Another cracking morning! Early on, a Tree Pipit delivered a couple of notes from high up as it headed south and a Whinchat popped up in the hedge between Ballards Field and Heathside Field. Three Yellow Wagtails passed over by mid-morning and a din around Bog Field drew attention to a male Peregrine under corvid bombardment in the half-dead ash. The falcon was no doubt drawn in by the hordes of pigeons feasting in the stubble fields. Three Red Kites flew over, one assaulted by some of the nine Buzzards counted today. The elusive Lesser Whitethroat was still tacking occasionally along Slangs, along with a Willow Warbler. Other warblers included four Whitethroats, two Blackcaps and five Chiffchaffs. A Mistle Thrush was by the Watchpoint briefly while a Lesser Black-backed Gull, 10 Black-headed Gulls, three Rooks and two Pied Wagtails flew over. Swallows numbered 40 and 22 Linnets were knocking around. Two Little Owls were calling and, more unusual (especially for the time of year) was a hooting Tawny Owl in Lunch Wood. Two Collared Doves were noted.
BW sightings included three Sparrowhawks, a Whitethroat, three Blackcaps and seven Chiffchaffs.
A Migrant Hawker was hawking by Ruffett Wood and butterflies logged at the farm included Red Admiral, Comma and Speckled Wood.
A nice insect find came in the form of a Clouded Yellow at Coneyboro Hill. Also in the BW sector, five Brown Hairstreaks were seen in various locations, a Silver-washed Fritillary was at Fames Rough and other butterflies included seven Chalkhill Blues, two Brown Argus, 30 Common Blues, seven Small Heaths, 80 Meadow Browns, six Speckled Woods, a Red Admiral, a Peacock, 30 Small Whites, three Large Whites, five Brimstones. Seven Common Darters were on the west side of Holly Lane Meadow, two Southern Hawkers were at Piddly Pond and the sector had six Migrant Hawkers.
 |
| Peregrine |
 |
| Whinchat |
 |
| Common Darter at Holly Lane Meadow |
 |
| Speckled Wood at BW |
David Campbell (photos 1-2), Nigel Jackman, Linda Mount, Natasha Preston and Ian Ward (photos 3-4)
