I headed to Shuart today. There was a cool strong southerly wind with a lot of cloud and some sunny intervals. A Rabbit was watching me from the horse paddock and, unusually, seemed quite happy with my presence and a good range of birds were singing away.
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| Rabbit |
Though it was cool in the wind, any sheltered areas were quite warm when the sun came out. A Red Admiral butterfly was resting on some ivy, showing its underwing well and Azure Damselflies were plentiful. I also saw a fair number of Blue-tailed Damselflies and one perched nicely for me.
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| Red Admiral Butterfly |
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| Blue-tailed Damselfly |
I enjoyed listening to the Wrens and Blackcaps that were in full song and a Jay scolded as it flew away. Some insects were making the most of a sheltered area. A White-tailed Bumble Bee's wings were quite tattered which must make flying harder. I am not sure exactly what type of white-tailed it is. I saw what I think is a
Tachina fera. It was a striking looking insect. A Common Malachite
Malachius bipustulatus was busy amongst an umbellifer head.
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| White-tailed Bumble Bee |
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| Tachina fera |
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| Common Malachite Malachius bipustulatus |
I saw a Speckled Wood butterfly that looked decidedly 'milky' and pale. It appeared to be covered in very pale grey hairs. They appeared paler at some angles than others but it never appeared as dark as other Speckled Wood's that I have seen.
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| Speckled Wood |
Two Common Buzzard were circling above and a Cuckcoo flew over. I could hear a Mediterranean Gull calling but could not manage to pick it up. It seemed that every few feet I came across another male Chaffinch singing away. What they lack in variety in their song they certainly make up for with sheer exuberance.
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| male Chaffinch |
The drop in temperature, when the sun went in, enabled me to catch up with a couple of Orange Tip Butterflies who, up until then, had been very active. Both their upper and under wing patterns are beautiful and I was treated to some lovely views.
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| Orange Tip Butterfly |
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| Orange Tip Butterfly |
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| Orange Tip Butterfly |
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| Orange Tip Butterfly |
A Mute Swan gave a fly past and I tried for a photo. I still struggle with birds in flight photos but I enjoy giving them a go. A male Reed Bunting had a bill full of food for its youngsters. Its nest must have been nearby so I moved on so that it could feed the youngsters in peace. Reed Warbler song surrounded me as I made my way up to the railway embankment.
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| Mute Swan |
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| Reed Bunting |
It was pretty breezy up on the embankment but some areas remained reasonably sheltered by the bushes. A Small China-mark Moth was sheltering out of the wind. I often see them flying low over the water in dykes so it was nice to see one perched. A Hairy Dragonfly flew past without any sign of stopping.
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| China-mark Moth |
I was watching a male Hairy Dragonfly patrolling over the water in a dyke when I caught movement to my side and when I looked I could see a Weasel watching me. I stayed as still as possible and did not even dare lift the camera in case I scared it. It dropped out of sight and then over the next ten minutes or so reappeared several times giving the opportunity to try for some photos. I felt privileged to be able to watch it so long and it certainly made my day seeing it. It, sadly, appeared to have several ticks on its face. When it moved it was lightening fast. What a beautiful animal.
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| Weasel |
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| Weasel |
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| Weasel |
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| Weasel |
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| Weasel |
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| Weasel |
I stopped and had a rest on the embankment and while doing so a small butterfly landed on my rucksack. At quick first glance I thought it was a Holly Blue but it didn't look right and looked too small. It then opened its wings and showed dark wings, wow! I was absolutely chuffed when I realised that I was looking at my first ever Small Blue Butterfly. I know that they have occurred in the area but I have never seen one before. It sat on my rucksack for a little while and then moved to a sheltered patch of grass nearby. It was a beautiful little butterfly and I felt incredibly lucky to see it. Now, that definitely made my day. Despite the fact it had been pretty quiet for birds it was turning out to be an interesting visit.
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| Small Blue Butterfly |
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| Small Blue Butterfly |
I had a short walk along the embankment, I could only go a little way as I needed to get back for a meeting. Reed Warblers were singing away with Sedge joining in. I disturbed a Grey Partridge that I had not seen tucked in at the side of the path. A Bush Cricket was sheltering out of the wind. I am not sure, at present, which one it is. I came across another Small Blue this time a male. He was pretty worn but very nice to see.
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| Bush Cricket |
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| male Small Blue Butterfly |
I came across a very attractive female Common Blue which had brown and blue in her wings. A striking Wasp Beetle
Clytus arietis caught my eye.
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| female Common Blue |
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| female Common Blue |
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| Wasp Beetle Clytus arietis |
I saw a single Silver Y Moth and it was very active, as it fed, and gave some good opportunities for trying for some photos. I had not realised how large their eyes are.
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| Silver Y Moth |
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| Silver Y Moth |
On the walk back to the railway crossing I came across a female and a male Small Blue Butterfly. The female was very fresh and looked stunning as she rested on the ground.
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| female Small Blue Butterfly |
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| male Small Blue Butterfly |
After crossing the railway line I headed back up to Shuart. A couple of Common Buzzard were soaring above and a small movement of Swifts appeared to be going south. There were several of what I think are nomad bees on the buttercup flowers. I think that they were Gooden's Nomad Bee
Nomada goodeniana but I am still finding identifying insects tricky.
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| Common Buzzards |
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| Gooden's Nomad Bee Nomada goodeniana |
While watching an attractive bee I had a Chaffinch singing above me and I tried for a memory shot even though it was into the light.
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| Chaffinch |
It was very cool by this time and the sun remained in as the cloud cover was almost blanket by now. It did mean that I got some good views of resting insects that are normally much more active as I made by way back.
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| Ichneumon Wasp |
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| Red-headed Cardinal Beetle Pyrochroa serraticornis |
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| Greenbottle |
I came across a Variable Damselfly, the only one I saw this visit, and I got some good views.
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| Variable Damselfly |
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| Variable Damselfly |
I finished the visit with views of an exuvia, but I do not know whose it is.
Though it had remained quiet for birds it had been an interesting and enjoyable visit.
Birds seen this visit include: 3 Chiffchaff, 3 Robin, 4 Blackbird, 8 Wren, Chaffinches, 8 Blackcap, Wood Pigeons, Jackdaws, 1 Jay, 9 Swallows, 1 Song Thrush, 1 Magpie, Blue Tits, Great Tits, 1 Mute Swan, 3 Whitethroat, 1 Cuckcoo, 2 Common Buzzard, Goldfinches, 1 Pheasant, 5 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Mediterranean Gull, Cormorants, Herring Gulls, Rooks, Carrion Crows, 14 Reed Warblers, 1 Yellowhammer, 1 Lapwing, 6 Reed Bunting, 2 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Magpie, 2 Mallards, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Kestrel, 1 Grey Partridge, 28 Swifts,
Red Admiral Butterfly, Blue-tailed Damselfly, Azure 3 Hairy dragonflies,
