The last day of June, the months seem to zoom past! I didn't record any new species for the months list today, but this June still turned out to have the best species list of any june, with a total of 67, beating the previous best of 64 set in 2005. The total for all junes is 78, with the average june total at 62. New species not recorded in this month before, were -: Willow Warbler, (just goes to show how lucky I was to have two on territory this year), Little Egret and of coarse Barnie the barn owl (or is it Tyto!). Despite setting new records for almost every month this year, I still have only got a year list of 88, some way to go to get that elusive 100.
Back to this afternoon, there were few birds to be seen, the usual LINNETS, WHITETHROATS and SKYLARK were in the tree nursery, where I also saw a Red Admiral butterfly, only the second this year. The small pool, adjacent to the tree nursery is rapidly drying out, but a family of MOORHENS still makes their home there, as does a mixture of damselflies. Over at migrant alley, I watched SWIFTS, SWALLOWS and HOUSE MARTINS chasing insects, and a KESTREL make a poor attempt at trying to catch them while they did! A nice site, was a couple of fox cubs 'mock fighting' after being brought a freshly killed rabbit by the vixen.

Swift over migrant alley

This adult fox had just sighted a rabbit. Unfortunately it also saw me, and it went round the corner, to the left of this pic. I stood and waited, and out came a Rabbit from the left, swiftly followed by the fox. It went into the bushes to the right where I heard the rabbits last squeals. I the heard, the cubs yelping and barking as they fed.

a few minutes of waiting, and out bundled two well grown cubs, I just got a pic. of one before they were disturbed by a bunch of horse riders.

Fox Cub on the lookout!

Only the second record of Red Admiral this year

One of the Moorhens on the small pool of water next to the tree nursery

A pair of what look to be White legged Damselflies, the male clasping the female as she lays her eggs. In two years time they in turn will be adult damselflies.

There wasn't much change on my patch from yesterday morning, but of the 47 species recorded today, 5 of them were missing from yesterdays list , BLACK HEADED GULL, COAL TIT, TREECREEPER, LITTLE OWL and SPOTTED FLYCATCHER, so 55 species for the weekend is pretty good going. The Little Owl was seen perched on top of the shack that the Barn Owl was in yesterday, I didn't look inside today, so Barnie may, or may not have been there. It was pleasing to see the Spotted Flycatcher in the college grounds, although no evidence of breeding was seen. A few summer migrants were still singing, LESSER and COMMON WHITETHROAT as well as CHIFFCHAFF, and a pair of BLACKCAPS trying to out-sing each other in the lakeside scrub, where a TURTLE DOVE came to the waters edge for a drink, I tried to get a photo of it but it was too wary, all my photo attempts were foiled today!
Butterflies were species were few, but scores of Meadow Browns were at the tree nursery.

A confirmation of some bad news for my patch was had when I met the farm manager of hadlow farm. A gas pipe line is going to be laid this time next year - right across Migrant Alley. There will be a 50m gash across my best bit of birding area, and the work is expected to last a year!
This could affect sightings such as, Wheatear, Yellow wagtail, Stonechat, Whinchat, Redstart and Black redstart, all have turned up in these fields. Winter flocks of Lapwing my also be affected, limiting the chances of a golden plover. I suppose I'll have to wait and see.

It's good to have all morning out on my patch, rather than just the half hours walk into work on weekdays, there is much more to see early on, rather than on afternoon visits. This morning, 4hrs from 06.30 produced 50 species, very little song was heard, 4-5 BLACKCAPS, 3 CHIFFCHAFFS, a short burst of LESSER WHITETHROAT, 2 COMMON WHITETHROAT, and at least one TURTLE DOVE was the effort from the summer visitors, DUNNOCK, SONGTHRUSH, and WREN joined in occasionally. The BARN OWL was again seen, I must admit I interrupted its roosting, it flew over to an oak tree, and as I sat and watched, it was back in the shack within 10mins, I won't disturb it at roost again, but I will go out at dusk sometime to see if its out hunting. At migrant alley an encouraging skywatch was had, a KESTREL, HOBBY, CORMORANT, and GREY HERON flew over, as well as two Gull species LESSER BLACK BACKED and HERRING. The usual SWALLOWS and HOUSE MARTINS were also observed, but there seemed fewer swifts, surely they're not leaving already!
Butterflies were represented, by Large Skipper, Meadow Brown, Small White, and at least 3 comma, I havn't seen these about for quite some time. A large dragonfly flew past - too far off to ID, and Blue damselflies were at the college pond, -Azure, Common, and blue tailed.

