Young Swallows - Marshside 21/06/19

I had a short window for some bird watching so headed to Marshside to see what I could see from the road. A singing Reed Warbler and a Whitethroat greeted me on arrival. A young Swallow was sitting on the wires waiting to be fed and I left him in peace so as to not disturb the parents when they came back.

young Swallow

Overall it appeared to be very quiet for birds. I could hear a Blue Tit family moving through the hedgerow and a couple of Reed Warblers were busy collecting food. A Ring-necked Parakeet called and Song Thrush, Blackcap and Wren were all singing away. A few Azure and Blue-tailed Damselflies were dotted around. I saw 3 Meadow Brown Butterflies but they were decidedly camera shy and I never did manage to get a good shot of one.

Meadow Brown Butterfly

Both Great Spotted Woodpecker and a Green Woodpecker called and a Chiffchaff was chiff chaffing away. A couple of Red Admiral Butterflies and a Speckled Wood were on the wing. A little further on I caught sight of a Banded Demoiselle but unfortunately it kept going without stopping. I love watching them, they are beautiful damselflies. A female Cranefly Tipula lunata was resting up allowing some good views.

female Cranefly Tipula lunata

A Cuckoo was calling frequently but I did not hear a female answer today. A Common Buzzard was spiralling above and Swifts were hawking for insects high above me. I disturbed a small moth that flew a short distance before settling down again. I think that it was a Chrysoteuchia culmella. A Holly Blue butterfly settled briefly allowing a photo.

Chrysoteuchia culmella

Holly Blue Butterfly

A little further on a Reed Warbler peeped out at me as it worked its way through the vegetation. An Ichneumon wasp Amblyteles armatorius paused briefly before moving off, they are striking insects. I kept my eyes open for dragonflies but did not have any success today in seeing any. A few Red-eyed Damselflies were resting on the duck weed in the dyke.

Reed Warbler

Amblyteles armatorius

I caught sight of yellow again and thought I had another Ichneumon wasp but then realised it was a Longhorn Beetle. Luckily for me it flew and landed closer to me and I was able to get a couple of photos before it moved on. It was a Black-and-yellow Longhorn Beetle Rutpela maculata and was fascinating to watch.

Black-and-yellow Longhorn Beetle Rutpela maculata

Black-and-yellow Longhorn Beetle Rutpela maculata

A small family group of Great Tits were calling away and Goldfinch song and calls filled the air as a small group flew over. I had a look in some vegetation that was in the shade and got good views of a Ptychoptera contaminata and also a Pericoma species Moth Fly.

Ptychoptera contaminata

Pericoma species Moth Fly

I caught sight of a small spider with a bright green abdomen and tried for some photos. I did not manage to get much in the photo line but I think that it is either Araniella cucurbitina or opisthographa as apparently they are indistinguishable in the field in general appearance and size.

Araniella cucurbitina or opisthographa

Araniella cucurbitina or opisthographa

A Great Pied Hoverfly Volucella pellucens was busy feeding amongst a flower head and I saw a nymph that I think must be a Speckled Bush-cricket nymph.

Great Pied Hoverfly Volucella pellucens

Speckled Bush-cricket nymph

A female Marsh Harrier was hunting along a field edge and I could see a couple of Common Buzzard one of which was thermalling while the other was hovering before dropping down presumably onto something it had seen. 3 young Swallows were on the wires and Mum/Dad were kept busy feeding them.

Swallow feeding young

I finished off the visit with a Common Green Caspid Bug. I saw some Fringed Water-Lilies out in flower. Alarm calls above from the Swallows alerted me to a Sparrowhawk passing over. It was carrying food presumably back to feed young so hopefully they will do well. I had not been able to spend long but it had been good to be out and had been an enjoyable visit even if a fairly quiet one for birds.

Common Green Caspid Bug

Fringed Water-lily

Sparrowhawk

On the way home I saw a male Marsh Harrier hunting over one of the fields.

Male Marsh Harrier

Birds seen this visit include: 14 Reed Warbler, 4 Whitethroat, 4 Magpie, 9 Blackbird, 8 Chaffinch, 18 Swallow including at least 8 young, 3 Blackcap, 1 Wren, 2 Dunnock, 1 Ring-necked Parakeet, 2 Song Thrush, Wood Pigeons, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 4 Green Woodpecker, 3 Chiffchaff, 7 Swift, 19 Goldfinches, 2 Cuckoo, 2 Greenfinch, 3 Common Buzzard, Crows, Rooks, Jackdaws, 5 Great Tit, 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 Yellowhammer, House Sparrows, Starlings, 2 Marsh Harrier, 2 Mistle Thrush,