May 31st 2009

Out with Dave too Oversley Wood near Alcester enjoying the weather and coming up trumps with 2 Club-tailed dragonfly at least two miles from there limited breeding area in Warwickshire and a totally unexpected sighting.

Club-tailed dragonfly
Plenty of butterflies with 35 Speckled Wood, 18 Large White, Green-veined White and 10 Painted Lady while moths were represented by Nematopogon swammerdamella, Celypha lacunana, Clouded Silver Carpet and Red-twin Spot Carpet. The best of the few birds seen were 5 Buzzard, Raven, Coal Tit and 2 Spotted Flycatcher.
On the way home we called in at Stockton to see the White-legged damselfly finding at least 10 with plenty of butterflies including 2 Large Skipper, 16 Painted Lady, 4 Brimstone, 15 Common Blue and 2 Orange Tip while a Burnet Companion moth was new for Dave. A nearby meadow had over 120 Greater Butterfly Orchids. The best birds we could find were Buzzard and Whitethroat.
Finally everybody knows you don't slag your friends off so with gritted teeth I am really pleased this beauty was in the Hall brothers moth trap in nearby Long Lawford last night. O I want one for Christmas.

Puss Moth by the Hall Brothers

Richard