Hope you had a great festive break!Have a goodun
Wurzel
Neil Freeman
Re: Neil Freeman
Great set of images Neil - especially the Bullfinches and the Redcap Hope you had a great festive break!
Have a goodun
Wurzel
Hope you had a great festive break!Have a goodun
Wurzel
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Neil Freeman
- Posts: 4373
- Joined: Fri Jul 23, 2010 6:25 pm
- Location: Solihull, West Midlands
Re: Neil Freeman
Thanks Bugboy, in my case I notice the Blackcaps more in the winter than the summer...probably because I tend to take less notice of the birds when the butterflies are about.
Cheers Wurzel, we had a great break thanks, been a bit depressing this week going back to work...Roll on Spring.
Looking back at 2017 part 3 – Into Autumn.
With the season advancing from late August into September things were beginning to have an autumnal feeling around my local patch with the usual high summer species - Meadow Browns, Gatekeepers and the golden skippers - all finished for the year. Speckled Woods could still be found just about everywhere including my garden where three of four individual males were often squabbling over different corners or chasing after the occasional female that came wandering through. Commas and Red Admirals were also around in good numbers although I was no longer seeing Peacocks or Small Tortoiseshells, in fact these latter two species had been few and far between locally this year. The common Whites had also been noticeably down in numbers through the summer although I was starting to see a few more Large and Small Whites passing through my garden.
A few days down in Dorset stopping at Lulworth Cove in the first week of September was our final trip of the season. There had continued to be a lot of cloud about during the latter part of the summer with a stiff breeze blowing on many days and the first couple of days of September had turned cooler with some heavy rain. Overall, butterfly numbers seemed a bit lower during our stay down at Lulworth Cove compared to visits in previous years. This is relative however and I still reckon that this area is one of the best for butterflies at this time of year.
The path from Osmington up to White Horse Hill continues to be one of my favourite sites in the area and produced the highest count of Adonis Blues that I saw down there this time, easily 100+ compared with 20-30 that I saw at Bindon Hill and Durdle Door.
A few late Chalkhill Blues were still hanging in there on Bindon Hill, the only time that I saw this species in 2017.
Somehow, I had missed seeing Brown Argus so far in 2017 and I finally caught up with these in Dorset with a few showing up at Durdle Door, Bindon Hill and Osmington, abeit mostly worn and faded examples.
I had also found Small Coppers to be in short supply so far this year with just a couple seen locally and odd ones showing up at various spots around the country. I was pleased therefore to find a few down in Dorset, just half a dozen or so scattered about between Durdle Door, Bindon Hill and Osmington, but nevertheless more than I had been seeing up until now.
There were plenty of Small Whites flying around Lulworth Cove with Large Whites in slightly lower numbers, both species being present in higher numbers than I had seen so far this year.
The grassy slopes above Durdle Door and the path up to White Horse Hill at Osmington have reliably produced Clouded Yellows in previous years and both sites came up trumps again this year.
A few Graylings were still flying at Durdle Door although nowhere near as many as I saw here at the same time a couple of years ago and this time I failed to find any up on Bindon Hill.
Common Blues and Small Heaths were seen in good numbers as were Meadow Browns which had already disappeared from my local spots. Meadow Browns continue to fly much longer on the these Dorset chalk downs, as do Marbled Whites which I have seen still flying here in early September in previous years although I did not find any this time.
Back home through the rest of September, Speckled Woods continued to show up at most local spots as did increasing numbers of Commas. Red Admirals also seemed to be having a good year all over the country and my patch was no exception with plenty showing up all over the place.
Speckled Woods continued into October with the last one seen in my garden in the second week.
My last butterfly photo of 2017 was a Red Admiral in the garden on October 29th. This was not the last butterfly I saw however as I continued to see Red Admirals into November albeit usually as quick flypasts.
So then, the cool and cloudy summer had merged into a cool and cloudy autumn, often with a stiff breeze blowing from the North West which kept the temperatures down on many days. This is not to say that there wasn’t any nice warm and sunny weather because there was, it is just that the overall impression is of a generally cloudy and breezy second half to the season.
