The weather forecast was for rain about 11:00am and sure enough as Ted and I left the cottage at 10:40am it started. At first it was a fine drizzle, however by the time we got back it was coming down quite heavy. At least on this ocassion we were dressed for it.
No Yellow-browed Warbler, Redwing or Fieldfares today but a good walk never-the-less, with the following highlights:
Wakeham Railway Cuttings - 3 Chiffchaff and 1 Goldcrest
Perryfield Quarry Butterfly Reserve - 2 Chiffchaff
Old Quarry Lane - 4 Chiffchaff and 2 Greenfinch
Lower Horse Paddock - 2 Stonechat, 30+ Meadow Pipit, 1 Grey Wagtail and 4 Pied Wagtail
Broadcroft Quarry Lane - 3 Robins
Here are a few images and videos from this morning
......turn of the Chiffchaffs and Goldcrests. Well one of the latter.
Along the Cuttings, the butterfly reserve and Old Quarry Lane there were a total of 9 Chiffchaffs.
Today this individual has a big yawn and I'm sure I saw something fly out of its beak.
And sure enough in this Slo-mo, there is a "fruit stone!!" being ejected.
Cattle, Sheep and Ponies, it matters not to a Magpie.
This one seems to have found something interesting in amongst "Polly's" mane.
A very lethargic Ivy Bee.
And very little movement on this Ivy leaf.
It is safe to handle.
The males have no sting and the females have a very weak sting, similar to that of a nettle
Here she is warming up and seconds later gone.
On my daily walk, I pass a huge bed of Nasturtiums, which is fast disappearing as hundreds of caterpillars of the Large White butterfly, munch their way through the leaves..
Oh dear poor Ted. It was a bit wet and his day didn't get any better when.......
.........this horse decided to check him it out.
Next thing he's been followed not just by one..........
...........but 3 horses and then a..........
.....fourth. Fortunately once they had reached the top of this track, they left us alone, much to the relief of Ted. Though in all fairness he wasn't too phased by their interest, other than one of them moving him on a bit.
Mammals Recorded: Grey Squirrel and Bunny
Birds Recorded: Herring Gull, Wood Pigeon, 40+ Meadow Pipit, 5 Pied Wagtail, 1 Grey Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, 2 Stonechat, Blackbird, 9 Chiffchaff, 1 Goldcrest, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Linnet, Goldfinch and Greenfinch
Butterflies Recorded: 1 Red Admiral
Bees Recorded: Honey Bees (Apis mellifera), Ivy Bee (Colletes hederae), Common Carder (Bombus pascuorum) and White-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus lucorum)
Ships Today
