Hi,
Blue skies and warm sunshine are always in a recipe for a good day to be out and about however if you add a large splash of Common Scoter and a drop(in) of Osprey then your day’s rating goes from good to absolutely brilliant. That’s exactly what happened on the 19th June when an Osprey flew over the dam early doors followed by a late afternoon discovery of 90 Common Scoter resting mid way up the lake. Common Scoter can frequently be seen at the coast during the winter however during the month of June undertake cross country movements resulting in occasional flocks dropping down onto inland water bodies to rest.
Ninety Common Scoter dropped in for a rest during the week.
Gull numbers started to build on the lake, peaking at 21 Lesser Black-Backed Gulls. The gulls were dropping down to bathe after feeding in nearby recently cut fields. A small roost of Goosander and whistling Common Sandpiper provided further interest on the lake this week.
The lake looked stunning in the sunshine.
The warm weather was perfect for butterflies to be on the wing with the following ten species recorded on the reserve, Small pearl-bordered fritillary, Large skipper, Red admiral, Peacock, Green-viened white, Speckled wood, Small copper, Meadow brown, Ringlet and Small heath.
Large skipper was one of ten butterfly species sighted on the reserve.
Golden-ringed dragonfly, Four-spotted chaser and Azure damselfly were new Odonata records for the reserve this year with Large red and Common blue damselfly numbers also high along the reserve’s water bodies.
Look out midges this Golden-ringed dragonfly will have worked up an appetite after emerging from the nymphal cast.
Other interesting sightings this week included, Hummingbird Hawkmoth over the dam (14th), Peregrine Falcon (daily from Lakeside Hide), Redstart (daily, Sculpture Park), singing Chiffchaff (daily, Yellow, Blue, Red Trails) and Bullfinch (occasional, Yellow Trail).
Macrolepidoptera Of The Week
We’ve got an extra special moth for you this week in the form of Ashworth’s Rustic. The UK has a unique subspecies which only exists in Wales and it can be found here on the reserve. Ashworth’s Rustic likes to live on rocky hillsides where its grey colouration helps to keep it well camouflaged.
Unique to Wales the Ashworth’s Rustic Xestia ashworthii is this week’s top moth.
Finally, followers of the RSPB Mid Wales Facebook Page will have seen our mystery photo post earlier in the week. I can now reveal that this little chick is a Pied Flycatcher. You can just make out a white bar on the wing a distinctive feature also seen on adult birds. The majority of Pied Flycatcher chicks fledged this week and with a bit of luck may be seen on the Yellow and Blue Trails.
And the mystery chick is... a Pied Flycatcher (Thanks to Gavin Chambers for the photo).
Cheers,
Adam