BTO Atlas Survey: Quedgeley South, and Prestbury Hill Butterfly Reserves

Saturday 5th July 2008

A two-hour count in SO81B this morning produced the following counts:
Moorhen 3
Herring Gull 2
Lesser Black-backed Gull 2
Woodpigeon 23
Collared Dove 7
Swift 12
Pied Wagtail 1
Skylark 2
House Martin 2
Swallow 5
Wren 15
Dunnock 2
Robin 20
Blackbird 54
Blackcap 6
Whitethroat 3
Chiffchaff 6
Long-tailed Tit 4
Blue Tit 1
Great Tit 4
Magpie 14
Jackdaw 3
Carrion Crow 14
Starling 29
House Sparrow 70
Chaffinch 4
Greenfinch 6
Goldfinch 2
Bulfinch 1

Also Pyramidal Orchids in flower along Naas Lane and in the field to the SW of the railway bridge.

This afternoon at Prestbury Hill Butterfly Reserves, a walk around the Masts Extension before the rain set-in produced several each of Dark Green Fritillary (below), Marbled White, Large Skipper (top), Small Skipper, Ringlet, Meadow Brown, and also three Chimney Sweeper moths (bottom).

In the garden this evening, a juvenile Song Thrush capitalises on the abundance of snails in the rain and learns it's trade (below).

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