae or emerged damselflies still present), of at least twelve emergences! 

Large Red Damselfly (Pyrrhosoma nymphula) - garden on 26th April, 2023

Large Red Damselfly (Pyrrhosoma nymphula) (exuvia of above damselfly) - garden on 26th April, 2023

Friday, 28th April                    Garden

Corvids are not unusual in our garden, with Magpie being an almost daily visitor during the winter, However, Jackdaw is a much less frequent visitor, and Rook is rarely seen, so to have all three visit the same day, although not at the same time, was extremely unusual.

Jackdaw (Corvus monedula) - garden on 28th April, 2023

Rook (Corvus frugilegus) - garden on 28th April, 2023

Magpie (Pica pica) - garden on 28th April, 2023

Saturday, 29th April                    Garden

I rarely photograph House Sparrow, and am starting to wonder why. They used to be by far the most numerous visitor to the garden, with counts of 20 or more being common, but now it is an unusual day when I count more than two. I fear that the day is coming when they are no more! The male House Sparrow is a handsome bird, and I now feel the need to be more attentive to this species.

House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) (male) - garden on 29th April 2023

A female Orange-tip posed nicely for the camera.

Orange-tip (Anthocharis cardamines) (female) - garden on 29th April, 2023

A Pond Skater has found a home in our pond. I am not sure of its specific identity. This photo looks as if it is grainy, but I think that it is pollen from the Rowan that is floating on the surface!

Pond Skater (Geridae sp.) - garden on 29th April, 2023

Our local Robin has been making a nuisance of himself. He's been waiting until the damselflies have emerged from the pond and are almost ready to fly, and then snaffling them up. It seems that he is taking them to his young in a nearby nest. So far, I have witnessed evidence of 65 Large Red Damselflies emerging from our garden mini-pond and I would be surprised if more than ten of them actually escaped being predated. This one's for Gini.

Robin (Erithacus rubecula) - garden on 29th April, 2023

I have spent some time recording the emergence of the Large Red Damselflies, and have been surprised at how many of the nymphs are emerging without any of their caudal lamellae present. I would estimate that half of them have emerged this way.

Here is a larva in such a condition.

Large Red Damselfly (Pyrrhosoma nymphula) (nymph) - garden on 29th April, 2023

In the image below you can see the exuvia, to which the emerged damselfly is still clinging, has caudal lamellae in situ on the end of the abdomen sheath.

Large Red Damselfly (Pyrrhosoma nymphula) (teneral adult+exuvia) - garden on 26th April, 2023

And here is one that escaped the clutches of the Robin, with a little help from me! Its maiden flight took it to a low-growing Hebe.

Large Red Damselfly (Pyrrhosoma nymphula) - garden on 26th April, 2023

 

Thus ends Pt.2 of my April O&S account. My next blog post will probably be in about a week's time and, at this stage of the game, I have no idea as to what the content will be! In the meantime, please take good care of yourselves and Nature.

 

Thank you for dropping by - - - Richard