Patshull Park, Badger, Beckburry, Ryton and Back.

Out on the bike again.

Yellow Iris (Iris pseudacorus).

I got on my bike and headed out of the village along New House Lane, on the way I started the list with Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Common Starling (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulgaris), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Lesser (Curruca Zarcerilla / Sylvia curruca) and Common Whitethroat (Curruca Zarcera / Sylvia communis), Dunnock (Acentor Común / Prunella modularis), a nice male Pheasant (Faisán Vulgar / Phaisanus colchicus), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina) and several singing Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis).

Azure Damselfly (Coenagrion puella).

Azure Damselfly (Coenagrion puella).

I crossed the Shifnal road in to Boningale and then on to the road up to Patshul Estate, as I went through the village I picked up House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula) and a nice male Bullfinch (Camachuelo Común / Pyrrhula pyrrhula).

Common Bluetail ( Ischnura elegans).

Common Bluetail ( Ischnura elegans).

I stopped a couple of times on the way up to the entrance to the Estate, once over looking some fields and again above a small pool adding Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Stock Dove (Paloma Zurita / Columba oenas), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Goldcrest (Regulus regulus), Blue (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus) and Long-tailed Tit (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Pied Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla yarrellii), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita) and Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla).

Dames Violet (Hesperis matronalis).

Once in the park I headed past the house and down towards Lady Barbara's Pool, on the way I heard and saw Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Nuthatch (Trepador Azul / Sitta europaea), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Greylag (Ansar Común / Anser anser) and Canada Geese (Barnacla Canadiense /Branta canadensis).

Wall Mason Wasp (Ancistrocerus parietum)???????

I hid the bike near the dam which divided Lady Barbara's Pool and Church Pool, I walked out on to the dam and later walked around the pool, on the way I found Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Great Crested Grebe (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus), Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax), Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus), Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), a pair of Mute Swans (Cisne Vulgar / Cygnus olor) with Signets. 

Thimbleberry (Rubus parviflorus).

I also saw Azure Damselfly (Coenagrion puella), Red-eyed Damselflies (Erythromma najas), Common Bluetail ( Ischnura elegans), Wall Mason Wasp (Ancistrocerus parietum),  Green-veined White (Pieris napi), Small White (Pieris rapae), Common Nettle (Urtica dioica), Dames Violet (Hesperis matronalis), Cuckoo Flower (Cardamine pratensis), Germander Speedwell (Veronica chamaedrys), Herb Robert (Geranium robertianum), Lesser Stitchwort (Stellaria graminea), Ox-eye Daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare), Thimbleberry (Rubus parviflorus), Red Campion (Silene dioica), Red Clover (Trifolium pratense), White Dead Nettle (Lamium album), Yellow Iris (Iris pseudacorus).

Procumbent Yellow-sorrel (Oxalis corniculata).

I next checked out the Church yard but the care of the place had slipped greatly and it was only being strimmed so all the stunning wildflowers that used to grow there were lost and I only found Ivy-leaved Toadflax (Cymbalaria muralis) and Procumbent Yellow-sorrel (Oxalis corniculata).

I got back on my bike and continued on through the estate to the far entrance and out on to the road to Badger, on the way I saw Yellowhammer (Escribano Cerillo / Emberiza citronella), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs) and Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris).

Ivy-leaved Toadflax (Cymbalaria muralis).

The village was so full of people I just had a drink of water before pushing on, just out of the village I heard the first Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra) I had heard in the UK for some time but it was followed by another and in the end 5 in all.

I continued on through Beckburry, Ryton and then up to the Burnhill Green Road before dropping back down into the Village of Albrighton again, on the way I saw White Campion (Silene latifolia), Wood Forget-me-not (Myosotis sylvatica), Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta), Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus) and Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica).

Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

I made a quick stop at Green Pool but did not add anything to the list except for Amphibious Bistort (Persicaria amphibia).

Pebble Brook Trail, Albrighton, Shropshire.

A wild and windy walk with Harry.

Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax).

Headed out for a walk but the amount of broken branches lying on the track did not look good but we continued on and I spent a while watching 6 Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax) battling or more likely having fun along with some Jackdaws (Grajilla / Corvus monedula) in the high winds. 

Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax).

We did a loop of the fields and were walking back along the brook and suddenly there was a big crack and a huge crash when a very large English Oak (Quercus robur) snapped off in the wind.

Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax).

We decided it was probably a good time to head back as the wind speed and gusts were getting stronger.

The remains of the tree.

Donington and Albrighton Nature Reserve and Humphreston Farm area, Albrighton, Shropshire.