Barn Owl. Sorry Tyto I won't disturb you again.

Just look at those wing feathers.

This Skylark was singing loudly from the sheep pasture at migrant alley

Not as beautiful or as elegant as the Barn Owl, but this young Carrion Crow was being looked after by its noisy parents, they love it!

Stunning Comma butterfly in the sunshine

Anyone Know know what this Caterpillar will morph into. An Oak eggar ? or one of the Tussock moths ? Greenie, any ideas.

The day started sunny and bright, but it clouded over by lunch time, and a few showers fell in the afternoon. There was little to note on the way in to work this morming, but at the college, it was noticeable that the SONGTHRUSH'S and MISTLE THRUSH'S were collecting small items of food, a second brood of young on its way, good news.
My afternoons walk around migrant alley, and the tree nursery was getting frustrating, their wasn't much bird action, and the only butterflies were meadow browns, but in good numbers. I was just going to call it a day, but my last ''clutching at straws'' stop, was to check the old shack in the tree nursery grounds, for an owl, never found one in 6 years............................when WOW!! A BARN OWL (88.117) flew out and landed in a nearby fir tree, just long enough to fire off a few pics, it only sat for a few secs, before flying off into the cover of an oak. What an excellent record, a patch first in fact (hence the purple font!) this brings the total species seen on my patch to 117, and the year list to 88. It such a mega feeling when you get a new species!
The only downside is the shack is going to be knocked down, the owners think its a liability, and someone will injure themselves. Sad muppets.


Blow are the shakey handed, over excited photo's of my first Barn Owl on my patch.

SONGTHRUSH, COMMON WHITETHROAT, SKYLARK and YELLOWHAMMER all sang as I walked along Ashes Lane this morning, and looking down at me from a telephone pole was a male KESTREL. Crossing the sheep pasture, and horse paddocks at Migrant Alley I looked up and saw 15 - 20 SWIFTS in the cool, clear blue, wheeling and and calling their excited high pitched screaming call. It will only be a couple weeks now, before these masters of the sky leave for Africa, and in another month most will be gone, so enjoy them now!
This afternoon, just as I was heading off out, I looked out into the garden and saw a CARRION CROW on the lawn eating some of the soaked bread I chucked out, a rare bird in my garden indeed, only 1 - 2 sightings a year!
I walked over to the tree nursery, and did a circuit of the boundaries, scanning the hedgerows (such as they are!) I was hoping for some different butterfly species but only found, Small White, Meadow Brown and a Large Skipper, a Yellowhammer was hanging round a particular spot, it could have a nest with young, I haven't confirmed breeding for yellowhammer yet this year, i'll have to keep a watch here. I had a quick look round Migrant alley, just a few PIED WAGTAILS and LINNETS in the maize crop, and flyovers from HERRING GULL, LESSER BLACK BACK GULL, and a SPARROWHAWK, a bit early yet for a migrant 'chat' or Wheatear.

