Out east

A long weekend away, visiting a number of new sites around the Bedford area. I had been tempted to take a detour, on Saturdsy morning, going up to Frampton Marsh for the Black-winged Pratincole that had been hanging around for a couple of days. Fortunately, I resisted the temptation as it was not seen. 

I've been to Bedford numerous times but had never made it to the RSPB's The Lodge reserve, so I decided to give it a visit on the Saturday before coaching duties on the Sunday. Arriving bright and early, 7am, i had to wait until 7:30 for someone to open the gates to the car park. That gave me time for a coffee and something to eat before starting. The reserve is a remnant of low level heath, and whilst it lacks any star avian species, it is a habitat I've not spent much time in, so a number of new species from other taxon was expected.

With the sun shining from an almost cloudless sky, it soon warmed up enough for butterflies to take to the wing. Meadow Bown, Marbled White, Purple Hairsteak, Large Skipper and Red Admiral made it onto my year list as I spent the next 6 hrs wandering the reserve.  There were lots of Malachite, Swollen-thighed and Black-striped Longhorn Beetles sharing the Bramble patches with 100's of Bees. 

                                           Malachite Beetle Malachius bipustulatus

Ticks were mainly plants, such as Springbeauty, Common and Narrow-leaved Cudweed, and spiders, but also included a single Bishop's Mitre Shieldbug, that managed to evade the camera.

                                            Springbeauty Claytonia perfoliata

From Sandy, it was up the road to St Neot's to find my accom for the night before heading onwards to Paxton Pits. 

As luck would have it, the most recent edition of British Wildlife arrived on Friday and there was an article about Norfolk Hawker and how its range had expanded and the species was now quite common on one of the pools at Paxton Pits. Arriving at the pits, I quickly made my way to the appropriate pond and Norfolk Hawker was quickly added to the life list along with the aquatic plant Water-soldier. The edge of the pit was home to 3 species of hymenoptera, with a species of potter wasp having made some wonderful tubed entrances to their burrows.

Walking around the pits produced my first Common Terns of the year but I couldn't find any of the reported Red-crested Pochards or Egyptian Geese. At one point I found myself at the side of one of the main lakes. There was little life around, on or over the lake, but out of the corner of my eye I noticed a couple of medium sized birds flying over. Getting onto them quickly, it was two Turtle Doves. Nice. 

I took a very early morning walk around Wyboston Lakes, where apart from year ticking Egyptian Goose and had good views of a singing Leser Whitethroat, there was little of note. I then set of to Bedford, but detouring to the smallest nature reserve I've ever visited, Honeydon RNR. 

This reserve is about 100m of the verge of a country lane, about 2m wide at the widest. Not surprisingly, there is limited parking but I did find a small pullover (my dinky toy of a car filled the space). Walking the lane, the wildflowers were outstanding. Tall spikes of Spiked Star of Bethlehem, standing tall amid the grasses and Hogweed. Crested Cow-wheat, Sulphur Clover and Wild Onion, mixed in. Add the backdrop of singing Skylark, Yellowhammer and Corn Bunting, and it was a very pleasant 40 minute sourjon.

                                           Spiked Star of Bethlehem Ornithogalum pyrenaicum

                                           Wild Onion Allium vineale

                                           Crested Cow-wheat Melampyrum cristatum

                                           Sulphur Clover Trifolium ochroleucon

New Plant for me

 I found this plant in a lane in Trecynon and I have found out it's Caper Spurge. Its a smart looking plant and the only one there and I read it's also called Mole Spurge.

 Robertstown tonight, I found a Orange Tip and they seem to have been on the wing for months.

 I was checking the Mullein in Robertstown last week when I found good numbers of Mullein Moth Caterpillar and it's amazing how much they vary in size.

Last up I saw Mick Cram had had a Bee Chafer at Kenfig Pool last weekend so I checked Robertstown tonight and I found my own Bee Beetle and I can see why they chafer and I never tire of seeing them.

Daffy Duck in the bag

After spending Saturday at a concert in Newport and rain forecast for Sunday morning I decided I needed a lay in but I woke up at 4.45 am and was wide awake. I noticed there was no rain and I felt I better have a walk so I headed for Cwm Cadlan but has I was approached Hirwaun I remembered that the long staying Garganey was still present in Neath. As I had missed one last weekend I decided to go to Gnoll Park. As it was nice early I got there pretty quick only to find it does not open until 8.00 am, so I left my car on the housing estate just outside and walked in. It's always nice to go somewhere new and I remembered C. W. Griswold's post saying it was by the second pond and near the café. I found the pond very quickly and I started my search. It's a nice size pond and it had lots of Mallard and most were sleeping. I picked my way through them one by one but could not find the Garganey. So next I checked the lower pond but still no sign. I was starting to think it had shipped out and being one not to give up I went back to first pond and started again. I found a duck sleeping on a wire basket and I got the scope on it and I was scratching my head thinking what is it and all of a suddenly  it came to me it was a Drake Mandarin in a plumage I am not use to seeing. Well I kept checking and right at the last moment when I was about to give up I looked down and right behind a small tuft of grass was the Garganey fast asleep. A Mallard walked up to it and it woke up  daffy and it moved closer to me and it just went straight  back to sleep. On this pond and the two other were a single Goosander and another Mandarin and a Mute Swan with 9 cygnets. Next .

In the footsteps of Mr Bevan

Partly as a result of Martins sightings from Cwm Cadlan last week (see post below), I decided to spend the afternoon there yesterday (Sat 1 June). I arrived to find the parking space full - 5 cars! - I don't think it was that full for the Great Spotted Cuckoo.

Walking down, like Martin I picked up the first Marsh Frit', at least a dozen, before I reached the bridge. Lots of Common Blue on the wing along with a single Small Copper. A larger Frit flew past, but didn't settle. I presume a Dark Green up here. There were plenty of Burnet Companion, Cinnabar and Silver-ground Carpets, but just a single Meadow Long-horn moth Caucha rufimitrella.

For the first time I wandered down to the bottom end of the reserve, in the hope of Globeflower. No sign of Globeflower, but rather surprised to find Marsh Marigold and Bogbean in full flower - Most places I've seen them lately these are almost finished, but here they looked to be just starting to flower!. A few spikes of Early Marsh Orchid was in flower, though there was plenty of Heath Spotted Orchid in flower.

At this end I found a crab spider in the process of killing a Marsh Frit. It looks like the spider is Xysticus umli.

Following a tip off from one of the groups that I had met, I staked out a patch of Lousewort and within about 30 seconds the Narrow-bordered Bee Hawkmoth flew in to feed. It was bigger than I expected. Like Martin, it was too quick to photograph.

I don't think I've noticed the Quaking Grass at the reserve previously, but I had seen the Meadow Saxifrage.

In the damp patches on the paths i eventually found several Copper Peacock Beetles Elaphrus cupreus.

A group of large insects flying around a willow drew my attention. Initially thinking they were some spp of Ichneumon wasp, they turned out to be Craneflies, Ctenophora pectincornis, one of four males below, that were chasing a much darker female