Considering the year as a whole, the nice spring had led to some early emergences and there was a particularly hot spell in early June which continued this trend. After this however, many of the summer species seemed to have suffered due to the deterioration in the weather from later in the month and many seemed to be well down in numbers. As mentioned at the beginning of these lookback reports, this is based on my own experiences and observations and other peoples experiences in other parts of the country may differ from mine.
All in all I saw 41 species in 2017, coincidentally the same final tally as 2016 although the mix of species was a bit different as I had more of a northern focus in 2016 and visited Cornwall twice this year as well as our later trip to Dorset.
This is now the time of year that I start to think about what I would like to see and where to go in the coming season which usually involves doing a bit of research and making plans for a number of trips, all of which gives me something to look forward too on these cold dark winter nights.
Here's to the coming season and lets hope its a good one for everyone.
Neil
Cheers Wurzel, we had a great break thanks, been a bit depressing this week going back to work...Roll on Spring.
Looking back at 2017 part 3 – Into Autumn.
With the season advancing from late August into September things were beginning to have an autumnal feeling around my local patch with the usual high summer species - Meadow Browns, Gatekeepers and the golden skippers - all finished for the year. Speckled Woods could still be found just about everywhere including my garden where three of four individual males were often squabbling over different corners or chasing after the occasional female that came wandering through. Commas and Red Admirals were also around in good numbers although I was no longer seeing Peacocks or Small Tortoiseshells, in fact these latter two species had been few and far between locally this year. The common Whites had also been noticeably down in numbers through the summer although I was starting to see a few more Large and Small Whites passing through my garden.
- Comma - Coverdale 01.09.2017
The path from Osmington up to White Horse Hill continues to be one of my favourite sites in the area and produced the highest count of Adonis Blues that I saw down there this time, easily 100+ compared with 20-30 that I saw at Bindon Hill and Durdle Door.
- Adonis Blue - Osmington 06.09.2017
- Adonis Blue female - Osmington 06.09.2017
- Adonis Blues - Osmington 06.09.2017
- Chalkhill Blue - Bindon Hill 04.09.2017
- Brown Argus - Durdle Door - 04.09.2017
- Small Copper - Osmington - 06.09.2017
- Small White - Lulworth cove 04.09.2017
- Large White - Lulworth cove - 04.09.2017
- Clouded Yellow - Durdle Door 05.09.2017
- Grayling - Durdle Door 06.09.2017
Back home through the rest of September, Speckled Woods continued to show up at most local spots as did increasing numbers of Commas. Red Admirals also seemed to be having a good year all over the country and my patch was no exception with plenty showing up all over the place.
- Red Admiral - Hillfield Park Solihull 22.09.2017
- Speckled Wood - Coverdale 06.10.2017
- Red Admiral - Coverdale 29.10.2017
Considering the year as a whole, the nice spring had led to some early emergences and there was a particularly hot spell in early June which continued this trend. After this however, many of the summer species seemed to have suffered due to the deterioration in the weather from later in the month and many seemed to be well down in numbers. As mentioned at the beginning of these lookback reports, this is based on my own experiences and observations and other peoples experiences in other parts of the country may differ from mine.
All in all I saw 41 species in 2017, coincidentally the same final tally as 2016 although the mix of species was a bit different as I had more of a northern focus in 2016 and visited Cornwall twice this year as well as our later trip to Dorset.
This is now the time of year that I start to think about what I would like to see and where to go in the coming season which usually involves doing a bit of research and making plans for a number of trips, all of which gives me something to look forward too on these cold dark winter nights.
Here's to the coming season and lets hope its a good one for everyone.
Neil
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Re: Neil Freeman
Happy New Year Neil! I'm just catching up on my posts, I love the shots of the pair of Adonis , funny, I never think of them being out in Sept It's always August in my mind, daft I Know 
Goldie
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Re: Neil Freeman
Great reports and some fantastic shots Neil, I love those Fritillaries. 
I visited Haddon Hill last year as well, I didn't see any Heath Frits but the weather was against me.
But I saw them later, elsewhere on Exmoor so all is well.
It's been a few years since I walked up White Horse Hill, I will do that this year I think as it seems I've been missing out!
