What looked very much like a Purple Hairstreak in the canopy of the ancient oak by the Moat Pool. Fri 12th Jul '24.
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Timperley life list c. 89 (ish). Barn Owl 4.11.19, Green Sand 27.8.19, Little Egret 13.2.19, ringtail harrier sp 20.10.18, Fawn Yawn 15.10.18, Grasshopper Warbler 15.4.16, Tree Pipit 13.4.16, Yellowhammer 5.4.15, Hobby May '11, Wigeon Dec '10
Nice walk in Dunham Massey on Weds, saw a hornet flying across the path right at back of deer park towards the wall that separates the park from farmland. Couldn't see if it was carrying any food so don't know if it was coming or going to/from nest.
It appears my identification of the solitary wasp was incorrect and actually not a wasp at all but a type of Sphecodes bee species! Often called Blood Bees according to Wikipedia. Many thanks to Andy Bisset for educating me !
Walk from Bridgewater Canal bridge along R. Bollin to A56 and back:
Butterflies: Highlight for me was finding a number of Purple Hairstreak Butterflies in oak trees on the edge of the park wall. Its years since Ive seen this species! Meadow Brown - lots Gatekeeper Comma Red Admiral Small Tortoishell
Dragons & Damsels: Large numbers of Banded Demoiselles- fantastic to see Blue-tailed Damselfly Common Blue Damselfly 3 Black-tailed Skimmer- on canal
Other insects: 1 Hornet A small colony of a solitary wasps which, after a bit of research, I think Ive identified as Astata boops. But open to more expert opinion.
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Monday 2nd of July 2018 10:12:57 PM
