A busy day that saw me finish building the fence in the back garden and then dropping the car off for its MOT tomorrow, fingers crossed that goes well.
For the last few days the Peregrine family have been over the Cottage, and it looks very much like there are 2 adults and a juvenile. Also about a Buzzard was being mobbed by the local Herring Gulls.
On the stone wall in the back garden a Humming-bird Hawk-moth was interested in the Sedum. And I also had a brief visit from a Small White and a Red Admiral.
Having dropped the car off for its MOT it was a walk back home via the Sports Field at The Grove, through Broadcroft Quarry Butterfly Reserve and then back down Bumpers Lane to the Cottage.
Over the playing field were 30+ Swallows flying low and fast catching flies. In amongst the adults were lots of juveniles with shorter fork tails. In the butterfly Reserve I came across at least 8 Common Blue, 7 Red Admirals, 4 Meadow Browns and 4 Gatekeepers. Also 8 Six-spot Burnet Moths.
Back at the Cottage and 5 more Swallows and a Willow Warbler in the Sycamore at the back of the garden.
Here are a few images from today.
Peregrine Falcon over the Cottage this morning.......
........as normal lots of calling, with 2 adults and a juvenile high above me.
Just a quick photo of a Humming-bird Hawk-moth as it flew into the garden.
There were good numbers of Swallows flying low over the playing fields at The Grove.......
........with a few resting on the fences....
........and eyeing up flies even below them.
A Meadow Brown.
A female Common Blue. I only managed one shot of its wings closed.
Here her wings are wide open.
A male Common Blue. Totally different.
A Gatekeeper keeps out of the blustery wind.
A very worn Six-spot Burnet Moth.
Here a pair are mating.