Cheers
I visited Haddon Hill last year as well, I didn't see any Heath Frits but the weather was against me.
But I saw them later, elsewhere on Exmoor so all is well.
It's been a few years since I walked up White Horse Hill, I will do that this year I think as it seems I've been missing out!
Cheers
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Re: Neil Freeman
Another great report Neil, great shots with a Cloudy and many taken at Durdle Door (my favourite place ever) but the best has to be the male Adonis - it jumps of the screen - I thought I could touch it for a moment there 
Have a goodun
Wurzel
and many taken at Durdle Door (my favourite place ever) but the best has to be the male Adonis - it jumps of the screen - I thought I could touch it for a moment there Have a goodun
Wurzel
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Neil Freeman
- Posts: 4373
- Joined: Fri Jul 23, 2010 6:25 pm
- Location: Solihull, West Midlands
Re: Neil Freeman
Thanks Goldie, I always think of Adonis Blues as a late August/early September butterfly, probably because that is when I usually see them in Dorset . I am told that they usually fly there well into September and sometimes into October, I believe they emerge a bit earlier in the south east.
Thanks Andrew, I reckon that path from Osmington up to the top of White Horse Hill is one of the best sites in the area in early September but is well worth a visit at any time. I have also been there in early July and seen loads of butterflies including Clouded Yellows then as well .
Thanks Wurzel, I can easily understand why Durdle Door is you favourite place, great scenery and loads of butterflies on the downs around there...plus Lulworth Cove is just over the hill.
Cheers,
Neil.
. I am told that they usually fly there well into September and sometimes into October, I believe they emerge a bit earlier in the south east.Thanks Andrew, I reckon that path from Osmington up to the top of White Horse Hill is one of the best sites in the area in early September but is well worth a visit at any time. I have also been there in early July and seen loads of butterflies including Clouded Yellows then as well
.Thanks Wurzel, I can easily understand why Durdle Door is you favourite place, great scenery and loads of butterflies on the downs around there...plus Lulworth Cove is just over the hill
.Cheers,
Neil.
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essexbuzzard
- Posts: 2460
- Joined: Sun Jul 24, 2011 6:23 pm
Re: Neil Freeman
Great to revisit those Dorset sightings, Neil. I was there earlier than usual, in July. I think a combination of the season running a couple of weeks early, and deteriorating weather, may have meant many species were already on the wane by September. For me, the thing I remember most about September was the lack of sunshine, although that reversed in October and November, resulting in new generations of some species.
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Re: Neil Freeman
Lovely sequence again, Neil (especially the female Large White). Less than 2 months to go till this year's action begins!
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Neil Freeman
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Re: Neil Freeman
Thanks Mark, unfortunately there continued to be a band of cloud across the midlands for a lot of October and November too and we didn't enjoy the amount of sun that the south east appeared to have.
Thanks David, probably just over two months for me here, depending on how the rest of the winter turns out of course.
Garden Moths – 2017.
Although I had started to run the moth trap in my garden in 2016, this year was the first that I have run the trap for a whole season. The first night was on January 8th and resulted in, appropriately enough, a couple of Winter Moths. The last time I put the trap out in 2017 was on December 21st when the season had turned full circle and I had another couple of Winter Moths.
The season really started to take off in March and numbers increased on and off depending on the weather conditions until by mid summer I was getting up to a couple of hundred individual moths in the trap...although most of these would usually be common 'trap fillers' such as Heart & Darts or Large Yellow Underwings. My largest catch was on the night of 27th August when I counted 203 individual moths which was made up of 159 macros and 44 micros. In reality the catch would have been higher but inevitably with these numbers some of them escape before being counted, especially the micros which are often settled on the outside of the trap and don't sit still for long. This count also included 88 Large Yellow Underwings and 56 Square-spot Rustics which illustrates why some of these are referred to as 'trap fillers' and like the micros some of these escape when the trap is opened.
My tally of garden moth species for the year was a total of 245 of which 151 were macros and 94 were micros. Of the macros 38 were new species for the garden and I also had 40 new micro species, the latter due mostly to the fact that I hadn't started to look at the micros until half way through 2016. There were also a few species that I had seen in 2016 which didn't show up this year. This gives me a garden total to date of 264 species of moth split into 170 macros and 94 micros.
