Pittswood Birds

At last some summer weather, it makes the walk to work so much more enjoyable, and this morning there were more birds about. A COMMON WHITETHROAT was singing in the hedgerow along Ashes lane, and moments later the SWALLOWS alerted me to the male SPARROWHAWK, which drifted over, trying not to lose his dignity as half a dozen plucky Swallows chased him off! A SKYLARK was singing over the maize crop at migrant alley, where 4 HERRING GULLS effortlesly flapped westwards. GOLDCREST and CHIFFCHAFF sang from the college grounds, and a KESTREL sped over. Whilst walking through Hadlow village I could see the PEREGRINE sat on his lookout perch on the tower.
This afternnon I spent a couple of hours around migrant alley, and the watery ditch that runs up the NW boundary of it, and my patch. At the scrubby headland I recorded the first LESSER WHITETHROAT fledglings of the year, at least two were being fed by the adult birds. Most of my time was spent looking over a small shallow pool of water, where I found my first record of the year for Broadbodied chaser, and Ruddy Darter (I think!) There were 3 male chasers and a female, I watched the female dipping her ovipositor into the water shortly after mating with one of the males. A relentless battle between the males carried on for all of the time I was there. Also in the pool was a Beautiful damoiselle, but it was caught and bashed up by one of te chasers! At least 15 Azure damselfly's completed the scene. lastly as I walked back, hot and thirsty, my first Red Admiral of the year flew up from the maize crop, and landed on some nettles in front of me.

My first Red Admiral of the year

I have identified this as a female Ruddy Darter. Mainly because of the all black legs and the black markings on the thorax. Or does anyone know better?

Male Broad Bodied Chaser

Another Male Broad bodied Chaser

Female Broad Bodied Chaser, This is when she was laying eggs, dipping her ovipositor into the water. If you click on the pic. and enlarge it, you can see the powerful downdraft of her wings on the water!

Female Broad bodied Chaser at rest

All these shots are of Azure Damselflies