8 August 2016

Wood White Success At Haugh Wood

Date: 8th August 2016
Location: Haugh's Wood - Hereford + WWT Slimbridge
Weather: Blue Sky, Patchy Cloud + Warm
Other Species: 
(Haugh Wood - Hereford)
Birds: Marsh Tit, Buzzard, Raven - 3 Species - Of Note
Butterflies: Painted Lady, Common Blue, Silver Washed Fritillary, Red Admiral, Ringlet, Speckled Wood, Green Veined White, Wood White, Small White, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown - 11 Species.
(Slimbridge)
Birds: Pied Wagtail, Little Egret, Lapwing, Blackcap, Green Sandpiper, Shelduck, Tufted Duck, Canada Goose, House Martin, Grey Heron, Starling, Goldfinch, Black-Tailed Godwit, Greenfinch, Willow Warbler, Teal, Wigeon, Wren, Chiffchaff, Mediterranean Gull, Barnacle Goose, Gadwall, Pochard, Great-Crested Grebe, Cormorant, Ruff, Kingfisher, Collared Dove, Feral Pigeon - Of Note - 51 Species Total

Observation: The weather was looking promising for a trip to Haugh Wood in Hereford so off we headed. We arrived for around 11am, weather was slightly cloudy but in good spirits we tried the Red Trail initially with no luck. Pretty poor on all species of Butterfly but there were plenty of Marsh Tits around. After a quick stop-off back at the Van we tried the Green Trail, this was already better with more open spaces and plenty of Brambles, Bugle and Ragged Robin. Around 10 minutes into the Green Trail we spotted a smaller White butterfly. 

Bingo! A Wood White!
Better pictures to come once Wayne has edited his.



We walked a bit further but this was the only Wood White we could locate but great to see nonetheless.

It wouldn't be a Butterfly blog without a few of the common species!

Common Blue



Painted Lady


After a successful trip at Haugh Wood we drove back via Slimbridge for a few hours here.

We started at the Rushy to get some shots of the Green Sandpipers. Within minutes of arriving the Black-Headed Gulls were fighting off a Herring Gull who had taken a Tufted Duck chick. 



The adult Herring Gull carried it onto Peter's Scott roof and the Juvenile gulped the poor thing down in one!




Mum taken the last remaining 6 ducklings to safety.


After all the action, in flew a single Green Sandpiper in perfect light!



 A Grey Heron spotted the Ducklings and tried his luck with no avail.


This Black-Tailed Godwit was also against the lovely green reflection of the water.


When the sun shines, the water gives stunning reflections of the Rushy Pool.



Running out of time we headed for the Holden walkway not alot from the hides along to the Holden Tower. We stopped for a few minutes at the Willow hide as feeders are back up after breeding season. We had 12 species just in this hide along with a Rat and young Rabbit feeding on the dropped seed.

The families of Great Tits and Blue Tits were having a nice dinner on all the seed.


Such cute little Mammals.




 The Mediterranean Gull was still present in the Eider pool feeding with the Black-Headed Gulls.


I suspect he wanted some peace and quite as the Black-Headed Gulls colony were making a right racket fighting for the seed!


We headed back to the Van after a very successful day, here's some final pictures from the day.



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