A selection below of some of my favourites from through the year. All caught as single individuals unless otherwise stated.
Compared with some of the moths above, the one below appears a bit drab and although worn and faded was actually the best moth I had in the garden. At first I had trouble identifying it and after posting the photo on a couple of Facebook moth groups an ID of Cloaked Pug was suggested which is a rather scarce migrant / vagrant which is suspected of breeding at a few locations scattered around the country. I also sent the photo to my county moth recorder who confirmed the ID and informed me that it was only the fourth record for Warwickshire in the past forty years, the last one apparently being in 2012. Just goes to show that you never know what might turn up, even in a suburban garden like mine.
So far in 2018 the weather hasn't really been suitable for me to put the trap out, either too wet and windy or simply too cold. Just waiting for a fairly still night with a temperature of about 6c or more and it will be out again.
Bye for now,
Neil.
Thanks David, probably just over two months for me here, depending on how the rest of the winter turns out of course.
Garden Moths – 2017.
Although I had started to run the moth trap in my garden in 2016, this year was the first that I have run the trap for a whole season. The first night was on January 8th and resulted in, appropriately enough, a couple of Winter Moths. The last time I put the trap out in 2017 was on December 21st when the season had turned full circle and I had another couple of Winter Moths.
The season really started to take off in March and numbers increased on and off depending on the weather conditions until by mid summer I was getting up to a couple of hundred individual moths in the trap...although most of these would usually be common 'trap fillers' such as Heart & Darts or Large Yellow Underwings. My largest catch was on the night of 27th August when I counted 203 individual moths which was made up of 159 macros and 44 micros. In reality the catch would have been higher but inevitably with these numbers some of them escape before being counted, especially the micros which are often settled on the outside of the trap and don't sit still for long. This count also included 88 Large Yellow Underwings and 56 Square-spot Rustics which illustrates why some of these are referred to as 'trap fillers' and like the micros some of these escape when the trap is opened.
My tally of garden moth species for the year was a total of 245 of which 151 were macros and 94 were micros. Of the macros 38 were new species for the garden and I also had 40 new micro species, the latter due mostly to the fact that I hadn't started to look at the micros until half way through 2016. There were also a few species that I had seen in 2016 which didn't show up this year. This gives me a garden total to date of 264 species of moth split into 170 macros and 94 micros.
A selection below of some of my favourites from through the year. All caught as single individuals unless otherwise stated.
- Oak Beauty - 12.03.2017. 3 of this attractive spring species caught.
- Chocolate-tip - 01.05.2017
- Maidens Blush - 25.05.2017. I love the name of this one.
- Poplar Hawk - 26.05.2017. 6 of these including a second brood example in August.
- Swallow Prominent - 28.05.2016. New for the garden.
- Beautiful Hook-tip - 07.06.2017. New this year. 9 caught.
- Figure of Eighty - 10.06.2017. 3 caught.
- White Ermine - 13.06.2017. 2 caught.
- Lime Hawk - 15.06.2017. New this year although I reared one last year from a caterpillar found in front of my house.
- Elephant Hawk - 24.06.2017. New for garden. 2 caught.
- Scorched Wing - 24.06.2017. New for garden.
- Swallow-tailed Moth - 24.06.2017. 8 caught.
- Coronet - 4 of these caught.
- Early Thorn - 04.07.2017. A couple of these caught in spring but this female is second generation so not that early.
- Buff Arches - 05.07.2017. Just one of these this year, I had half a dozen in 2016.
- White Satin - 25.07.2017. New for this year, 3 caught.
- Canary-shouldered Thorn - 11.08.2017
- Yellow Shell - 15.08.2017. 6 of these came to the trap.
- Dusky Thorn - 20.09.2017. New for garden. A couple of these were caught.
- Green-brindled Crescent - 13.10.2017. Another new one.
- Cloaked Pug - 15.06.2017.
Bye for now,
Neil.
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Re: Neil Freeman
Hi! Neil, Lovely Moth shot's, you must be pleased with your find, I really like the Ermine Moth it's certainly well named.
The weather has been really bad this winter all over the country lets hope we've a better Spring and Summer because of it.
