The morning rain finally petered out after midday and as it was feeling a lot cooler of late, Ted and I had an extended walk to the West Cliffs.
However and despite the forecast for cloud all day with the occasional shower, it was a bit of a surprise when we arrived at Reap Lane to see blue skies over the Channel heading our way. Not that we were complaining, but it did get rather warm and humid again.
Highlights and there were a few, were watching 2 juvenile/female Pied Flycatchers in the Sycamores at Reap Lane Barns, whilst on the south side of the lane there were 15+ Wheatear in the horse paddocks. Also noted were Common Whitethroats, Chiffchaffs, Willow Warblers and mixed flocks of Sand Martin, House Martin and Swallows all moving south.
Here are a few images:
..........2 Pied Flycatchers. At this time of year it is pretty difficult to tell whether this is a female or a juvenile as they both look very similar.
However and despite the forecast for cloud all day with the occasional shower, it was a bit of a surprise when we arrived at Reap Lane to see blue skies over the Channel heading our way. Not that we were complaining, but it did get rather warm and humid again.
Highlights and there were a few, were watching 2 juvenile/female Pied Flycatchers in the Sycamores at Reap Lane Barns, whilst on the south side of the lane there were 15+ Wheatear in the horse paddocks. Also noted were Common Whitethroats, Chiffchaffs, Willow Warblers and mixed flocks of Sand Martin, House Martin and Swallows all moving south.
Here are a few images:
Reap Lane Barns where there were........
On the south side of the Lane there were at least 15 Wheatear in the Horse Paddocks
Just off the West Cliffs a Gannet was making its way down the coastline.
A male Chalk Hill Blue
And a female Chalk Hill Blue
A male Common Blue, with a bit of damage to one of his wings.
And the similar looking but slightly larger Meadow Brown.
This similar butterfly to the two above is a Small Heath, and my first this year.
A Pied Hoverfly
And a Long Hoverfly
A Fig Tree, which by the looks of it is bearing fruit.
Sloe and in abundance. Might be an opportunity here to gather some and make some Sloe Gin.
Birds Recorded: Gannet, Pheasant, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, Sand Martin, House Martin, Swallow, Meadow Pipit, Pied Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, 15+ Wheatear, Blackbird, 4 Common Whitethroat, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, 2 Pied Flycatcher, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Raven, Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Linnet and Goldfinch
Dragonflies and Damselflies Recorded: Dragonfly sp.
Butterflies Recorded: Large White, Small White, Speckled Wood, Small Heath, Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper, Red Admiral, Peacock, Common Blue and Chalk Hill Blue
Moths Recorded: Yellow-spot Tortrix (Pseudargyrotoza conwagana) and possible several Purple-shaded Piercer (Pammene gallicana)
Bees Recorded: Honey Bees (Apis mellifera), Common Carder (Bombus pascuorum), Red-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus lapidarius) and White-tailed bumblebee (Bombus lucorum)
Wasps Recorded: Common Wasp (Vespula vulgaris)
Hoverflies Recorded: Marmalade Hoverfly (Episyrphus balteatus), Long Hoverfly (Sphaerophoria scripta), Common Dronefly (Eristalis tenax) and Pied Hoverfly (Scaeva pyrastri)
Ships Today
