Daneway Banks and WWT

Saturday 29th June 2013
Large Blue, Daneway Banks, Glos - on Red Clover
A successful excursion to Daneway Banks with Mark produced five Large Blues, all  roughly in the same area on the SSE-facing slopes. I am grateful for the site expertise of Mark Greaves and Anna who also showed us a Large Blue egg. Other butterflies included two Ringlets, a Small Blue, 10+ Marbled Whites, 3+ Dingy Skippers, Meadow Browns and 4 Speckled Woods. There were some nice orchids too, especially two Bee Orchids, plus Pyramidal coming into flower, and many Common Spotted. I must say thanks again to Mark (H) for finding my glasses; not sure I'll opt for the Larry Grayson-style lanyard just yet but it's an idea!
Nectaring on Wild Thyme
Posing nicely
Another individual
Large Blue egg on Wild Thyme
Bee Orchid
Earlier at WWT Slimbridge, with Andy too, we enjoyed the spectacle on the Rushy of breeding birds rearing their young, not least of all the three pairs of Avocets with a total of nine chicks. It is always fascinating to see young Avocet chicks using the adult feeding action but with such small bills. We counted a total of 10 Green Sandpipers here also.
Avocet with chicks
Two of the chicks foraging for food

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