8th July 2017 - mostly sunny, 24C, light breeze

Brandon Marsh; An afternoon visit to Brandon Marsh, especially for butterflies and Dragonflies.  Initially I headed off to the tip and meadows areas.  The tip area was very dry and ground vegetation showing signs of a lack of water, not surprising given all the dry weather recently.  First sighting was a Cinnabar moth caterpillar feeding on Ragwort, it invests toxins from this plant that makes it unpleasant to predators. A very good number of the common butterflies and Burnet moths was found, including Gatekeeper, Common Blue and Comma.   A large number of Banded Damoiselles were on the wing and mating.  there were plenty of Dragonflies near the river and marshes but generally to quick or far to get an identity, Broad-bodied Chasers and  Black-tailed Skimmers were numerous plus others.

A Hobby and Buzzard were circling overhead. On the end Marsh in the dead trees 4 juvenile Kestrels were present being watched over by their parents.  On east marsh Lapwings were numerous, 2 Little-ringed And 1 Ringed Plover were present.  Duck numbers were seemingly low, a few Tufted and Mallard, with 2 Teal on the river pool.  Common Terns were still feeding youngsters on the rafts.  Both Green and Great-spotted Woodpeckers were heard and seen a number of times.