A change of scenery today and there was also a change in the weather as well. The wind and rain we had yesterday moved away overnight and today was much sunnier and slightly warmer one.
Main highlights today were the number of male Common Whitethroats around Broadcroft with 5 on the reserve and another one by the pools.
Two that got away (from the camera that is) were an Emperor Dragonfly and a Tiger Moth.
Here are my sightings, images and videos from today:
Here are my sightings, images and videos from today:
The Lower Horse Paddock where in the hedgerow I came across dozens of........
This is Broadcroft Butterfly Reserve to the west of the lane that bisects the two reserves.
The view from the mound overlooking the reserve, lower horse paddock, the new housing estate and English Channel
On this side of the reserve there were 3 male Common Whitethroats and a female.
This is the main butterfly reserve to the east of Broadcroft Quarry Lane.
And on this side there was just this single male.
Here is a soundtrack of the Common Whitethroat above, plus a pair of House Martin chattering away.
No Chalk Hill Blues seen, but there were a few Common Blues about.
The Meadow Browns are really abundant at the moment, with dozens seen on the Reserve
And I'm beginning to find more Large Skippers about as well.
This Large Skipper here was having real tough time...........
Other insects I came across were this male Ichneumon Wasp, Diphyus palliatorius and.........
............this Dock Beetle.
And just before I headed off to the pools I came across this Dagger Fly (Empis tessellata)
Broadcroft Quarry Lane looking south. The track to the left takes you.......
...........up the slope to where the now dried up pools are found.
At least there is some lovely flora to be found here, like this Common Centaury, Centaurium erythraea.
Yellow-wort, Blackstonia perfoliata
Red Bartsia, Odontites vernus
Pyramidal Orchids and the stunning.......
..........Bee-orchid
And here's Ted photobombing my shot of the Yellow-wort.
Birds Recorded: Buzzard, Kestrel, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, 2 House Martin, Pied Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, 6 Common Whitethroat, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Linnet, Goldfinch and Greenfinch
Dragonflies and Damselflies Recorded: Emperor Dragonfly (Anax imperator)
Butterflies Recorded: Large Skipper, Large White, Speckled Wood, Meadow Brown and Common Blue.
Moths Recorded: Tiger moth sp.
Bees Recorded: Honey Bees (Apis mellifera), Early Bumblebee (Bombus pratorum), Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris), Common Carder (Bombus pascuorum), Red-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus lapidarius) and Garden Bumblebee (Bombus hortorum)
Wasps Recorded: Ruby-tailed Wasp sp.
Ichneumon Wasps Recorded: Ichneumon Wasp (Diphyus palliatorius)
Hoverflies Recorded: Marmalade Hoverfly (Episyrphus balteatus) and Narcissus Bulb Fly (Merodon equestris)
Flies, Craneflies, Gnats and Midges Recorded: Dagger Fly (Empis tessellata)
Crickets and Grasshoppers Recorded: Meadow Grasshopper (Chorthippus parallelus)
Bugs and Beetles Recorded: Dock Bug (Coreus marginatus) and Swollen-thighed Beetle (Oedemera nobilis)
Ichneumon Wasps Recorded: Ichneumon Wasp (Diphyus palliatorius)
Hoverflies Recorded: Marmalade Hoverfly (Episyrphus balteatus) and Narcissus Bulb Fly (Merodon equestris)
Flies, Craneflies, Gnats and Midges Recorded: Dagger Fly (Empis tessellata)
Crickets and Grasshoppers Recorded: Meadow Grasshopper (Chorthippus parallelus)
Bugs and Beetles Recorded: Dock Bug (Coreus marginatus) and Swollen-thighed Beetle (Oedemera nobilis)
Ships Today
This is the British Cargo Ship "Eastern Virage" on its way from Boston to Belfast. More on this vessel Here.
This is the British Frigate "HMS Lancaster" just off Portland. More on this vessel Here.
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On this day..........