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Birding and Nature Group – Ketton Quarries, July 2019
After a weekend of heavy rain, it was a welcome surprise for the Stamford U3A Birding and Nature Group, when 14 members assembled in the car park, at the Ketton Quarries Nature Reserve, SSSI.
Monday morning, 29th July, turned out hot, clear sky, dry and calm. Birds were at an absolute minimum, (many species now in the moulting period)! So, the focus was on flowering plants and the insect populations on the reserve.
The group started in the BBQ area, where butterflies were abundant: Silver Washed Fritillary and Gatekeepers were notable. Meadow Grasshoppers were seen and heard. Everyone then moved on in to ‘The Valley’, which was lush and thick with flowers and bushes. Chiff Chaff warblers could be heard in the trees; identity confirmed by their call-notes. The range of butterflies increased, and included: Ringlets, Meadow Brown, Peacock, Painted Lady, Marbled White, Brown Argus, Brimstone, Large Skipper, and the day flying moths: 6 Spot Burnett. Roesel’s Bush Crickets were heard stridulating in their masses, and many were observed in the vegetation. More Meadow Grasshoppers were seen and photographed; and Field Grasshoppers were also noted. Calls were heard from Green Woodpeckers!
The group then headed back in to Stamford, where a few members had a welcome pub lunch at ‘The London Inn’.
Photographs of the species were taken by Clive Adkin.
Philip Rudkin
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