A quick update on what's around and about at the moment. On the bird front recent sightings include some good raptors: two Merlins, one chasing and catching a Meadow Pipit, two Red Kites, Peregrine, two Sparrowhawk and a family of five Kestrels. Last year we also had good, frequent sightings of a family of Kestrels regularly over Aldermans Brow. Kestrels are awesome little birds. Also recently, reports of Long Eared Owl. Up on the moor tops there's a few Golden Plovers and Dunlin still around as well as of course resident Red Grouse. Around the main trail and in the woods we've recently seen Lesser Redpoll, Goldfinch, Coal Tit, Bullfinch, Treecreeper, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren and Mistle Thrush. There are also some Swallows still flying around the farm land adjacent to Dove Stone reservoir and good numbers of Black Headed Gulls on the res itself. One to look out for at the moment is Crossbill and perhaps even worth keeping an eye out for Two Barred Crossbill, which seem to have irrupted this year. So, it won't be too long before we start to get reports of migrant birds coming through, but for now our Dove Stone Reserve Birdlist is treading water at 65.
On the butterfly front, about two weeks ago there was a proliferation of Small Tortoiseshells. Now it seems to be a lot of Peacocks on the wing, with good numbers to be seen in the fields around the main trail. I love the way that the underwing is a very dark brown and then you get these amazing colours when it opens its wings. So, there are still Small Torts to be seen with some on the wing today. I've also seen today Speckled Wood, good numbers of Large Whites, a few Meadow Browns and a couple of very worn looking Ringlets. There are quite a few Antler moths on the wing too. Dragonflies are also still on the wing so worth looking out for. I watched one at Dove Stone this morning hawking after a moth but it was going too fast to get a proper id on it. It got the moth though.
Last sighting from today is one for the fly fans. Up at Dove Stone we've a lot of Common Knapweed, which is not only good for pollinators like bees and butterflies but is also good as birds such as Goldfinch feed off the seed. But the Goldfinch might be after something else. If you tease apart the flower head of Common Knapweed ( which is also known as Hardheads ) then right at the very bottom of it you may, just may, find a small larvae with a brown head. If you don't like grubs or larvae then perhaps not for you. However, what you'd be looking at is the larvae of one of the flies belonging to the tephritidae family. Which exact species this is, I don't yet know as flies in this familiy can number in their thousands. Regardless, it's a neat example of how our plants are an important food source that goes beyond their seeds. You can put out niger seed in a feeder for birds like Goldfinch but why not try something in addition: plant some Knapweed or Teasel. Let a few thistles grow in your garden. The results will be worth it.
If you're interested in how we can propagate wildflowers at Dove Stone then this Sunday we have our second seed collecting drop-in. The last one about two weeks ago was good for Yellow Rattle and now seeds from Hardheads and Oxeye Daisy are ready to collect. There's also a lot of Rowan berries at Dove Stone at the moment so it will be good to collect some seed from these too and propagate some trees. If you fancy coming along find us on the main trail from around 12 noon to 3pm.
Common Blue and Hoverfly on Common Knapweed
More soon with a posting on Dove Stone's fungi, some of which are now starting to appear.