Bits 'n' Birds: July 2017

Four-spotted Chaser

Yesterday I decided I wasn't going birding! If you aren't a Birder, chances are you wont know that June is pretty quiet on the birding front. And, although a few friends on twitter are reporting 'Autumnal' bird activity on their patches, it definitely isn't feeling that way on my patch.

So, instead I decided to do something I've been meaning to do for ages - get out and do a bit of insect watching. Well, mainly Dragonflies, Damselflies and Butterflies.

I live very close to the Abram and Lightshaw Flashes. A sequence of small subsidence flashes that sit between the bigger Wigan Flashes complex to the north west and the expanse of Pennington Flash to the south and east. They are bordered pretty much along the entire length by the Leeds Liverpool Canal, and Hey Brook runs adjacent to, or very close to all of them. A big chunk of the area is classified as a Site of Special Scientific Interest and much of it is owned by either the Forestry Commission or the local Wildlife Trust. From the point which I started my walk to the farthest point is approximately 2.5km in a straight line, but my route took a much longer path of about 4km. In the sun and heat it was more tiring than I thought and I was glad I'd had the forethought to put sun cream and insect repellent on before leaving (Clegs abound in the area), and taking a bottle of water and a wide brimmed hat too.

I wasn't at all disappointed with my 'non-birding' day out. The first pond I visited held two pairs of Black-tailed Skimmers, an Emperor Dragonfly and numerous Azure Damselflies. This latter species is one that I have never seen in the area before - probably due to not looking too hard - its mainly been Common Blue Damselfly that I have seen. I caught one to check and they were definitely Azure and lots of them. The next few ponds all held a similar mix, although on one at least four, Four-spotted Chasers were darting around with females ovipositing and at least one Emperor doing the same. I was also pretty certain I glimpsed a Southern Hawker patrolling one pond edge but it wouldn't settle close enough to allow me to confirm it.

The walk between Abram Flashes and Dover Basin along the canal was quiet, as was Dover Basin itself. I could see several dragonflies in the distance but too far away to stand a chance of identifying them. The only one that came close enough was a jet powered Brown Hawker. It was a similar tale on my walk up to the most distant point - a viewing screen overlooking Lightshaw Flash - where it had been reported that Beautiful Demoiselles were showing. This would be a new species for me in the vice county and one I always enjoy seeing. The walk was hot and quiet, but I did manage to add Comma and Red Admiral to the list. Meadow Browns and Speckled Wood Butterflies had been pretty ubiquitous all the way along my route.

There were no Beautiful Demoiselles at the screen, and very little of anything else. A Small Skipper added to the Butterfly list as did Green-veined, Small and Large White. On my return walk I watched a pair of Swallows feeding newly fledged young on a telephone wire which is always a treat and then had brilliant views of a stunning Yellowhammer, sadly I was not quick enough with the camera to get a shot. I had my first confirmed Southern Hawker on the old railway line that forms one of the footpaths. A very confiding individual that allowed me to get a reasonable shot.

The walk back home was hot and uncomfortable and rushed as I had spent far too long out and about and I needed to get a bit of a move on, so I couldn't stop and double check any of the ponds again, but I will definitely be out again to see if I can add to the list.

Black-tailed Skimmer - it loved this piece of paper!