I've got a shot of a moth that I've not named yet,( I've no Moth traps but if I see one when I'm out I usually take a shot of it)
I've put it in the ID post hoping some one will know what it's called. Goldie
The weather has been really bad this winter all over the country lets hope we've a better Spring and Summer because of it.
I've got a shot of a moth that I've not named yet,( I've no Moth traps but if I see one when I'm out I usually take a shot of it)
I've put it in the ID post hoping some one will know what it's called. Goldie
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Re: Neil Freeman
Seeing your beautiful Hawk Moth images reminded me of an image I took in the French Pyrenees .
One night our tour leader set up a Moth trap at our hotel. In the morning this huge Privet Hawk Moth
was found in the trap. I placed a £1 coin near the Moth to give a sense of scale.
Unfortunately the only image of Moth and coin together was this one.
All the best,
Trevor.
One night our tour leader set up a Moth trap at our hotel. In the morning this huge Privet Hawk Moth
was found in the trap. I placed a £1 coin near the Moth to give a sense of scale.
Unfortunately the only image of Moth and coin together was this one.
All the best,
Trevor.
- Attachments
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Re: Neil Freeman
Beautiful selection and a great report Neil. Amazing variety, and very nicely shot as well.
I love the pic of the Canary-shouldered Thorn, that yellow mane!
Fantastic.
Amazing variety, and very nicely shot as well.I love the pic of the Canary-shouldered Thorn, that yellow mane!
Fantastic.
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Re: Neil Freeman
A stunning selection of shots and species Neil If anyone ever says that Moffs are boring again I'll direct them to your PD
Have a goodun
Wurzel
If anyone ever says that Moffs are boring again I'll direct them to your PD Have a goodun
Wurzel
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Neil Freeman
- Posts: 4373
- Joined: Fri Jul 23, 2010 6:25 pm
- Location: Solihull, West Midlands
Re: Neil Freeman
Thanks for all the comments Goldie, Trevor, Andrew, and Wurzel
Along with a lot of the country we have just had a very wintry weekend with some heavy snow on both Saturday and Sunday although on both days it turned to sleet and then rain so it didn't stay on the ground for long.
The weather didn't deter the birds though and I was pleased to see a couple that are rarer visitors to the garden. On the Saturday there was a Greenfinch which I have only ever seen in my garden once before.
The Bullfinches tried to bully him (her?) away from the feeder but he stood his ground...
On the Sunday I spotted a Redwing turning over the fallen leaves on the lawn. I usually get one or two of these each year and this was the first this winter. I only had time for a quick record shot though the back room window before something spooked it and it flew off.
The culprit then emerged from the bushes...
A bit milder today but wet with it and looks like a another blustery couple of days ahead.
Bye for now,
Neil.
Along with a lot of the country we have just had a very wintry weekend with some heavy snow on both Saturday and Sunday although on both days it turned to sleet and then rain so it didn't stay on the ground for long.
The weather didn't deter the birds though and I was pleased to see a couple that are rarer visitors to the garden. On the Saturday there was a Greenfinch which I have only ever seen in my garden once before.
- Greenfinch - Coverdale 20.01.2018
- Bullfinches and Greenfinch having a squabble.
- Redwing - Coverdale 21.01.2018
- Fox - Coverdale 21.01.2017
Bye for now,
Neil.
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Re: Neil Freeman
Dressed in those fine greens and Yellows I'd say that was definitely a male Greenfinch . You did well with that Redwing picture, such a nervous bird. I'm lucky if I catch a fleeting glance as they dive for cover at my approach. I generally hear them deep in scrub or flying overhead. I guess hiding inside your house helps.
Great selection of moths from earlier too, Buff Arches, Swallowtail, Beautiful Hook-tip, Scorched Wing among my favs which I haven't seen myself in many a year
. You did well with that Redwing picture, such a nervous bird. I'm lucky if I catch a fleeting glance as they dive for cover at my approach. I generally hear them deep in scrub or flying overhead. I guess hiding inside your house helps. Great selection of moths from earlier too, Buff Arches, Swallowtail, Beautiful Hook-tip, Scorched Wing among my favs which I haven't seen myself in many a year
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Some addictions are good for the soul!
