In late July, when we were in Speyside, the temperature hit a record 31C on two days.It was only then that we realised that from a wildlife point of view not much happens in extreme heat – even the Ospreys stopped fishing! However,extreme heat is good for one form of wildlife – Dragonflies and Chasers. So I spent an enjoyable couple of hours filming dozens of Four Spotted Chasers that had made a small pond in the forest their home.
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Last weeks blog was all about this years orange-eyed Long Eared Owls so this week it is the turn of the yellow-eyed Short Eared Owls. Two different males are included in the gallery photos on my Facebook page and with Shorties the face of the male goes whiter with age and the eyes a deeper yellow. Sadly because Shorties are more active diurnally than Longies and hunt along moorland roads they are more vulnerable to passing traffic. I know of two Shorties that have been killed on my local moors in the last five years – a sad end to a spectacular Owl. www.facebook.com/gordonyateswildlife
It is now more than 15years since I started the weekly blog in 2007. So here we are 780 entries later and this Spring something happened that I have waited all those years for – to film a hunting male Short Eared Owl in the morning followed by a hunting male Long Eared Owl in the evening – surely the ultimate Pennine challenge. Not only did it happen this Spring but it happened three times in one week! So this week we will celebrate with photos of two different male Long Eared Owls followed next week by a male Short Eared Owl – take your pick from the extensive galleries on my Facebook page. www.facebook.com/gordonyateswildlife
Last years survey of breeding butterflies in Greater Manchester claims there are now no Wall butterflies present. It is a butterfly that thrives in hot, sunny weather and last week conditions were perfect to go looking for them. I know a secluded valley to the north of the County where I have regularly found Wall butterflies in the past. I was not to be disappointed and in one hour at least six different ones posed for the camera.
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Even up to ten years ago it was impossible to ever imagine a Great White Egret appearing locally. So it was a surprise when one appeared recently at Hollingworth Lake and stayed for more than ten days.
Early one morning I went along to have a look at the Egret as it made the most of the low water-levels. Unfortunately I was looking into the rising sunlight but it worked to my advantage as the Egret was beautifully back-lit as it caught its fish. www.facebook.com/gordonyateswildlife
While some parts of the country have been suffering from drought here in the Pennines we had plenty of heavy showers in May and the moors were in perfect condition for breeding Waders. Lapwings in particular were very successful along with some Redshank and Curlews.It was only when the moors dried out in July that Dunlin and Snipe began to suffer but even so I still managed some photos in-between long sessions on Long Eared and Short Eared Owls – to follow later!! www.facebook.com/gordonyateswildlife