Skipper surveys

A nice day out of the office was had today visiting some of the sites worked on as part of the SITA-funded Grizzled Skipper project, and looking for the butterflies themselves. At Cotham Station we notched up at least 11 Grizzleds, plus lots of Brown Arguses and a few Common Blues. Two more Grizzleds were on the disused railway line adjacent to the station site, with another further north. 

Grizzled Skipper

Pretty optimal GS habitat at Cotham Station

Heading round to Flawborough Footpath we located 6 Grizzleds in the 'triangle' at the southern end of Flawborough Footpath, with 3 along the footpath itself, plus at least 4 eggs and 3 larvae on cinquefoil leaves trailing across some of the new drystone walls. There were also loads of Common Blues on the wing here, and a couple of Small Coppers.

GS egg

Two GS larvae with remains of eggs

Drystone wall

More optimal GS habitat at Flawborough Footpath

Walking along the disused railway back up to Cotham we failed to find any more Grizzleds, so another visit may be on the cards this weekend... However, a Whimbrel did fly north calling from the direction of Kilvington Lakes. Could do with one of those on the patch.

No GS here...

I wrapped the day up with a quick look at Collingham Pits. No Whimbrel, although an adult Whooper Swan on Mons Pool was a surprise. 

Whooper with a Mute