Large Skipper

Pied Wagtail

I was scratching around from the off today! A very quiet morning, apart from two SONGTHRUSH'S around 50m apart trying to out-sing each other, great to listen to. Again the WHITETHROAT in Ashes Lane sang, and a couple of SKYLARKS over the maize crop did likewise, CHIFFCHAFF, and GOLDCREST were heard in the college grounds, where also a mixed partyof some 12 LONG TAILED TITS, and 4 COAL TITS, all this years young birds, were flitting from tree to tree.
This afternoons walk was ruined by continual shotgun fire, coming from just off my patch, behind the lake area, as a consequence, that side of my patch was barron. Why do these idiots only get a kick out of killing ? Its not even the shooting season, everything they kill will leave starving broods to die in their nests. if these blokes were put in a uniform, and sent to Iraq to fight a proper foe they would urinate thier pants! Enough of my ranting!!
I decided to chill out over at migrant alley and check out the water pool, a few damselflies were about and just one male chaser, also a Ruddy/ common darter that had just emerged from its case. Unfortnately its wings were damaged, the stem it was clinging to having been blown around by the strong wind. Sadly this darter won't ever ''dart'', it will starve.
On the adjacent sheep pasture i watched 20 or so SWALLOWS, mostly recently fledged birds, chasing insects, and generally enjoying themselvs on the wind, I took some photo's of them, but they don't do these magic little flyers justice!

A Doomed Darter

This Swallow was only just out of the nest, and was receiving food from an adult bird.

Below are my attempts at capturing the fun being had by them all

A repeat of yesterdays weather and yesterdays birds this morning. WHITETHROAT singing in Ashes Lane, SKYLARK over migrant alley, and the PEREGRINE at his lookout post.
This afternoon I decided to go over to migrant alley for some skywatching, I was rewarded almost immediately with 7 LAPWING flying over, a bit tatty, as they were moulting flight feathers, but a welcome addition to the month list. A little later, and a HOBBY flew over, with two more over ashes lane as I walked home. Next up was a pair of KESTRELS, hovering over the newly cut grass field. After an hour or so I decided to visit the now diminishing pool of water, and again there were 3 male Broad Bodied Chasers, with 15 - 20 Azure Damselflies. I also saw a newt eft, and a water boatman. Such a mixture of life in a pool of water no more than 3 inch's deep. The lake at the other side of my patch holds much less life, but then, its got huge great carp in it which eat everything!

This Hobby flew right over my head!

It came back to check me out! ( poor pics, but you don't get much time with these birds)

A Kestrel also came to check me out

It also went right over my head

Broad Bodied Chaser (couldn't resist another couple of pics)

A newt Eft, better grow them legs quick, as the water is drying out rapidly!

Water Boatman, they swim upside down, just under the waters surface

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

A cloudy and very breezy morning, and the walk round my patch was more enjoyable than yesterday, especially as the sun broke through around 08:00. What little song did reach my ears, through the noisey wind blown trees, was produced by WHITETHROAT, CHIFFCHAFF, BLACKCAP, TURTLE DOVE and a GARDEN WARBLER. A LESSER WHITETHROAT was seen, and heard giving its scolding ''Tic'' ''Tic'' calls. Overhead, HERRING and LESSER BLACK BACK GULLS, were continually passing through, looking like they were enjoying the windy conditions, also a male SPARROWHAWK and a KESTREL were out hunting. The months first KINGFISHER was seen, flying from the small drainage pool adjacent to the tree nursery, I've not recorded this species here before, but the pool does dry up very quickly, the fact it is still full of water is testement to the amount of rainfall we've had this summer. Fledgeling birds were a feature of the morning, the first record of young COLLARED DOVE for the year was found in the college gardens, and three newly fledged SWALLOWS were at migrant alley, more GREENFINCH, Whitethroat, and MOORHEN young were also found.
Butterflies were represented by Meadow Browns, dozens of which were on the cut grass at the tree nursery, also Speckled Wood, and Large or Small skippers I can't decide which!

Large or small skipper?

Speckled Wood

Newly Fledged Collared Dove

Newly Fledged Swallow

Another Young MOORHEN

These thistles looked stunning in the sunshine, great for Butterflies, but I think their time is short, Hadlow college doesn't like scruffy old thistles, whats the chance of them being here come mid July?

