Port and Wey

Lower Horse Paddock, Broadcroft Butterfly Reserve and Upper Horse Paddock

Well its taken 4 days of perseverance, but finally I have managed a fairly decent video of the male Chaffinch and his unusual song. There have been quite few people telling me that it's a Lesser Whitethroat, which I was a bit annoyed about, as they were assuming I didn't know what a Lesser Whitethroat sounded like. Well guess what it isn't a Lesser Whitethroat and I feel pretty pleased with myself that I have stuck it out for the past four days to prove my point.

Another good bird today was a Grasshopper Warbler "reeling" from within a hawthorn tree in the reserve. I only managed to see it briefly, but I certainly heard it.

Other highlights were 2 Wheatears in the Lower Horse Paddock, and after not seeing or hearing either Chiffchaff or Willow Warbler yesterday, they were both singing on the reserve today.

There are at least two Common Whitethroats in the Lower Horse Paddock, but unfortunately as a huge chunk of brambles was grubbed out a few months back, that is probably the most I will see in the paddock.

The real Lesser Whitethroat is still on the reserve close to the Sports Field, and the male Blackcap is still singing away on the "bump" and today I managed a glimpse of the female there as well.

And finally I heard a Great Spotted Woodpecker coming from the direction of Broadcroft Quarry Lane.

Mammals Recorded:
Bunnies

Birds Recorded:
Buzzard
Kestrel
Herring Gull
2 Stock Dove
Wood Pigeon
Collared Dove
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
7+ Swallow
Pied Wagtail
Dunnock
Robin
2 Wheatear
1 Grasshopper Warbler
7 Common Whitethroat
1 Lesser Whitethroat
2 Blackcap
4 Chiffchaff
2 Willow Warbler
Great Tit
Blue Tit
Wren
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Jackdaw
Starling
House Sparrow
Chaffinch
Linnet
Goldfinch
Greenfinch

One of a pair of Stock Doves in the Lower Horse Paddock

Also in the Lower Horse Paddock were these...........

...........two Wheatears.

A Common Whitethroat...........

.......in good voice.

Here he is again taking a breather.

This male Starling is hitching a ride on one of the horses in the paddock, before dropping down onto the ground in search for a snack.

A Goldfinch.

Chaffinch

Here is a photo and a video compilation of the unusual Chaffinch on the reserve.

Just an ordinary male Chaffinch, other than its odd song.

A compilation of short video clips of the Chaffinch with the unusual song on the butterfly reserve.

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

There weren't too many butterflies about today, but one I keep seeing is this Wall Brown.

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

A Buff-tailed Bumblebee

Hoverflies Recorded:
Dead Head Hoverfly (Myathropa florea)

And there weren't too many hoverflies about either, apart from this Dead Head Hoverfly

Plants:
English Bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta).

A few days ago (24 Apr 22) I photographed a Spanish Bluebell (Hyacinthoides hispanica). This Bluebell however, is our native species where all the flowers are on one side and not all around the stem like the Spanish Bluebell. More on Bluebells Here.

Ted:

Thirteen is my best effort so far. Just 8 Ted's today.

Broadcroft Butterfly Reserve and Lower Horse Paddock

I promise I will change my walk, but for the time being I will keep visiting the "hump" until I can get a decent video of the male Chaffinch and his unusual song. Today I heard him singing from the Sycamores, but when I got there he had gone. In fact I didn't hear him sing at all after his initial "trill". I've not given up yet.

Other highlights here were a few Swallows and a Yellow Wagtail heading up the island, several Common Whitethroats, a Lesser Whitethroat and 2 Blackcaps on the reserve. But for the first time in quite awhile there were no Chiffchaffs or Willow Warblers seen or heard.

Mammals Recorded:
3 Bunnies

What a life, just lying around.

Soaking up the sun.

And just being cute

Birds Recorded:
Kestrel
Herring Gull
Wood Pigeon
Collared Dove
Swallow
Pied Wagtail
1 Yellow Wagtail
Dunnock
Robin
Blackbird
7+ Common Whitethroat
1 Lesser Whitethroat
2 Blackcap
Great Tit
Blue Tit
Wren
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Jackdaw
Starling
House Sparrow
Chaffinch
Linnet
Goldfinch
Greenfinch

A Wood Pigeon which was sat on a branch just a few metres away from where I was sitting.

I've been spotted and given a right old glare.

A Common Whitethroat

And another photo of it.

Another Common Whitethroat

Another Whitethroat, but this time a Lesser Whitethroat.

Here it is singing, with a very brief view of it.

A Linnet and a very...........

......alert to any danger from above

A Goldfinch on lookout

And another Goldfinch enjoying the sunshine.

Butterflies Recorded:
Orange-tip
Large White
Small White
Wall Brown
Speckled Wood
Red Admiral

A Wall Brown

And a Red Admiral

Moths Recorded:
2 Common Nettle-tap (Anthophila fabriciana)

1 Angle Shades (Phlogophora meticulosa)

My first Common Nettle-tap moth of the year.

And likewise my first Angle Shades of the year as well.

Bees Recorded:
Honey Bees (Apis mellifera)
Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris)
Common Carder (Bombus pascuorum)
Grey-patched Mining Bee (Andrena nitida)