A Tentative Start

 

Voles at the wood yard and at White Lion Meadow

water vole latrine and feeding

brimstone butterfly

green tiger beetle

common lizard

green hairstreak butterfly

First water vole of 2025, at the Wood Yard

 

Interestingly, no field signs yet apart from two possible burrows.

Subtle Signs

 

Speckled Woods

Small Tortoiseshell

Small Heath

Skipper

Ringlet

Clouded Border moth

Meadow browns. The brighter-coloured one is the male.

common lizard

Grayling

Feeding signs and droppings at Edward German Drive.

Stones used as latrines at the timber yard.

Comma butterfly

 

yellowhammer above, yellow wagtail below

latrine on a brick

White Lion Meadow water voles

dead tiger beetle I found on Whixall Moss

female stonechat and large heath butterfly, both Whixall Moss

from top to bottom: four-spotted chaser, female white-faced darter, large red damselfly, male banded demoiselle, female banded demoiselle

below, red admiral and brimstone butterfly

Cuckoo!

 male cuckoo, Whixall Moss

juvenile moorhen, Montgomery

Recommend this small nature reserve with a fantastic hide. Lots of odonata! I parked at the lovely Canal Central Cafe  , then walked half an hour down the canal, seeing and hearing many birds. This is a flat, easy walk and the cafe is wheelchair-accessible.

male (top) and female (bottom) Beautiful Demoiselles

drinker moth caterpillar

ragged robin

kestrel

cuckoo again, with the characteristic wing position

below, various White Lion Meadow water voles

merry family of starlings