A fine wetting rain was falling when I left at 06:00 this morning, fitting, as it's mid-summers day! It didn't bode well for seeing many bird species, and even worse for recording insects. I was soaked from the rain dripping from the trees, as well as brushing up against the wet vegetation.
As expected birdsong was limited to the more hardy resident species - SONGTHRUSH, BLACKBIRD, DUNNOCK and WREN were the most evident, and only COMMON WHITETHROAT, BLACKCAP, CHIFFCHAFF and a single utterence from a LESSER WHITETHROAT was the sum of the migrant effort. The first part of my walk along the edge of the golf course, down cuckoo lane, into the lake area and through the wet woods was miserably wet, so much so, I had to change into fresh clothes for the second part of my walk.
It did dry up a bit for the trek through the tree nursery and onto migrant alley, and the college grounds. The most noteable thing were the amount of LESSER BLACK BACKED and HERRING GULLS that were going over, they continued all the time I was out, with just a single BLACK HEADED GULL. I found a butterfly along the wood edge at the headland of migrant alley, and identified it as a Large Skipper, the first one this year. Best bird seen today was a HOBBY that chased the SWALLOWS over the greenhouse complex, stunning little falcons!

Large Skipper.

A SPARROWHAWK flew low over Ashes lane as I left for work this morning, a thanks goes to the SWALLOWS that alerted me with their alarm calls, they saw it coming 15- 20 secs before I located it! Linnets were on the telephone wires along the lane, they now have broods of young in the hedge below, lets hope that Coblands will hold back on the flailing for a few weeks. The only other noteworthy birds on the way in were a COAL TIT calling at the college, and a GREY WAGTAIL on the stream.
This afternoon I spent a couple of hours at the lake area and tree nursery again, I always have hopes of seeing a Great Crested Grebe on the water, as I have recorded the odd one at this time of year, but not today, in fact it was totally devoid of ducks entirely! While I was there I encountered one of those wildlife moments that happen now and again. At this time of year and onwards into the Autumn I occasionally come across a mixed feeding flock of birds, most of them are this springs young, but some adults are around too. The one I watched today was made up of at least 12 LONG TAILED TITS, 2 TREECREEPERS, 3 GOLDCRESTS, 5 BLUE TITS and 2 GREAT TITS, they feed just feet away, oblivious to the observer, and give constant contact calls, brilliant to listen too.
On the way back through the nursey, the sun came out for a milli-second, and I saw 3 Meadow brown butterflies around a flowering blackberry bush, a good place to watch for insects, they seem to really go for the blackberry blossoms. A few yards on I came across my first Black tailed Skimmer of the year, excellent little insect!

Black Tailed Skimmer, It is meant to have yellow spots down the flanks, but they ware off with age - apparantly!

Meadow Brown Butterfly

Nothing!! The lake is quiet at most times of the year, particularly so in summer. With a bit of management it could attract all sorts of wildfowl and birds, shame.

Light rain fell this morning on my way in, but it soon died out and the day brightened up. As I crossed the sheep pasture and paddocks at migrant alley, the first CORMORANT this month flew over, followed by a flock of gulls consisting of two BLACK HEADED and four HERRING. On the sports pitch at the college, 36 ROOKS fed, along with 14 JACKDAWS and a dozen or so STARLINGS. A CHIFFCHAFF could be heard singing somewhere in the grounds, but migrant song was mostly absent, as usually happens around and after the longest day.
A visit to the lake area was rewarded with some migrant song though. A single BLACKCAP, TURTLE DOVE and another CHIFFCHAFF all did their best. I also saw a few Speckled wood and Meadow brown butterflies here. I cut back through the tree nursery and watched a COMMON WHITETHROAT taking food to its nest site, and a pair of linnets went over carrying nesting material. The only large soaring birds I saw were LESSER BLACK BACKED GULLS, 3 went over heading SW. As I left the nursery I met a shooter with his airgun, he said he was rabbiting, but also shot Magpies , Jays, and Carrion Crows, he reckoned he was doing the songbirds a favour! I asked if he shot Great Spotted Woodpeckers, ''course not'' he growled, well they have the same habit of eating young fledglings I explained, whats the difference ? He didn't asnwer that! I suspect that the poor corvids suffer from centuries of indoctrinated opinions. Great Spots on the other hand have only recently had thier lifestyle studied.

