Survey Work

We did a routine survey of the Greenfields nature reserve, Whitchurch Country Park, and found stacks of water vole burrows, plenty of feeding especially on nettles, plenty of droppings and tracks. It looks as thought the population there continues strong and healthy.

Meanwhile the water voles down Edgeley Road are active. I saw three last night, two of whom had a bit of a spat over possession of a burrow.

Bank Holiday Box of Delights

 Common lizard, Whixall Moss. Below, a Willow Warbler being ringed.

 Wonderful adder!

 Emperor Moths

 Garden Tiger Moth, Prees Heath

 Sedge Warbler, Whixall Moss

White Lion Meadow vole.

Amazing Adder

Hugely exciting encounter on Wem Moss this morning as a young male adder slid across our path and then sat and basked on the bank while we took photos. It was lovely to see how relaxed the snake was, flattening itself out to catch maximum warmth from the sun. Because it was fairly small (see bottom photo) I assume this was only a juvenile. I wouldn't think it was much bigger than about 40cm. Needless to say, I've reported it via https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sunbird.arc

Winding Down, with Adders

Above, droppings, and below, very clear water vole prints.

I've been to the brook several times this last week and seen nothing, though the voles are definitely around - there are as many prints and droppings as ever. I know from past years this is a usual pattern, though, and sightings-wise, I probably won't get much now till next spring.

Still, it's been a cracking year for wildlife here, with good numbers of water vole signs around the usual sites, plenty of hedgehogs, and for the first time in my life I've seen slow worms and adders. The slow worms were in Ravenscar, but the adders were over in Staffordshire, just over the border. I had a guide with me as I wouldn't have known where to look, and he showed me and my son the right spots where snakes like to bask. We were privileged to find two individual females, plus several common lizards including this dark juvenile (apparently young common lizards are nearly black).

Also saw my first holly blue butterfly, my first drinker moth, my first sexton beetle and my first tiger beetle. None of these is rare, but it's nice when you get a personal first.