2 May 22

Lower Horse Paddock, Upper Horse Paddock, Broadcroft Butterfly Reserve, Broadcroft Quarry Lane, and Bumpers Lane

After yesterdays rain, today was still cloudy, but dry. In fact out of the wind it did feel quite muggy.

Today's highlights were the same/another Grasshopper Warbler "reeling" on the reserve and the male Chaffinch with the aberrant song.

Mammals Recorded:
Bunny

Birds Recorded:
Herring Gull
2 Stock Dove
Wood Pigeon
Collared Dove
Dunnock
Robin
Blackbird
1 Grasshopper Warbler
5 Common Whitethroat
1 Lesser Whitethroat
1 Blackcap
2 Chiffchaff
Great Tit
Blue Tit
Wren
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Jackdaw
Starling
House Sparrow
Chaffinch
Linnet
Goldfinch
Greenfinch

One of the pair of Stock Doves feeding in the butterfly reserve

The Robins are still in good voice

As are the Common Whitethroats

I heard this Lesser Whitethroat and as I rounded a hawthorn Bush he heard me and was off.

If only all birds were as easy to photograph, like this male House Sparrow.

The male Chaffinch is still singing his aberrant song.

Here is a compilation of video clips of its unusual song. I have also added a few links of more aberrant songs which other male Chaffinches have been recorded singing Here, Here, Here and Here.

And one of many Goldfinches on the reserve.

Butterflies Recorded:
Orange-tip
Large White
Small White
Green-veined White
Wall Brown
Speckled Wood

A Wall Brown hiding in the grass in the Lower Horse Paddock.

Bees Recorded:
Honey Bees (Apis mellifera)
Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris)
Red-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus lapidarius)
Common Carder (Bombus pascuorum)


Hoverflies Recorded:
Marmalade Hoverfly (Episyrphus balteatus)


Spiders Recorded:
spider sp.

spider sp.

General Shots:

And a typical Grasshopper Warbler territory. Though I have heard two here over the past 3 days, I doubt they will breed here as there are just too many dog walkers.

Ted:

One minute Ted's sat in front of me and then the next second..............

.........he's off like a Greyhound. However just like a good old boomerang, he still comes back.