Common Pipistrelle Roost

Video Footage of the Common Pipistrelle maternity roost emergence at the Inn at Whitewell on June 18th 2009

621 Common Pipistrelles were counted during the emergence by members of East Lancs Bat group. Up to 5 other species of bat were recorded during the evening including soprano pipistrelle, Daubentons, Noctule, brown long-eared and another myotis species - possibly natterers.

Warton Crag, 16th June

Spent a very pleasant morning in warm and sunny weather at Warton Crag. Small heath and Northern Brown Argus butterflies were present in good numbers. Bird highlights included a couple of singing lesser whitethroats, 5 buzzard overhead and a peregrine in the quarry.

A quick visit to Leighton main reserve to check if the Great White Egret was out of hiding proved to be predictably fruitless.

All photos below taken on Warton crag.


Small heath


Small heath


Small heath


Northern Brown Argus


Northern Brown Argus



Northern Brown Argus


Northern Brown Argus


Cinnabar


Yellow shell moth

Bowland Fells

I've spent a quite a few days in the Bowland Fells this month getting off the beaten track. I've been encouraged by the numbers of raptors that I've seen with regular sightings of peregrine, hen harrier, merlin and buzzard (can't say where exactly for obvious reasons). It also good to seen ravens increasing in Bowland, due no doubt to lower levels of persecution. I do wonder what the success of the raptors and ravens will mean for other moorland birds; there are no ring ouzels in the white greet area for example (although they are doing ok in other areas) and a regular quarry nest site in area is now occupied by ravens but with the ring ouzels absent for the first time in years. Could be chance, but maybe not.

This gorgeous whinchat and raven were both in the White Greet area. The grey wagtail and green hairstreak were at Cross of Greeet Bridge.