Re: Neil Freeman
I'd go with male as well Neil Good to see the Greenfinches putting in an appearance, they've had a bad run. Great work with the Redwing as well, not an easy species to photograph as they are no where near as bold as their boisterous and larger cousins the Fieldfares
Have a goodun
Wurzel
Good to see the Greenfinches putting in an appearance, they've had a bad run. Great work with the Redwing as well, not an easy species to photograph as they are no where near as bold as their boisterous and larger cousins the Fieldfares Have a goodun
Wurzel
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Re: Neil Freeman
Great wildlife images, Neil. I love the birds fighting over the feeder, the sneaky fox and, of course, the sequence of moths, my favourite being the Canary Shouldered Thorn, which is an absolute gem!
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Neil Freeman
- Posts: 4373
- Joined: Fri Jul 23, 2010 6:25 pm
- Location: Solihull, West Midlands
Re: Neil Freeman
Thanks for all the comments bugboy, Wurzel and David
To tell the truth, I am usually supposed to be doing jobs around the house and building up the brownie points in readiness for the better weather, trouble is I am too easily distracted when I spot something through the windows.
Sunday 28th January
A mild weekend with a wet and windy Saturday but Sunday was much better, in fact it almost felt like a nice spring like day so I decided to do my bit for the Big Garden Birdwatch. I set up in the back room in the afternoon and counted the birds that I saw during an hour between 1.30pm to 2.30pm with the results as follows;
Great Tit (3)
Blue Tit (4)
Coal Tit (1)
Long-tailed Tit (5) - these turned up together in a little gang.
Dunnock (1)
Blackbird (5) - all working the lawn together.
Chaffinch (3) - first year I have seen these in the garden, they have been there most days this winter.
Bullfinch (2, a pair)
Starling (1) - don't see these around here much these days.
Song Thrush (1)
Robin (1)
Wood Pigeon (3)
Magpie (2)
Blackcap (2, a pair)
Goldfinch (1)
Most of these were around the bushes or moving to and from the feeders too quickly to get photos but I did manage a few shots,
Since the weekend it has gone colder again and there was a good frost here this morning and It looks like the rest of the week is going to stay cold.
Bye for now,
Neil.
Yep, like a great big centrally heated hide, lazy birding at its easiestbugboy wrote:... I guess hiding inside your house helps...
To tell the truth, I am usually supposed to be doing jobs around the house and building up the brownie points in readiness for the better weather, trouble is I am too easily distracted when I spot something through the windows.
Sunday 28th January
A mild weekend with a wet and windy Saturday but Sunday was much better, in fact it almost felt like a nice spring like day so I decided to do my bit for the Big Garden Birdwatch. I set up in the back room in the afternoon and counted the birds that I saw during an hour between 1.30pm to 2.30pm with the results as follows;
Great Tit (3)
Blue Tit (4)
Coal Tit (1)
Long-tailed Tit (5) - these turned up together in a little gang.
Dunnock (1)
Blackbird (5) - all working the lawn together.
Chaffinch (3) - first year I have seen these in the garden, they have been there most days this winter.
Bullfinch (2, a pair)
Starling (1) - don't see these around here much these days.
Song Thrush (1)
Robin (1)
Wood Pigeon (3)
Magpie (2)
Blackcap (2, a pair)
Goldfinch (1)
Most of these were around the bushes or moving to and from the feeders too quickly to get photos but I did manage a few shots,
- Blackcap male - this shot taken on the Saturday, he was there again on Sunday but stayed in the bushes.
- Blackcap female - actually seemed more confident than the male.
- Blackbird knocking bits off the fat block - they seem to have developed a habit of doing this and then picking the bits off the ground.
- Starling in the bushes.
Bye for now,
Neil.
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essexbuzzard
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Re: Neil Freeman
Wow, a blackcap and redcap, bit jealous of those! No greenfinches I notice, but a good haul anyway.
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Re: Neil Freeman
That's a pretty impressive garden list Neil and great shots especially the in flight Blackbird
Have a goodun
Wurzel
and great shots especially the in flight Blackbird Have a goodun
Wurzel
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