An afternoon sat in the back garden and a couple of surprises with a Continental Coal Tit seen and heard in a back garden about 10 doors down. Also a Redpoll heading north.
In the garden the "usual" bees were all back and an interesting spider was seen scurrying across the lawn, which stopped briefly for me to get a quick photo. Turns out it is a Common Fox-spider (Alopecosa pulverulenta). More on this spider Here.
The local Collared Doves look quite cosy.
I suspect this is a male Goldfinch singing away.
My mystery spider........
Broadcroft Quarry Butterfly reserve
Probably not the best time to visit the reserve in the middle of a heatwave. The temperature just kept going up all day with records being broken all over the UK. The only birds I encountered were 3 male Common Whitethroats, 1 Robin, a Kestrel, 1 Carrion Crow, 1 Magpie and 3 Linnets.
Butterfly species were very few with just 1 Speckled Wood, 2 Large Whites, 4 Small White and a Green-veined White.
Here are a few images:
A female Linnet
A Speckled Wood honest
Looking south from Broadcroft Quarry Butterfly Reserve
A few Bluebells in the shade.
Whilst out in the open Cowslips.
A vetch sp.
The Coastguard plane was busy...........
