It is at these times most birders change tack to winged creatures of other types. Perhaps some of the most stunning at the moment are the longhorn beetles. Thanks to Glyn Hudson for these great macro shots of the golden bloomed grey Agapanthea villosoviridescens :
Jeff Barker too has some more pictures on Flickr of them and their cousin rutpela maculata. Traditionally Martin Hodges Wildlife blog has been a great source if info on some of the less conventional species at Tophill. Regular fans may be interested to know it is morphing into the 'new site' which is viewable in construction here.
Thanks to Dave Ruffles for this of southern hawker - hopefully something we'll see more of these as the weather supposedly warms up:
Along with more butterflies - ringlet (DR):
And large skipper (DR):
Ringlet (BS):
Meadow brown (BS):
Some of the first this year of marbled white (BS):
And as yet virtually unseen as far as we know - peacock - though a way off flying:
Thanks to Erich too for these of six spot burnet in South Scrub:
And Mystacides longicornis - a caddisfly:
Along with garden tiger moth on the warden's base:
David Ware too has some great pictures of some of the small mammals about too on his blog. Otters present occasionally on North Marsh still too.
There are though a few birds present. Green sandpiper is still the advance party of the yet to start in proper autumn passage. Singles seen on the 13th, 16th, 17th and today. Common sandpiper too on the 10th, with a dunlin on the 15th and whimbrel on the 10th. Unfortunately the avocets seem to have stumbled. Only one chick was seen at the beginning of this week and none at all for the last two days - hopefully they are still in the undergrowth. Still plenty of caterwauling from North Marsh and the rail family however.
Keep an eye out on the wetlands for waders though. We dropped the levels on the southern marshes last night for the first time this summer. Likewise we have lowered Hempholme meadows and are currently cutting back the vegetation. Thanks to Emma Haiselden for these pictures of the tailless pheasant enjoying the subsequent bounty:
Kingfisher again showed today on north marsh fleetingly. Vince Cowell has some pictures on his site and thanks to Andrew Atkinson for these pictures from last week:
Visit Andrew's site here.
Returning raptors include osprey on the 18th over Hempholme and disturbingly the first hen harrier of autumn - a ring tail on the 15th; not seeming long since they left for summer. Likewise now 5 great crested grebes on O res an ominous sign - we often get up to 50 appearing here after breeding season.
Hobby was still on the access road this morning.
