The male Lesser Whitethroat at the cove has a mate, and not something I've seen before, but she was following him everywhere. Sadly no photos, as he was either singing away inside the brambles or flying off quickly to a different part of the cove. Not sure what was going on, it was almost like he was trying to get away from her. But she wasn't giving up on him and gave chase every time he flew off. Odd!!
Other warblers noted on my walk were:
Penns Wood: 1 Blackcap and a Chiffchaff
Church Ope Cove: Along with the Lesser Whitethroats there was a male Blackcap
Penn's Weare: 3 Common Whitethroat
Bumpers Lane: 1 Blackcap
Lower Horse Paddock: 1 male Common Whitethroat
Other birds recorded were 2 Oystercatchers flying across the bay in front of the cove, a pair of Rock Pipits over the cove and as I was walking along the beach a Fulmar flew over the tree tops towards the Grove Cliffs.
Quite a few butterflies about in the very warm sunshine, especially Large Whites and Orange-tips. In fact after weeks of trying I eventually managed not one but two photos of two individual male Orange-tips. Also seen were a Peacock, 2 Red Admirals and a Common Blue. The latter my first this year.
Two moths seen today a Silver Y at the cove and a Carnation Tortrix, though it did look a little large for one. See note below for Tortrix.
Here are a few images and videos from today:
Penns Wood looking really lush, though there is still one Sycamore that hasn't come out into leaf yet.
The grounds of St Andrew's Church where there were a few.........
.........Wall Lizards and.......
............Orange-tip butterflies. It has taken me quite awhile to photograph one. This is a male.
In amongst the beach huts a Silver Y moth.
Also at the cove my first Common Blue of the year.
I'm not sure what happened to this one with a nick in its wing.
And another male Orange-tip which allowed me to photograph it.
The cove is also very good for Wall Lizards.
Here is the male singing deep inside the brambles
And as I was walking along the beach a Fulmar flew north over Penns Wood.
Just past Rufus Castle on the coast path, I came across this Red Admiral settled on a May Tree.
In a crevice along The Cuttings I came across this is Chalk Milkwort (Polygala calcarea)
This is Scarlet Pimpernel (Anagallis arvensis) also known as Poor Mans Weatherglass. More info on this flower Here.
........hear it.
And one very hot Ted. Just as well I had a bottle of water for him.
Mammals Recorded: Bunny
Birds Recorded: 1 Fulmar, 2 Oystercatchers, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Wood Pigeon, 2 Rock Pipit, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Song Thrush, 4 Common Whitethroat, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Blackcap, 1 Chiffchaff, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Linnet and Goldfinch
Butterflies Recorded:
Orange-tip
Large White
2 Red Admiral
1 Peacock
1 Common Blue
Moths Recorded:
Moths Recorded:
Silver Y (Autographa gamma)
Chequered Fruit-tree Tortrix (Pandemis corylana)
Bees Recorded:
Bees Recorded:
Honey Bees (Apis mellifera)
Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris)
Common Carder (Bombus pascuorum)
Red-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus lapidarius)
Nomad Bees sp.
Hoverflies Recorded:
Hoverflies Recorded:
Dead Head Hoverfly (Myathropa florea)
Tapered Dronefly (Eristalis pertinax)
Eristalis arbustorum