Lesser Black backed Gulls

A YELLOWHAMMER sang it's distinctive song as I walked along Ashes Lane this morning, but apart from that, and the SONGTHRUSH'S and BLACKBIRDS singing, it was a quiet walk in. Whilst I was at work the PEREGRINE flew low over the school, a nice site, but no binoculars or camera!
When I got home I decided to split the afternoon in two, I would garden watch till 16:30 and then spend a couple of hours round my patch, well it didn't quite go to plan, as I locked myself out of the house when I left for my walk!! As the missus was away in Bexhill visiting relatives, I was well and truly bu**ered! The next two hours were spent trying to carefully break into my own house, I failed dismally and had to smash a window in the end, no patch walk today then!
The garden watch was ok though, with 31 species recorded, 16 of those came into the garden the remainder either flew over or were in the surrounding habitat, best of these was the PEREGRINE, two sightings in a day, a mile apart, and only the second time i've recorded it from my house. Three Gull species also flew over LESSER BLACK BACKED, HERRING and BLACKHEADED, the latter is not often recorded in June. A pair of MOORHEN seem to have established a territory in the sheep pasture to the front of my house, strange as its not particularly damp there, and the only water is a rain water catchment, contained in a butile liner.
The SPARROWHAWK visited the garden, missing it's target, but by the little piles of feathers I've been finding on the ground recently it seems he's back with a vengeance, I thought he had gone to pester someone else! Fledgling GREAT and BLUE TITS were buzzing around, and two well fledged DUNNOCKS were in the cover of the border, the GREAT SPOTTEED WOODPECKER was almost permanently on the nut feeder and a NUTHATCH was stashing the sunflower hearts in various nooks and crannies.

Tomorrow I will be at work all day, helping out with the school sports day, so unless I see something on the way in, or on the way home, my next entry will be on thursday.

A bright start to the day, even quite warm, but it soon went downhill, with showers and a cool breeze. The SPOTTED FLYCATCHER was again seen in the college grounds, as I walked home from work, and SKYLARK, SONGTHRUSH, BLACKBIRD and LINNET, were all performing well.
An afternoon walk to the lake area was a little dull, like the weather. I didn't catch up with any Damsel or butterflies, and the only birds on the lake were half a dozen mallards, the males in their eclipse plumage, and a few MOORHENS. However some song was heard from BLACKCAP, CHIFFCHAFF, TURTLE DOVE and WHITETHROAT. I walked back through the tree nursery and sat down for some skywatching. All that flew over were a couple of LESSER BLACK BACKED GULLS. A pair of Whitethroats were feeding young nearby, and a CUCKOO called and was seen in a sycamore tree some 50m away, just across from where I was sitting a Songthrush began singing and continued for the half hour I was there. Nearing home as I walked up ashes lane, I could hear the sound of young birds in the hedge, I stopped and waited and out came a female chaffinch, always nice to find a nest, no matter how common the bird.

Another cracking morning for being out on my patch. This didn't make it any easier to find the summer migrants though, few were singing. A LESSER WHITETHROAT sang from the hedgerow on the golfcourse, a CUCKOO gave a brief and stuttering cuck- cuck -cuckoo, from the scrub area around the lake, where also a pair of BLACKCAPS were foraging for food, and a CHIFFCHAFF called in the background. A GARDEN WARBLER gave a short burst of song from the tree nursery, where the YELLOWHAMMER was singing from his songpost atop a pine tree. At migrant alley it was just ROOKS and other corvids, a flyover GREY HERON and the usual SWALLOWS, SWIFTS and HOUSE MARTINS spinning above. As I walked on to the college grounds and gardens I saw a SPOTTED FLYCATCHER, the first seen here since mid may. I wonder if they are breeding here, as in other years? I'll have to keep a close lookout. Also I saw the first sighting this month of the PEREGRINE, putting in a brief appearance, flying over low and vanishing behind the treeline. So all in all, it was a good morning out, with 51 species being recorded, and I didn't see a Jay!

