Bugger

Essex Skipper

Essex Skipper

Essex Skipper

Small Copper

Painted Lady

Painted Lady

Tuesday 4th August 2009

Sorry about the expletive but its the way I feel at the moment. I'm sure theres an appropriate definition about frustration but it doesn't spring to mind. Missing out on a gettable Marsh Harrier in Warks was a bit of a blow as far as the old County year list goes, would have cleaned up the realistic rarer raptors for the county. Still there are a lot more important issues in the world to worry about, so perhaps I shouldn't fret too much. On the other hand its because there are things to worry about that we have distractions like listing or maybe its our way of having fun.

Anyway not being able to drive at the moment is restricting my activities a bit. A few local walks havent produced a great deal in the way of birdlife although a couple of garden Buddelia have been alive with up to 6 species of Butterfly.

Wednesday 5th August 2009

My old friend John and I travelled to Stretton under Fosse to try and find Essex Skipper. I'd never been 100% certain of the ID but John reckoned there was a good location for them just outside the village. As it had rained all morning it probably wasnt the ideal time to go but there seemed to be plenty of moths, grasshoppers and Butterflies. However, not too many Skippers. The path passed through tall grass meadows with clumps of Thistle where the Moths and Butterflies were concentrated. There were a few Macro moths; Orange Swift, Common Carpet and Shoulder striped Wainsccot and large numbers of Grass moths and Udea lutealis. It was a good site for Small Copper, but the most abundant Butterfly was Gatekeeper, closely followed by Painted Lady with a few Peacocks, Small Tortoiseshells, Essex skippers, Large and small Whites.