Time: 07:20-09:20
Weather: sunny intervals, light cloud, calm, 13ºC rising to 17ºC
These reports are predominantly about the birdlife of the reserve but this week I must mention Painted Lady butterflies. Twice in the last eighteen years we have seen an incredible influx of Painted Ladies (including an estimated 11 million in 2009). There have been early indications in the last week or two that this might be another bumper year for them and happily our reserve and the canal are hosting good numbers of them already. So if you visit Fairfield Nature Reserve keep an eye out for these attractive butterflies. 38 bird species were noted.
- A tractor was spraying crops in Flora Field which disturbed one of the resident Brown Hares. An Oystercatcher was also circling and calling overhead, a possible sign that they might be nesting this year. A Moorhen was also present on the small pool by Aldcliffe Road.
- The Great Spotted Woodpeckers were again very active in Pony Wood where a female Whitethroat was a surprise visitor, possibly mated with the male who is still singing along Long Pads. Chiffchaff and Blackcap were also singing in the wood and a Grey Squirrel was also present. A Speckled Wood butterfly was seen near Little Wood.
- A Nuthatch was calling in the orchard along with singing Blackcap and Chiffchaff. A Grey Heron flew north-east overhead.
- Over Big Meadow, probably the same skein of 11 Greylags were seen as last week, heading west. A Pair of Mallards were on Alder Pond.
- The Cetti’s Warbler is still singing in Upper Sower Holme where a Reed Warbler could also be heard from the footpath. The second male Whitethroat was also present in the hedgerow alongside Hay Meadow.
- Along the canal, at least 10 Painted Ladies were present, many of them just across the road from Flora Field. A Speckled Wood was also present. A Goldcrest was singing near Haverbreaks Bridge and the pair of Mute Swans with 2 cygnets were still present.