Feeding Station

A visit to Woolston Eyes nature reserve this morning, both No’3 and No’4 beds.

Although it’s only a 15 minute drive from home and I’m a permit holder I don’t think I’ve been since 2023. I’m going to have to go more often, because it’s a brilliant reserve. The area (which also comprises No’1 and No’ 2 beds, although those are inaccessible) is the former dredging grounds of the adjoining Manchester Ship Canal, and owned by the MSCCo. The whole area is huge, extending from close to the town centre to beyond the M6 Thelwall viaduct. To enter involves a key and padlocks.

I saw lots of butterflies and lots of dragonflies. The breeding black necked grebes were elusive, but I did hear a cuckoo which was a surprise.

The main image is a reed bunting, which was one of two males feeding around a stand of Hogweed. Two extras - comma butterflies (there were three but one flew off as I approached) feeding on what I think is fox scat (every butterfly to their own). A black tailed skimmer - lots of males everywhere, they seemed to like to rest on the ground. And a banded demoiselle staring me out.