An evening walk in the sunshine (at long last). Highlights were a male Blackcap and Willow Warbler at Pennsylvania Castle Wood, a Wall Lizard in the grounds of St Andrew's Church and a Chiffchaff singing just above Rufus Castle.
Here are few images:
This Chiffchaff was sunbathing and why not. He even burst into song.
Common Wasp
Hoverfly - Epistrophe eligans
Wall Lizard
A spider sp. There were many of thees scurrying around on the pebbles at Church Ope Cove.
Obs Quarry, Hut Fields, Top Field, Sweet Hill and Culverwell
A long walk which started off in the Obs Quarry, where there were 2 Whitethroat, 6 Willow Warblers, 2 Chiffchaff, 1 female Common Redstart, a pair of Dunnock, 1 Great Tit and 4 bunnies.
In the Hut fields 2 there were Blackbirds, 2 Chiffchaffs, 1 female Common Redstart and a Common Whitethroat. As I made way towards the main road, a bird came off the sea calling "Chip chip, Chip chip" and headed straight up over the Crown Estate Fields and then up towards Sweethill. The only conclusion I can come to is that this was a Crossbill. This is very similar to what I heard Here. We shall never know!!
In the Crown Estate Fields were 2 Wheatear and Skylarks.
Up at Sweethill, there were several birders looking for the Golden Orioles which were proving hard to locate. Also here another female Common Redstart, Common Whitethroat, 2 Willow Warblers and my first Holly Blue and Red Admiral of the year.
From Sweethill I doubled back along the path, above the main road, and headed to Culverwell. Here were 2 Willow Warblers, a male Blackcap and a male Orange-tip butterfly.
Here are a few images from today:
The Obs Quarry........
.......which not only had Common Whitethroat.......
.......but also 4 bunnies. Not allowed to say the R word on the island.
Looking south over the Obs Quarry.
In the Hut Fields several Linnets........
................including some handsome looking male birds.
Yellow-legged Mining-bee - Andrena flavipes
7-spot Ladybird - Coccinella septempunctata
A male Blackbird looks on. Must be a nest somewhere close.
An Early Mining Bee - Andrena haemorrhoa
The Top Fields are looking amazing with both Daisy's and Buttercups out in full bloom.
A Sparrowhawk landed on the wall in front of me...........
.........before heading off towards Culverwell.
The rear end of a male Blackcap, which you can just make out. The black cap that is!!!
A pair of Wood Pigeon in Culverwell where........
.........there was also this male Orange-tip butterfly. My first this Spring.
Birds Recorded: 3 Gannet, 1 Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Pheasant, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, Skylark, 20+ Swallow, Meadow Pipit, Dunnock, Robin, 3 Common Redstart, 2 Wheatear, Blackbird, 4 Common Whitethroat, 1 Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff, 8 Willow Warbler, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Linnet, Goldfinch, Greenfinch and a possible Crossbill.
Also recorded: 1 Orange-tip butterfly, 1 Red Admiral, 1 Holly Blue, 1 Small White. Also Yellow-legged Mining-bee (Andrena flavipes), Early Mining Bee (Andrena haemorrhoa) and Honey-bees. Still thousands of Brown Tail moth caterpillars about and a 7-spot Ladybird (Coccinella septempunctata).
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