The Trail Camera was out last night, but all was quiet until this morning, when the pond and water fountain were visited by Goldfinches, House Sparrows and a Willow Warbler.
Lower Horse Paddock, Broadcroft Quarry Lane and Broadcroft Butterfly Reserve
Later I took Ted for a walk around the Butterfly Reserve and was quite surprised by the number of Common Whitethroats singing. I counted at least 8 birds, but there could well have been more. Also on the reserve were singles of Blackcap, Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler.
As I crossed the quarry lane to get to the west reserve, 2 Yellow Wagtails flew overhead and were heading west. Later a single bird was over the Lower Horse paddock.
From the moment I stepped out of the front door of the cottage, to the time I got back an hour later there was a continuous passage of Swallows, House Martins and Sand Martins in loose flocks heading north over the fields and reserve.
Also about were many Honey Bees, especially on the Gorse Flowers and I also came across two Orange-tips. The first was an Orange-tip Mining Bee in the lanes and the second a male Orange-tip Butterfly in the horse paddock. The latter my first for the year.
One of many Wrens I came across on my walk and most were singing very loudly
If Ted isn't trying to catch me up, he's..........
........forever sticking his head down a Bunny burrow.
Birds Recorded: Buzzard, Kestrel, Herring Gull, Wood Pigeon, Sand Martin, House Martin, Swallow, Pied Wagtail, 3 Yellow Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, 10 Common Whitethroat, 1 Blackcap, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Willow Warbler, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Linnet, Goldfinch and Greenfinch
Butterflies Recorded:1 Orange-tip, Large White, Small White and Speckled Wood
Bees Recorded: Honey Bees (Apis mellifera), Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris) and an Orange-tip Mining Bee (Andrena haemorrhoa)
Hoverflies Recorded: Spring Epistrophe (Epistrophe eligans) and Common Dronefly (Eristalis tenax)