Non avian sightings

Non Avian Sightings 2007

Brown Argus - Marc Heath ©

10th July

A brief look over the quarry next to the school this afternoon revealed lots of Meadow Browns, at least 5 Marbled White, a few Small Skippers, 2 Gatekeeper and 1 Large White. I then paid a visit to Grove after work where there was 2 Gatekeeper, a few Peacocks, lots of Whites and Meadow Browns, 1 Painted Lady and 1 Red Admiral. A fox was seen from Harrisons hide causing chaos amongst the Lapwings.

(Marc Heath)

Marbled White - Marc Heath ©

Gatekeeper - Marc Heath ©

Fox - Marc Heath ©

8th July

A single Marbled White was seen near the gate at Grove Ferry today as I left the reserve. Many Meadow Browns seen along with the odd Peacock butterfly and Red Admiral.

(Marc Heath)

7th July

The first Gatekeeper Butterflies were seen today, 2 at Hersden and 1 at Grove. Numerous Medow Browns were also on the wing along with many 'Whites'

(Marc Heath & Dylan Wrathall)

3rd July

I made a brief visit to the quarry next to the school today just after a heavy shower in the hope of getting a decent image of a Marbled White. As soon as I arrived good numbers of Small Skipper were already flying along with 1 Large Skipper, 1 Essex Skipper and many Meadow Browns. In c5 years of looking at this site I have only had a maximum of 5 Marbled White so I was shocked to count at least 11 flying around, I'm sure more were present though.

(Marc Heath)

27th June

A brief look in the quarry just outside the recording area in very cloudy conditions produced the first Essex Skipper of the year, 5 days earlier than previous years. Also a few Small Skipper, good numbers of Meadow Brown, 3 Marbled White, 1 worn Brown Argus, 1 Red Admiral, 2 Large Skipper and 1 very worn Painted Lady.

(Marc Heath)

Marbled White - Marc Heath ©

Essex Skipper - Marc Heath ©

25th June

I had a couple of brief visits over the quarry next to the school this morning. The sun occasionally come out but there was a strong wind keeping a lot of butterflies down. The following were noted: The first Marbled White put in a brief appearance of the year, the same date as last year. Also 3 Comma, 2 Red Admiral, 1 Holly blue, 1 Large White, 1 Small/ Green veined White, 2 Large Skipper, 1 Brown Argus, good numbers of Meadow Brown and Small skippers now on the wing.

(Marc Heath)

Small Skipper - Marc Heath ©

Comma - Marc Heath ©

23rd June

At Grove today were several Blue-tailed, Common and Azure Damselflies (mainly around Marsh Hide). There was 1 Fox, 1 Common Darter, 4 Meadow Brown Butterflies, 1 Red Admiral, and a smattering of Green-viened and Small Whites.

(Martyn Wilson, Marc Heath & Alan Ashdown)

19th June

There was no sign of yesterdays Heath Fritillary but the first Small Copper was seen along with an excellent female Scarce Chaser. Other butterflies noted: 4 Small Skipper, 2 Large Skipper, 1 Red Admiral, 1 Holly Blue, 1 Brown Argus, a few Common Blue and an increase in Meadow Brown numbers. On the bird front, a Kingfisher flew surprisingly over the school field and 1 Garden Warbler was singing. Also 1 Jay, 1 Bullfinch heard, 1 Whitethroat and 1 Yellowhammer.

(Marc Heath)

Large Skipper - Marc Heath ©

Female Scarce Chaser - Marc Heath ©

18th June

I had a look in between lessons today to see what butterflies were flying in the quarry next to the school. Although just outside the valley recording area the following were seen when the sun decided to come out: 2 Small Skipper, 1 Painted Lady, 1 Red Admiral, 2 Common Blue, 2 Large Skipper, 1 Brown Argus and a handful of Meadow Browns. The most unexpected butterfly sighting was when a Heath Fritillary flew passed me and spent about 15 minutes feeding on bramble flowers. It would not let me get to close for a photograph but I managed a few record shots. This must I assume have been a wanderer from the known colony in East Blean Wood but that is about 1 ½ miles away. A part of me was kind of hoping it would cross the main road so that it could make it on to my valley butterfly list but it gladly stayed and allowed some good views. Maybe it will hang around in this area for a while. I went back after school to see if the Fritillary was still around. It soon appeared again and after some patience I was able to get some good shots of this rare butterfly

(Marc Heath)

Heath Fritillary - Marc Heath ©

15th June

The first Meadow Brown was seen today near the river along with 5 Red Admiral and 2 Painted Lady butterflies.

(Marc Heath)

Red Admiral - Marc Heath ©

9th June

At Grove Ferry today were several Common & Variable Damselflies, Pink Lady, Red Admiral, Peacock and "White" Butterflies and a Cynabar type Moth. There were several large Dragonflies over the main pool and a "gathering" of 700-120 Peacock Butterfly Catterpillars on Nettles just past Baillon's Pool.

(Marc Heath & Martyn Wilson)

28th May

The only non avian today were, one tiny, wet, Fox cub, 1 Water Vole, 1 Variable Damselfly and 1 Red Admiral.

(Martyn Wilson, Marc Heath & Alan Ashdown)

20th May

Many Variable Damselflies on the wing today plus one or two Azures, 1 male and 1 female Banded Demoiselles and at least 4 Migrant Hawkers. A Common Carpet Moth was behind Marsh Hide whilst 1 Red Fox, 6 Red Admirals, 1 Holly Blue 2 Peacocks 7+ Green-veined Whites and other "Whites" and 2 Brown Argus's were noted today.

