Humphreston Farm area, Alrighton, Shropshire.

Out for a walk with Harry.

On the edge of the Shower.

A couple of shot from the walk with Harry tonight whilst dodging the showers, mostly successfully.

5 minutes later.

Harry's bad hair day whilst drying out.

Priorslee Lake, Telford, Shropshire.

A couple of hours out of the village birding.

Mute Swans (Cisne Vulgar / Cygnus olor) the hole Family.

It was great to get out of the village area for a couple of hours this morning and to do a loop of the lake just off junction 4 of the M54. I walked clockwise round from the lay-by at the Western end, I crossed the grass area and out to the track by the water and had my first scan of the area and as expected it was quiet. 

Mute Swan (Cisne Vulgar / Cygnus olor) the Male.

I found a pair of Mute Swans (Cisne Vulgar / Cygnus olor) with 5 cygnets, good numbers of Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), at least 4 Great Crested Grebes (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos) but nothing else out on the water. Along the margins there was a single Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), several Common Moorhens (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus) and out on the grass and in the bushes Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Common Starling (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulgaris), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula) and down under the trees along the motorway 3 Jays (Arrendajo / Garrulus glandarius).

Mute Swan (Cisne Vulgar / Cygnus olor) the Female.

I walked through the first area of bushes out into the grassy area with a few Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna) bushes and area of scrub with lots of Blackthrorn (Prunus spinosa) mixed in with the Hawthorns. 

Mute Swans (Cisne Vulgar / Cygnus olor) the Kids.

In the same area I found hundreds of adult and freshly emerged Common Blue Damselflies (Enallagma cyathinerum) as well as 20+ Common Bluetail ( Ischnura elegans), 10+ Red-eyed Damselfly (Erythromma najas) as well as a few Small Whites (Pieris rapae), Small Tortoiseshells (Aglais urticae) and a couple of Ringlets (Aphantopus hyperantus).

Common Blue Damselfly (Enallagma cyathinerum) Male.

There were also a few plants of the uncommon but rather dangerous Giant Hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum) and quite a nice show of a couple of dozen Common Spotted Orchids (Dactylorhiza fuchsii) most of which were standard looking plants but there were a few which were purpler and possibly have a tad of a Marsh Orchid in them somewhere.

Common Blue Damselfly (Enallagma cyathinerum) Female.

In the reed-mace along the margin I heard and saw several Reed Warblers (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus), a fine looking Reed Bunting (Escribano Palustre / Emberiza schoeniclus) which sang for ages but it took me ages to actually see it.

Common Blue Damselfly (Enallagma cyathinerum) Mating pair.

In the bushes I added Common Whitethroat (Curruca Zarcera / Sylvia communis), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita) as I was about to move on further around towards the Boat launching area a Common Tern (Charrán Común / Sterna hirudo) flew in from the west and continued on straight out to the East.

Common Blue Damselfly (Enallagma cyathinerum) emerging insect.

Around by the boat launch they were getting ready to take the kids out sailing so it was a bit noisy but I did find Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus) and lots more Common Spotted Orchids.

Giant Hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum).

Along the path way towards the village I started to find a few woodland species including family parties of both Blue (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus) and Long-tailed Tit (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), a pair of Bullfinches (Camachuelo Común / Pyrrhula pyrrhula), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus) and a noisy singing Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes),

Common Spotted Orchids (Dactylorhiza fuchsii).

Ringlet (Aphantopus hyperantus).

Common Spotted Orchids (Dactylorhiza fuchsii).

I turned along the track down the Northern edge of the lake and in the first cleaning had a very smart Comma (Polygonia c-album) butterfly as well as a Large Skipper (Ochlodes sylvanus), Red-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus lapidarius) and a singing Garden Warbler (Curruca Mosquitera / Sylvia borin).

Common Spotted Orchids (Dactylorhiza fuchsii) or Hybrid with Marsh Orchid species.

I continued on along the Northern shore and added  Coal (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater) and  Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Dunnock (Acentor Común / Prunella modularis), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Common Treecreeper (Agateador Norteño / Certhia familiaris) and Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria).

Comma (Polygonia c-album).

I turned right at the end of the Northern edge of the pool and walked back across the dam and on to the Southern side again, on the way seeing more Reed Warblers, the Mute Swan family, Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus) and 5 Rooks (Graja /  Corvus frugilegus) which flew in towards the lake from the fields but turned around before arriving.

Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris).

I walked back to the area of grassland on the western side of the lake but it was not as quiet as there was a prat encouraging his dogs to swim after the ducks and grebes and then photographing them, unfortunately he saw nothing wrong with it but after giving me a barrage of foul mouthed abuse he went back over onto Priorslee.

Large Skipper (Ochlodes sylvanus).

I continued looking for insects and on dry land I soon found Thick-legged Flower Beetle (Oedemera nobilis), Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta), Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris), Common Carder Bee (Bombus pascuorum), Honey Bee (Apis mellifera) and out over the water a female Black-tailed Skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum) as well as both male and female Blue / Common Emperor (Anax imperator) but the female stayed way out on the floating reeds and avoided the camera.

Thick-legged Flower Beetle (Oedemera nobilis).

On the water after the pillock with the dogs had gone and the birds settled back down a family of Eurasian Coots came out and started to feed on the floating weed where the Red-eyed Daselflies were chasing each other around.

Common Carder Bee (Bombus pascuorum).

One of the Blue Damsels out on the water sat for long enough for me to see it was a male Azure Damselfly (Coenagrion puella) which was mixed in with the much more abundant Common Blue Damsels.

Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus).

Just before I got my lift back to the Village with Julia I added Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo) and on one of the light at the layby a Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto).

Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta).

Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra).

Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra).

Lesser Black-backed Gull (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus).

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).