A walk out over the reserve and later the fields.

Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus).

Today I was walking alone as I did not want to take Harry in to the Nature reserve but I need not have worried as dogs by far out numbered people there as did the amount of dog crap and discarded black, pink and green poo bags, NICE.

Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus).

I reached the pool and walked along the path at the side, the first thing I found was a female Beautiful Demoiselle (Calopteryx virgo) but it played hard to get and disappeared straight up one of the Common Lime (Tilia x europaea) trees and did not reappear.

Cinnabar Moth (Tyria jacobaeae).

On the water there were several Mallards (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), a couple of Common Moorhens (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus) as well as a couple of chicks.

Narcissus Bulb Fly (Merodon equestris).

As I walked across to the meadow a Jay (Arrendajo / Garrulus glandarius) flew through the trees, a Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula) was singing from the surrounding stone wall and a couple of Blackbirds (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula) which were feeding on the verge.

Small White (Pieris rapae).

By the gate into the reserve meadow there was a good show of wild flowers including Agimony (Agrimonia eupatoria), Common Bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta), Common Daisy (Bellis perennis), Common Nettle (Urtica dioica), Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata), Cow Parsley (Anthriscus sylvestris), Greater Stitchwort (Stellaria holostea), Green Alkanet (Pentaglottis sempervirens), Red Campion (Silene dioica) and White Dead Nettle (Lamium album).

Common Wasp (Vespula vulgaris).

I entered the reserve and dropped down to the pool by St Cuthberts well where I found Three-cornered Leek (Allium triquetrum), Hart's Tongue Fern (Asplenium scolopendrium), Pendulous Sedge (Carex pendula), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Nuthatch (Trepador Azul / Sitta europaea), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and Dunnock (Acentor Común / Prunella modularis).

Tutsan (Hypericum androsaemum).

I walked out on to the meadow and along to the small pool where I saw a Cinnabar Moth (Tyria jacobaeae), a Common Wasp (Vespula vulgaris) stripping wood off a post for its nest and a Narcissus Bulb Fly (Merodon equestris) but the Pool was quiet so I continued on through the woods seeing several butterfly species including Brimstone (Gonepteryx rhamni), Green-veined (Pieris napi), Large (Pieris brassicae) and Small White (Pieris rapae). 

Common Cleavers (Galium aparine).

Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Stock Dove (Paloma Zurita / Columba oenas), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Long-tailed Tit (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Common Starling (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulgaris) and Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus).

Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea).

I crossed over to the far side and followed the track along the hedgerow back up to the top of the reserve, on the way I met and chatted to James and Michelle before finding Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Common Whitethroat (Curruca Zarcera / Sylvia communis), Dock Bug (Coreus marginatus), Tree Bumblebee (Bombus hypnorum), Hedge Woundwort (Stachys sylvatica), Herb Robert (Geranium robertianum), Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea), Common Cleavers (Galium aparine) and Tutsan (Hypericum androsaemum).

Hoverfly Species.

I continued on up Rectory finding Maidenhair Spleenwort (Asplenium trichomanes) and Wall Rue (Asplenium ruta-muraria) in the wall of the school, a nice male Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris) and in the air Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica) and Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus).

Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris).

I crossed the A41 and walked on down to the first public footpath on the right in Shackerley Lane, on the wy I could hear Skylarks (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis) singing over head, Western Yellow Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava flavissima), a male Lesser Whitethroat (Curruca Zarcerilla / Sylvia curruca) ticking at me from the Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna) hedge but with a bit of patiance i did get a view, Common Comfrey (Symphytum officinale), a female Common Orange-tip (Anthocharis cardamines) and a European Brown Hare (Lepus europaeus) which bolted away as I climbed the stile into the field of Rapeseed (Brassica napus).

Red-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus lapidarius).

The Rape flowers were covered in insects including Red-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus lapidarius), Common Carder Bee (Bombus pascuorum) and lots of Hoverfly Species.

Wall Speedwell (Veronica arvensis).

I crossed Donington Lane and went into the fallowed field opposite which still had quite a few arable weeds growing in it despite there being quite a few sheep in there, these included Field Pansy (Viola arvensis), Wall (Veronica arvensis) and Common Field-speedwell (Veronica persica), Cut-leaved Cranesbill (Geranium dissectum), Lesser Stitchwort (Stellaria graminea), Red Clover (Trifolium pratense), Shepherds Purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris) and Red Dead-nettle (Lamium purpureum).

Lesser Stitchwort (Stellaria graminea).

