Micro Months

Around fifty Micro moths were also trapped during our moth night and it was good that our Micro moth county recorder for Cheshire was on hand to readly identify them .

Eucosma campoliliana.

Cydia splendana.

Calamotropha paludella.

Bird Cherry Ermine.

Acrobasis advenella.

Mother of Pearl.

Moth Night

On Monday night the 24th July myself Steve Hind and Jack Swan ran five moth traps through the night in and around the visitor's centre car park . It was a mild night with daytime temperature's​ of 20 degrees and 15 through the night. Expectations were high as Astbury Mere had not been done before and it would be interesting to see what species we could record . We had a good night with over 500 moths being caught at present still sorting out individuals but it looks like 113 different species. The list at present only stands at around 30 species these being day flying individuals that you disturb as you walk around , so all in all we have added and hopefully will continue to add to the list . A big thank you goes to park ranger Matt for allowing this to happen and for helping us out on the night much appreciated. A selection was displayed for a few hours on Tuesday morning in the visitor's centre and was appreciated buy those who came along . A few images below and more will be added at a later date.

Pale Prominent.

Pebble Prominent.

Canary Shouldered Thorn .

Brimstone Moth.

Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing.

Astbury Moths

Weather permitting a selection of moths caught from Astbury CP will be on view at the visitors centre during the morning of Tuesday 25th July from 9-00 till around 12-30. For any further information contact Matt the park ranger.

Warm Spell

The warm weather over the last couple of days has brought many Insects out onto the wing . Good numbers butterflies noted with 14 species seen most days , also Common Darter can be found with at least twenty noted around the pool in the top wood. A good selection of Moths , Hoverflies and Damselflies are putting on a good show as well .

Large White.

Common Darter (female).

Common Darter (male).

Leucozona lucorum (Hoverfly).

Moths

Shaded Broad-bar is a moth that's now flying at the mere it can easily be disturbed and observed as you walk through the grass especially around the north east corner . Myself Jack Swan and Steve Hind our Micro Moth county reorder are collating a list of species that have appeared at the site. Images below are of one of the Shaded Broad-bar moths seen today.

Holy Blue

A nice fresh second generation Holy Blue photographed this afternoon along with a few moths that were disturbed from the grass. Aslo noted sixteen Small Skipper a single Comma several Ringlet and Gatekepers.

Holy Blue.

Holy Blue .

Holy Blue .

Shaded Broad Bar .

Udea lutealis .

Unknown micro .

Unknown micro .

Astbury Insects

Decided as its gone quiet bird wise to have another look to see what insects are on the wing this time of the year around the mere. Good numbers of Ringlet still with around 14 individuals noted along with a fresh looking Holy Blue obviously second hatching . Also noted Comma , Large and Small Skippers , Red Admiral , Large and Small White , Gatekeeper and plenty of Meadow Browns. Five Common Darter were on the wing along with a female Broad Bodied Chaser and really good number of Common Blue Damselflies around 50 plus. A nice looking Hoverfly which I managed to photograph but as yet unidentified and a new moth at the site for me a Blackneck , and two Six Spot Burnet Moths.

Gatekeeper.

Small Skipper.

Common Darter.

Common Blue Damselfly.

Six Spot Burnet Moth.

Chrysotoxum festivum.

Chrysotoxum festivum.

Common Scoter

Todays seventeen Common Scoter is the largest flock ever recorded at the mere . There were Eight drakes in March 1996 , then five females and two drakes in October 2012 , and all records before and after those dates have mainly been singles . Below are a couple of my images from todays flock which spent most of the day sitting tight in the middle ,except on the odd occasions when they flew around the mere .

An awesome sight watching seventeen Common Scoters landing on your local patch.

Record Scoter,s

Seventeen Common Scoter,s found by Andy Goodwin this morning on the mere a record amount for the site with eleven females and six drake's . The birds are still present this evening @ 17-30 . Attached below is an excellent image of all seventeen in flight captured by Dave Kelsall .

Image by Dave Kelsall.

Insects

Eleven species of Butterfly were noted on a short walk at mid-day along with good numbers of Common Blue Damselflies and five freshly emerged Common Darter and a single Southern Hawker . A few moths were also seen which included Common Emerald , Burnet Companian , Straw Dot and many unidentified small Micro,s .Andy Goodwin texted me earlier to say there was a Common Sandpiper on the northern shore that's the fenced off area that the fishermen use.

Common Blue Damselfly .

Common Darter.

Common Darter.

Comma .

Ringlet (worn individual).

Mason Wasp.

Burnet Companian.

Butterflies

Skippers both large and small are now on the wing at Astbury along with Ringlet , Meadow Browns , Common Blues , Large and Small Whites. A good look around and you could be rewarded with 14 different species.

Speckled Wood.