Around the Albrighton area.

Just a few Photo's.

Not much done but here are a few shots from the week in Shropshire UK. Now looking forward to getting back to the Spanish Wildlife.

Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae).

Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria).

Yellowhammer (Escribano Cerillo / Emberiza citronella).

Yellowhammer (Escribano Cerillo / Emberiza citronella).

Hogweed (Heracleum sphondylium).

Hoverfly Species.

Scorpion Fly (Panorpa communis).

Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris).

Early Bumblebee (Bombus pratorum).

Early Bumblebee (Bombus pratorum).

Hoverfly / Dronefly Species.

Humphreston Farm Area, Albrighton, Shropshire.

A walk with Harry trying but failing to dodge the rain.

Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria).

I got up this morning hoping for a decent day as I was planning to get on the Bike again and meet friends John and Sharon at Belvide Res but after seeing the rain I messaged John to say I would not be going. As sorry as I was not to meet up with them I am glad I did not go as I would have got well and truly soaked and probably blown off the bake on the way back.

Tree Bumblebee (Bombus hypnorum).

I stayed in for the morning but after lunch the showers became less frequent so I took Harry out for a walk but the further we went the stronger the wind got so I did not really see very much of interest. 

Here are a few shots from the walk.

Ravens (Cuervo / Corvus corax).

Hoverfly species.

Fungi up an Oak tree.

Pied Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla yarrellii).

Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris).

Hoverfly species.

Green Pool and Green Lane, Albrighton, Shropshire.

Out looking for Corn Buntings again.

Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

I started off again with a look at Green Pool but on the dragon front I only saw 20 or so Azure Damselflies (Coenagrion puella) but nothing else. 

Common Blue Damselflie (Enallagma cyathinerum).

Around the pool I also saw Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Dunnock (Acentor Común / Prunella modularis), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula) and Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus).

Large Skipper (Ochlodes sylvanus).

I walked up Elm road hearing a singing male Corn Buntings (Triguero / Emberiza calandra) behind the farm and then turned into Green Lane, just passed the Windmill I found the second pair still up on the wires and just up the road on the bends the third male was also still on his wire singing.

Large Skipper (Ochlodes sylvanus).

I turned around and then went out on to the footpaths around the fields, on the way I had a four male bird singing from the far hedgerow and on a sunny corner with some brambles I had the first Large Skipper (Ochlodes sylvanus) and Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina) of the year. 

Black Bryony (Dioscorea communis).

Along the edge of the Irrigation pool there were several more Azure Damsels as well as some Common Blue Damselflies (Enallagma cyathinerum) and lots of Black Bryony (Dioscorea communis).

Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae).

Out on the pool I was surprised to find a pair of nest building Great Crested Grebes (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus), a single Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), 10+ Mallards (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos) and a single Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus).

Great Crested Grebe (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus).

I walked further up the field and heard a sixth Corn Bunting singing from a dead tree along the Lane. As I walked back along the lane I had Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria), Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae), Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas), Small White (Pieris rapae), a nice patch of Corn Poppies (Papaver rhoeas), Tree Bumblebee (Bombus hypnorum) and Harlequin Ladybird (Harmonia axyridis).  

Corn Poppies (Papaver rhoeas).

Pied Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla yarrellii), a covey of young Pheasants (Faisán Vulgar / Phaisanus colchicus) which crossed the track ahead of me, House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Yellowhammer (Escribano Cerillo / Emberiza citronella), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) and Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto) were also seen on the walk back to the village

Harlequin Ladybird (Harmonia axyridis). 

Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas).

Donington and Albrighton Nature Reserve, Shackerly Lane and Humphreston Farm Area, Albrighton, Shropshire.

A warm morning walk.

Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula).

After popping round to see my Mom and sitting out in the Garden taking a few shots of the birds coming to the feeds, mostly Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Common Starling (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulgaris) and House Sparrows (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), I carried on down to the Donington and Albrighton Nature Reserve. 

Common Starling (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulgaris).

I did not stay very long as it was very busy, noisy and i got fed up of dodging the piles of dog mess everywhere, whilst there I did see Narcissus Bulb Fly (Merodon equestris), Azure Damselfly (Coenagrion puella), Common Mallow (Malva sylvestris), Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea), Honeysuckle (Lonicera periclymenum), Ox-eye Daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare), Red Campion (Silene dioica), Tutsan (Hypericum androsaemum), Yellow Iris (Iris pseudacorus), male Thick-legged Flower Beetle (Oedemera nobilis), Small White (Pieris rapae), Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Pied Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla yarrellii), Long-tailed Tit (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis).

Common Starling (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulgaris).

I walked up the lane towards the A41 and just before reaching the railway I checked an area of Bramble scrub seeing Common Carder (Bombus pascuorum), Tree (Bombus hypnorum) and Early Bumblebees (Bombus pratorum), Common Whitethroat (Curruca Zarcera / Sylvia communis), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto) and Dunnock (Acentor Común / Prunella modularis).

Narcissus Bulb Fly (Merodon equestris).

Across the A41 I found Common Comfrey (Symphytum officinale), Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis), Yellowhammer (Escribano Cerillo / Emberiza citronella), Western Yellow Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava flavissima), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica) and Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica).

Male Thick-legged Flower Beetle (Oedemera nobilis).

On my way along the edge of a large Rape field I found large numbers worker Red-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus lapidarius), another yet unidentified Bumblebee species, lots of Small Tortoiseshells, Pheasant (Faisán Vulgar / Phaisanus colchicus), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo) and  Lesser Whitethroat (Curruca Zarcerilla / Sylvia curruca).

Moth Species.

I did a loop around passed Donington farm seeing  Greylag Geese (Ansar Común / Anser anser), Stock Dove (Paloma Zurita / Columba oenas), Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax) and Lesser Black-backed Gull (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) before crossing back over the A41 and going back through the village.

Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea).

Early Bumblebee (Bombus pratorum).

Early Bumblebee (Bombus pratorum).

Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae).

Red-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus lapidarius).

Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes).

Green Lane, Holyhead Road, Kennel Lane and Bowlingreen Lane, Albrighton, Shropshire.

In search of Corn Buntings on my temporary Local Patch.

Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

I started off by paying a quick visit to Green Pond where I started off the list with good numbers of

Azure Damselflies (Coenagrion puella) at least 100 or so, Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Dunnock (Acentor Común / Prunella modularis), Common Starling (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulgaris), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos) and Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula).

I walked up along Elm Road and then took Green Lane up passed Windmill Lane but not before I got a brief view of a nice plumaged Red Kite (Milano Real / Milvus milvus) as it was being mobbed by a couple of Carrion Crows (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone).

Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

I went passed the Windmill and on one of the telegraph poles I had the first of at least 3 singing male Corn Buntings (Triguero / Emberiza calandra) which I was very pleased to find after getting a tip off from friends Elise and Steve O'donnel, Elise had thought she had heard one but was not sure so I thought I would check it out.

Whilst I was watching the male the female flew up as well as well, just a bit further along the lane a second bird was call from wires and at the far end of the lane a third bird was on the top of a dead tree singing.

As I walked up the Lane I also saw Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), Dunnock (Acentor Común / Prunella modularis), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis), Pheasant (Faisán Vulgar / Phaisanus colchicus), Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria), Small White (Pieris rapae) and a rather tatty Peacock (Aglais io).

I took one of the footpaths over the fields down to a large irrigation lake used by Austin Roses for their plants where I found a few Mallards (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), a single Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus) and a couple of Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus). 

Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo).

In the same area I also had Yellowhammer (Escribano Cerillo / Emberiza citronella), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina) and Common Whitethroat (Curruca Zarcera / Sylvia communis).

I walked out on to the Holyhead Road and then down Kennel Lane, on the way I found White Campion (Silene latifolia), Yarrow (Achillea millefolium), Ox-eye Daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare),
Hedge Woundwort (Stachys sylvatica), Greater Stitchwort (Stellaria holostea), Pied Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla yarrellii), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Common Starling (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulgaris), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs) and just before it joined Bowlingreen Lane I had several Rabbits (Conejo / Oryctolagus cuniculus).

I walked up Bowlingreen Lane but saw just Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) as I spent most of the time dodging pensioners driving down the Lane thinking David Austin Roses was Open. I walked back up throught the village and then to the house.

Humphreston Farm area and Green Pond, Albrighton Shropshire.

A morning walk with Harry and then a quick visit to Green Pond.

Tree Bumblebee (Bombus hypnorum).

I walked with Harry across the A41 and up towards Humphreston Farm, on the way I saw Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Dunnock (Acentor Común / Prunella modularis), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Small White (Pieris rapae), Harlequin Ladybird (Harmonia axyridis), 14-spotted ladybird (Propylea quatuordecimpunctata), Tree Bumblebee (Bombus hypnorum), Early Bumblebee (Bombus pratorum), Common Daisy (Bellis perennis), Common Nettle (Urtica dioica), Cow Parsley (Anthriscus sylvestris), Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea), Greater Stitchwort (Stellaria holostea) and Ground Elder (Aegopodium podagraria). 

Harlequin Ladybird (Harmonia axyridis).

14-spotted ladybird (Propylea quatuordecimpunctata).

I turned left and went along to the moat project and then across the fields back to the farm adding Hedge Woundwort (Stachys sylvatica), Honeysuckle (Lonicera periclymenum), Red Campion (Silene dioica), Herb Robert (Geranium robertianum), Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata), Germander Speedwell (Veronica chamaedrys), Ground Ivy (Glechoma hederacea), Yellow-tail (Euproctis similis) moth caterpillar, Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria), a very tatty Peacock (Aglais io), Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae), Azure Damselfly (Coenagrion puella), Yellowhammer (Escribano Cerillo / Emberiza citronella), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Long-tailed Tit (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Pied Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla yarrellii), Greylag Geese (Ansar Común / Anser anser), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Common Whitethroat (Curruca Zarcera / Sylvia communis), Common Starling (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulgaris), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita) and Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone).

Yellow-tail (Euproctis similis) moth caterpillar.

I turned around and walked back to the farm and the off towards the wood where I bumped into Steve and Elise and had a cht for a while. On the way and whilst being stood I heard and saw Lesser Whitethroat (Curruca Zarcerilla / Sylvia curruca), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus) and as I went up to thend of the road several Stock Doves (Paloma Zurita / Columba oenas).

Honeysuckle (Lonicera periclymenum).

I again retraced my way back to the A41 finding Wasp beetle (Clytus arietis), Ashy Mining-bee (Andrena cineraria) and Honey Bee (Apis mellifera) before dropped back to the house. 

Hoverfly Species.

Later I went out on my own and walked up to Green Pond in Crossroads where I checked around for Dragons. There were lots, possibly 60+ Azure Damselflies, a couple of male Large Red Damselflies (Pyrrhosoma nymphula) and a single male Broad-bodied Chaser (Libellula depressa). 

Honey Bee (Apis mellifera).

There were a few other insects whizzing around but I only got a shot of a Hoverfly Species before I headed Back.

Wasp beetle (Clytus arietis).

Ashy Mining-bee (Andrena cineraria).

Broad-bodied Chaser (Libellula depressa).

Broad-bodied Chaser (Libellula depressa).

Azure Damselfly (Coenagrion puella).

Azure Damselfly (Coenagrion puella).

Another Hoverfly Species.