(Martyn, Dylan, Alan, Steve & Marc)

Variable Damselfly - Stev Asht on ©

Banded Demoiselle - Martyn Wilson ©

19th May

Several Azure Damselflies and one or two Blue-tailed Damselflies were seen today as well as, 1 female Broad-tailed Chaser, 1 Migrant Hawker, several distant "White" Butterflies, 6 Red Admirals and a Peacock.

(Martyn Wilson, Marc Heath & Pete Solly)

Broad-tailed Chaser - Martyn Wilson ©

Azure Damselflies - Martyn Wilson ©

12th May

A single Green Hiarsreak was at Fordwich today.

(Tim Hodge)

Non avian today included, 2 Foxws, 6+ Green-vienes/small White Butterflies, ^ Red Admirals and 1 Common Blue. Also a Water Vole a (Common)? Vole, 3 Hairy Dragonfies and a Damselfly Specie.

(Martyn Wilson, Brendan Ryan & Marc Heath)

7th May

Two "small" Bat species and a Stoat are all that were seen in wet and windy conditions today.

(Matyn Wilson & Alan Ashdown)

6th May

A Holly Blue along the entrance path today. Also seen were 1 Comma, 1 Green-veined White and a Blue-tailed Damselfly.

(Martyn Wilson)

Holly Blue - Martyn Wilson ©

Blue-tailed Damselfly - Matyn Wilson ©

28th April

Another fairly lacklustre day with just 3 Hairy Dragonflies seen, 2 small White-type (Green-viened/small) Butterflies, 1 Fox, 1 Red Admiral, 1 Peacock and a female Azure Damselfly. Also a Bat species at the entrance gate at 4.46.

(Martyn, Marc, Alan & Steve)

Hairy Dragonfly - Steve Ashton ©

24th April

A Blue-tailed Damselfly at Grove Ferry in the car park this afternoon.

(Derek Tutt)

Butterflies seen at Westbere Lakes briefly today included 2 Orange Tip, 1 Peacock, 1 Comma and a few Small / Green veined Whites.

(Marc Heath)

23rd April

A Clouded Yellow Butterfly at Collard's today

(Tim Hodge)

A Stoat was seen by the entrance path at Grove Ferry this morning. Also 1 Peacock, 1 Green veined White and a few other distant 'whites'

(Marc Heath)

22nd April

Non-avian today included, 1 Hairy Dragonfly, several Peacock and White Butterflies (Green-veined and Small), 1 Orange Tip and a female Azure Damselfly.

(Martyn, Alan, Steve & Pete)

21st April

Not a great deal of non-avian today but, 2 Hairy Dragonflies were senn as were 2 Foxes about 5 Peacock Butterflies and a few Small/Green-veined Whites.

(Martyn, Marc, Alan & Steve)

16th April

The first Hairy Dragonfly was seen today along the path to Harrisons hide, also good numbers of Small / Green veined White, 1 Orange Tip, 1 Comma, 10+ Peacocks and at the top of Grove Ferry hill by the main road 1 Holly Blue.

(Marc Heath)

Peacock - Marc Heath ©

15th April

The Water Vole was seen again today in the dyke running south from the ramp and Butterflies were represented by several Small Whites and 5+ Peacocks and a Fox along the entrance path at $.50am..

(Martyn Wilson, Alan Ashdown & Steve Ashton)

14th April

Non-avian today included a Water Vole (Rat), 1 Peacock Butterfly, 3 Small Whites, 1 Comma, 1 Orange Tip, 2 Small Tortoiseshells and a Green-veined White.

(Martyn Wilson, Alan Ashdown & Rik Smith)

12th April

Despite sunny conditons only 2 Peacock's and 1 distant 'white' were seen at Grove Ferry today.

(Marc Heath)

Saw very little today but a few butterflies, mostly Peacocks but one Comma, Green-veined White and my first Speckled Wood of the year.

(Geoff Burton)

10th April

4 Peacock butterflies were seen between Grove Ferry and Stodmarsh today.

(Marc Heath)

9th April

The first Green-veined White today flew by the ramp plus at least 6 Peacocks. Also 3 Common Lizards were sun bathing next to Harrison's Drove Hide.

(Martyn Wilson, Alan Ashdown, Steve Ashton & Brendan Ryan)

8th April

Four Peacocks and a Comma at Grove today.

(Martyn & Alan)

7th April

Two Peacocks, Grove

(Martyn, Alan & Mike Gould)

6th April

Today at Grove were 4 Peacocks and later Steve had a Comma

(Martyn Wilson, Alan Ashdown & Steve Ashton)

4th April

A single Red Admiral was seen basking in the sun along the river between Grove and Stodmarsh today.

(Marc Heath & Ben Ring)

2nd April

Butterflies on the wing today at Grove Ferry in sunny conditions included 5 Peacock and 1 Comma.

(Marc Heath)

31st March

A Small Tortoiseshell by Green Hide and an unidentified "white" Butterfly behind Harrison's Drove Hide.

(Martyn Wilson, Marc Heath, Alan Ashdown & Steve Ashton)

16th March

Two Peacocks and a Red Admiral today.

(Geoff Burton)

11th March

The first signs of spring today with a Peacock Butterfly around the ramp at Grove Ferry and a Fox was by the entrance gate yesterday 10th.

(Martyn Wilson, Steve Ashton, Alan Ashdown & [Marc Heath 10th])

27th January

A Fox was seen early on at Collards with one also heard in Trenley Park woods. Grey Squirrels are starting to become more noticable in the Alder wood at Stodmarsh.

(Marc Heath)

15th January

The first Red Admiral Butterfly was seen today basking in the sun in Fordwich opposite the Fordwich Arms pub.

(Marc Heath)