Down by the pools at the far end of these fields I could see both Canada (Barnacla Canadiense /Branta canadensis) and Greylag Geese (Ansar Común / Anser anser), the latter with Goslings.

Ground Elder (Aegopodium podagraria).

I cut back towards the moat project and out on to the road and walked towards Humphreston Farm adding Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Yellowhammer (Escribano Cerillo / Emberiza citronella), Pied Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla yarrellii) and a family party of Long-tailed Tits (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus).

Common Orange-tip (Anthocharis cardamines).

I continued on around to the woods where I heard and then had views of a couple of the Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax), got buzzed and slightly freaked out by a more attentive European Hornet (Vespa crabro) than I would have liked and saw the tiny but smart wasp type thing Tenthredo temula. On the verge there was lots of Ground Elder (Aegopodium podagraria) and Meadow Buttercup (Ranunculus acris) with several Early Bumblebees (Bombus pratorum) on them collecting nectar.

Tenthredo temula.

I made my way back along the lane to the A41 but apart from Tree Bumblebee (Bombus hypnorum) and a pair of soaring Common Buzzards (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo) I did not see anything new.

Long-tailed Tit (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus).

Early Bumblebee (Bombus pratorum).

Early Bumblebee (Bombus pratorum).

Tree Bumblebee (Bombus hypnorum).

Humphreston Farm area, Albrighton, Shropshire.

A good local scarcity.

Red Kite (Milano Real / Milvus milvus).

I crossed the A41 whilst taking Harry out for a walk and almost immideatly connected with a very smart if not slightly high Red Kite (Milano Real / Milvus milvus) which soared above me for a minute before heading off above the village and away.  

Red Kite (Milano Real / Milvus milvus).

During the walk I did not record a great deal today as not really in the mood but did see a female Azure Damselfly (Coenagrion puella) and Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax).

Azure Damselfly (Coenagrion puella).

Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax).

Donington and Albrighton Nature Reserve and Green Pond, Albrighton, Shropshire.

First Damsels of the year.

Stock Dove (Paloma Zurita / Columba oenas).

I walked down to the nature reserve through the village, on the way I had House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Common Starling (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulgaris) and Common Mallow (Malva sylvestris).

Hedgerow Cranesbill (Geranium pyrenaicum).

From the path around the edge of the pool I saw Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita) and out on the first part of the meadow Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), Dunnock (Acentor Común / Prunella modularis), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus).

Large Red Damselfly (Pyrrhosoma nymphula).

There were plenty of wildflowers including Common Bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta), Annual Mercury (Mercurialis annua), Hedgerow Cranesbill (Geranium pyrenaicum), Agimony (Agrimonia eupatoria), Red Clover (Trifolium pratense), Meadow Buttercup (Ranunculus acris), Pendulous Sedge (Carex pendula), Common Daisy (Bellis perennis), Common Nettle (Urtica dioica), Lesser Stitchwort (Stellaria graminea), Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata), Green Alkanet (Pentaglottis sempervirens), Ground Ivy (Glechoma hederacea), Hedge Woundwort (Stachys sylvatica), Cow Parsley (Anthriscus sylvestris), Cuckoo Flower (Cardamine pratensis), Horse Chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum), Red Campion (Silene dioica), Three-cornered Leek (Allium triquetrum) and White Dead Nettle (Lamium album).

Azure Damselflies (Coenagrion puella).

I next checked the small pool and found at least 3 Large Red Damselflies (Pyrrhosoma nymphula) two males and a female and a pair of Azure Damselflies (Coenagrion puella) in tandem, the first Damsels of the year for me.

Cardinal Beetle (Pyrochroa serraticornis).

There were lots of tadpoles in the pool as well which I think must be from Common Frog (Rana temporaria) and there were also several Three-spined Sticklebacks (Gasterosteus aculeatus) sturring up the mud.

Three-spined Stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus).

In the woods I found Small White (Pieris rapae), Common Orange-tip (Anthocharis cardamines), Brimstone (Gonepteryx rhamni), Cardinal Beetle (Pyrochroa serraticornis), Dock Bug (Coreus marginatus), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Stock Dove (Paloma Zurita / Columba oenas), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Nuthatch (Trepador Azul / Sitta europaea) and Common Whitethroat (Curruca Zarcera / Sylvia communis).

Dock Bug (Coreus marginatus).

I walked up through the village again and then up to Green Pond in Crossroads where I again found Azure Damsels but nothing else new so I returned to the house.

Snail Species.

Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae) cataerpillars.

Beetle Species.