Gronant - 21 Jun 23

Today I paid a visit to Gronant, near Prestatyn on the North Wales coast to view the Little Tern colony. The birds nest on the sandy beach. The site is managed by Denbighshire Countryside Service who employ knowledgeable wardens to interact with visitors and attend to the security fencing which prevents predators and errant dogs gaining access.

Here are a few images. An un-forecast shower gave me a soaking on the walk out. Presumably as a result the camera gave me a series of incomprehensible error messages that, thankfully, did not seem to affect the results.

Nearly there after a long trek along a boardwalk from the village.

Starting with a randomly chosen set of flying birds. Black-tipped yellow bill and white forehead on otherwise black cap characterises this species.

One carrying a fish.

And another. A single fish is carried, always held at the head end.

Just visible is the ring on the left leg. All the birds are ringed and regularly monitored.

The ring perhaps more visible here. A few battered feathers in the wings of this one.

This species, like many terns, can be quite feisty if you get too close. It seems a few birds are nesting in the dunes and make their presence known.

Another passing.

And another.

One going the other way for a change.

They are noisy too, though walk a 100 yards / metres away and they are barely audible.

Another going the other way.

Two adults, one with a fish, stand on the sand in the colony. A few boxes are provided for nest (most nests are on the sand). Two juveniles can be seen at the entrance to the box.

 "Feed me! feed me!"

"Oh! Fish!. My favourite!"

Other things seen and photographed:

A Grey Heron.

A few pairs of Oystercatchers share the sand with the terns.

Meadow Pipits display in the dunes and...

...hunt in the grassy areas for insects...

...to feed to their brood.

A battered and faded Red Admiral butterfly (Vanessa atalanta)

In the dunes were many Pyramidal Orchid (Anacamptis pyramidalis) here with some spiky Sea Holly (Eryngium planum) just visible.

 These sprawling golden flowers are Lady's Bedstraw (Galium verum).

My PlantNet app told me this was possibly Spiny Rest-harrow (Ononis spinosa). My Flora notes it is often found near the coast. So it probably is.

Prees Heath - 15 Jun 23

Today on a warm and sunny afternoon I visited the Butterfly Conservation owned Prees Heath Common Reserve. I found that the iconic Silver-studded Blue butterflies had emerged and were abundant. They will be around for the next couple of weeks. Well worth a visit for these and much else besides.

Here are a few images from my visit.

A peaceful place despite being near the meeting of the A41 and A49 just south of Whitchurch.

A male feeding on Ling, also known as Common Heather (Calluna vulgaris). This plant is vital for the survival of the butterfly, here at its only remaining Midland site.

Males vastly out-numbered females.

Here is one female

And the only other female I found with its wings open.

Another stunning male.

This male feeding is on a Blackberry flower (Rubus sp.).

Another individual tucks in showing the underside. Males and females are difficult to separate from below.

One of these is, I assume, a male and the other a female. I surmise that the lower butterfly with the blue tone around the base of the wings is probably the male. It is therefore the female that shows the 'silver studs' - the small blue marks toward the wing-tip that can sparkle when caught by the light.

Another underside view.

And again.

I spent most of my time pursuing the butterflies. I was distracted by this grasshopper in an Ox-eye daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare). I am not an expert in grasshoppers and their 'song' is the easiest guide. This one was quiet. The habitat makes it quite likely to be a Common Field Grasshopper (Chorthippus brunneus).

Also feeding on the Ling was this Honey Bee (Apis mellifera). Now where would I find the heather honey?

There are many special plants on the heath. This however is a widespread species but who could resist a Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea).

(Ed Wilson)