My First Turtle Dove of Spring - Marshside 25/05/20

I paid another visit to Chitty Lane this afternoon and had a wander up to the embankment and back. A Chaffinch peeped out at me as I started up the track. Once again it was lovely to hear the sound of singing Reed and Sedge Warblers.

Chaffinch

A Large Skipper Butterfly was sunning itself and looked gorgeous in the light.

Large Skipper

A little further along I came across loads of Small Tortoiseshell Caterpillars outside their cocoon. I am not sure what the paler brown ones amongst them are. At first I thought they must just be at a different stage of development but they do not seem to be as spiky as the black Small Tortoiseshell ones. It will be interesting to try and find out.

Small Tortoiseshell Caterpillars

A male Goldfinch was perched high in the hedgerow and repeatedly singing away enthusiastically. It would pause between each burst of song and look round before breaking into song again. Though I think it was aware of my presence it did not seem to put if off its stride at all and after a fair while waiting, as I did not want to disturb it, I carried on down the track and left it still singing away.

Goldfinch

Goldfinch

It was much quieter for Damselflies today and I did not see any sign of a Red-eyed or a Banded Demoiselle as I made may way up to the embankment. Several Azure Damselflies were tucked here and there and as I walked along the embankment I could see a Cuckoo on the edge of a bush way ahead. A little further along, from the hedgerow, I could hear my first Turtle Dove (117) of the year which was a very welcome sound.

Cuckoo

Reed and Sedge Warbler were singing as I made my way along and over in one of the fields good numbers of Corvid had been attracted to the area where the farmer was irrigating his crops.

Corvids making the most of the wet ground

It remained fairly quiet on the walk back but it was just good to be out.

Red-eyed Damselflies and a Banded Demoiselle - Marshside 22/05/20

It was nice to be able to go a little further afield today and to be able to have longer out due to the changes in the lockdown regulations. I decided to head off to Chitty Lane and see what I could see with a wander up to the embankment. It was a breezy day but I could get some shelter from the hedgerow in places. On arrival I was greeted by the enthusiastic singing of both Reed Warbler (114) and Sedge Warbler (115), a very welcome sound indeed and one I have missed. Skylarks were rising up in a tower of song and a Yellow Wagtail (116) called as it flew over. A few Azure Damselfies were tucked down out of the wind as I made my way along.

I came to a nicely sheltered area and saw a couple of Red-eyed Damselflies briefly, my first for this year. I was pleased to see them and their eyes glowed as the light caught them.

Red-eyed Damselfly

Red-eyed Damselfly

Red-eyed Damselfly

As I wandered along the air was full of song with Chaffinch, Reed Warbler and Sedge Warbler all singing at full pelt. It was lovely to hear them. A Holly Blue butterfly was battling against the wind and got caught in a gust of wind which sent it tumbling this way and that. It managed to land low down in some vegetation and hung on upside down.

Holly Blue

Lots of Azure Damselflies were about and I enjoyed watching the various ones I saw.

Azure Damselfly

Azure Damselfly

A came across a single male Banded Demoiselle Damselfly who gave some great views as it perched on vegetation in a sheltered spot of the track. If I had carried on I would have to have disturbed it so I enjoyed some great views as it rested up between darting up to catch insects. It shone in the sunshine and looked absolutely beautiful.

Banded Demoiselle Damselfly

Banded Demoiselle Damselfly

Banded Demoiselle Damselfly

As I did not want to disturb it I decided to head for home as time was getting on anyway and headed back the way I had come. A Speckled Wood Butterfly looked spectacular as the light shone through its wings as it perched up in between chasing a rival.

Speckled Wood Butterfly

On the way back some Yellow (Flag) Iris were in full flower forming some lovely shapes.

Yellow (Flag) Iris, Iris pseudacorus

Yellow (Flag) Iris, Iris pseudacorus

It had been an enjoyable afternoon and very nice to be able to go further afield today.

Hungry Goldfinches, Spiralling Kites and First Small Heath of Spring - Broomfield Track 16/05/20

Before heading out for a short walk today I enjoyed watching the antics of a pair of Goldfinch visiting the garden. Both were removing stems from the Forget-me-nots and then eating the forming seeds. They managed to decimate some of the smaller plants as they returned multiple times and tackled a few stems each time. They are beautiful birds and I have always had a soft spot for them as it was seeing a Goldfinch for the first time many years ago that led me to start bird watching in the first place. It was great to be able to spend some time admiring them and they gave some very nice close views, even if they did display some distinctly vandal tendencies! In the first photograph the Forget-me-knot still has some flower stems. After several return visits from the Goldfinches it has lost the lot by the second photograph. Luckily there are quite a lot of the plants in the garden for the Goldfinches to be able to work their way through and they should provide a good supply of seeds for the birds for a while.

Goldfinch

A Blackbird dropped into the bird bath while I was admiring the Goldfinches but before it had a chance to use the facilities it disappeared with a flurry of alarm calls as a cat suddenly appeared atop the fence.

Blackbird

I had a short wander down the track in the afternoon and though for much of the way it was pretty quiet I enjoyed watching a Dunnock working its way along one of the trees branches.

Dunnock

A small micro moth caught my eye but I do not know which it is at present. But hopefully I will be able to work it out at some point. I find many of the micro moths difficult to identify but I always enjoy seeing them.

A Dance Fly Empis tessellata was resting up. They are striking insects.

Empis tessellata

As I made my way along a pair of Red Kite came over and giving some good views as they did so. By the time I had managed to get the camera on to one it was flying into the light but lovely to see. They started to spiral upwards and round each other and I enjoyed watching their sheer mastery in the air as they continued to gain height.

Red Kite

pair Red Kite

On the way back I came across my first Small Heath Butterfly of the year and a Red-and-black Froghopper glowed amongst the green umbellifer stems.

Small Heath Butterfly

Red-and-black Froghopper

I finished my walk with a back lit Red Admiral Butterfly dancing in a pocket of sunshine as it fluttered upwards, the light shining though its wings and making all the colours appear jewel like. Though it was a fair way away when it settled the light shining through its opened wings was still striking and made a nice end to my walk.

Red Admiral butterfly

First Damselflies of Spring - Broomfield Track 08/05/20 and 09/05/20

I had a short walk on the 8th and caught sight of a Garden Warbler (113) as it made its way through the hedgerow which was a welcome sight. A female Orange-tip butterfly was more obliging for photographs and allowed a shot. She is the first female I have been able to photograph this spring. A small moth resting up also caught my eye.

female Orange-tip butterfly

As I headed down the track on the 9th the Dog Rose in the hedgerow was showing it first open flower. Blackcaps and a Chiffchaff were singing away merrily then moments later fell silent as a Sparrowhawk shot through with ringing alarm calls following its progress as it passed through.

Dog Rose

There was no sign of either of the Little Owls today. Blue and Great Tits were busily searching for food and a male Chaffinch was singing loudly. As I walked up to the top path a Whitethroat popped up and started to sing exuberantly. I paused and was treated to some superb views as he belted out his song. What a beauty.

Whitethroat

Whitethroat

Whitethroat

Whitethroat

I carried on to the top path and could see a Red Kite coming. I managed a quick shot as it approached but lost my balance as it came over and by the time I had picked myself up it was spiralling higher as it climbed in a thermal. It had, however given a great view as it came over.

Red Kite

Having dusted myself off, and with it not being one of the better days for walking, I came back down to the lower path and decided to have a look along the hedgerow running parallel to the horse paddock as it was in the sun and I wondered if any damselflies might have emerged, not having seen any so far. A Hairy Shieldbug was resting up in the sunshine.

Hairy Shieldbug

A little further along I came across my first damselfly for the year and ended up seeing several Azure Damselflies and I spent a while happily watching them. They only appeared to be in one area but were a welcome sight.

Azure Damselfly

Heading for home I could see a Red Kite circling high above but I do not know if it was the same one that I saw earlier. It did, however, make a nice end to my walk.

Red Kite

First Cuckoo and Swift of Spring - Broomfield Track 06/05/20

It was pretty quiet as I walked round today but good to be out. One of the Little Owls was on its usual perch and, as always, was a pleasure to see. A Chiffchaff was singing away while a male Blackcap was giving it a far bit of competition in the singing department, almost drowning it out at times.

Little Owl

A patch of Speedwell glowed in the afternoon light. They are lovely little flowers.

As I headed back down to the lower path a Common Buzzard soared above and I could also see Kestrel and Sparrowhawk in the air at the same time. The Long-tailed Tit was still busily collecting food.

Long-tailed Tit

A small flock of Jackdaws were vocal as they routed amongst the grass in the cow paddock. A gull passing low over caused one to pause in its feeding, crouch down and looking up call out in alarm.

Jackdaw

Jackdaw

As I neared the end of my walk I caught sight of a Swift (111) feeding over the horse paddock while a Cuckoo (112) was calling from the hedgerow, my first of the Spring, and both made a very nice finish to the visit.