This Whitethroat was in an Oak tree, in the headland at migrant alley, with at least two fledged young. The Whitethroats are more abundant on my patch this year, and appear to be doing well.

Thought i'd put these two Nuthatch photo's on, always a nice bird to see. Although they are looking a it dull after their breeding exertions.

Back to Damselflies! Now I think this could well be a White Legged Damselfly. The pattern on the second segment doesn't seem to fit the Common or Azure blue. Also it has got somewhat ''swollen'' tibia, and the legs look white to me! Anyone agree?

last of all, just to say yesterday evening at 20:30 a LITTLE EGRET flew over my house, I saw it from the front window whist watching telly. This is the 86th species i've recorded in and around my garden.

This morning was perfect for birding, a bit of sun, a bit of cloud, and only a light breeze. I spent 4 hours from 06:30 bashing my patch, and found 49 species, roughly as expected, but no Cuckoo, Garden Warbler or Willow Warbler was seen. On the positive side two LESSER WHITETHROATS sang, the first since the 8th, as did a TREECREEPER from the golfcourse. A TURTLE DOVE ''Purred'' from the scrub headland at migrant alley, and a LITTLE OWL called and was then located on a fencepost, on the edge of a small copse next to the greenhouses. Two GREY WAGTAILS were in one of the college carparks, not far from the stream, and they posed for a picture atop of a traffic cone!
Recently fledged NUTHATCH'S were seen in the wet woods, and newly fledged GOLDFINCH'S visited my garden, its good to find two more confirmed breeding species on my patch.
Butterflies were few, but I did find my first MEADOW BROWN of the year.

Grey Wagtail on a traffic cone

My first Meadow Brown butterfly of the year.

Juvenile Goldfinch at garden feeeders

It was bright and sunny first thing this morning, but cloud drifted in by 07:15. Little was of note as I walked in to work, just the usual ROOKS in the horse paddocks, 76 in all, along with a few CARRION CROWS, and JACKDAWS. SWALLOWS skimmed over their heads collecting insects, and the HOUSE MARTINS and SWIFTS fed much higher up. A small party of Linnets, possibly a family, flew over the sports pitch at the college, where in the grounds GOLDCREST and CHIFFCHAFF could be heard singing.
A short afternoon stroll round the tree nursery and lakeside didn't prove very interesting, although I did see a Fungus in the wet woods, having no knowledge of fungi I couldn't I.D it! A GREY HERON flew over the greenhouse complex, and more Linnets were seen amongst the shrubs in the nursery.


Anyone Know what fungus this is?

Grey Heron over the greenhouse complex

A lovely male linnet, with his raspberry dipped chest and forehead

It was back to the cool and wet weather this morning, and the most noteworthy occurrence was that there was a newly fledged family of COMMON WHITETHROAT, it was the family of the very first Whitethroat I found this year, on the boundary of migrant alley.
This afternoons visit consisted of the usual walk around the lake area, where again TURTLE DOVES were heard, along with CHIFFCHAFF and Common Whitethroat, I also cut through the tree nursery and was pleased to see the months first COMMON BUZZARD fly high over, then come down lower, before being chased off by some corvids. I always get a bit excited when spying a large raptor coming over, thinking it may be a Harrier species, or an Osprey even, then get the ''Oh its just a Buzzard'' feeling when it finally gets identified. I shouldn't really feel this way, as it is only recently that this species has colonised this area, and when I saw the first one over my patchI was jumping up and down!
Back in the Garden, the first HOUSE SPARROW Juvenile was recorded, and the female GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER, brought in a Juv. to feed on the peanuts

Juv. GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER (red on crown)

It looked a bit lost on the floor! not it's preferred habitat.

Yea, I know its a crappy photo, but I wanted a pic of a Buzzard over my patch, and i think this is my best chance! ( Buzzard at the bottom :-) )

Jackdaws are coming into the garden more frequently now. Probably something to do with the fat pellets I put out!

The first Fledged HOUSE SPARROW. A well grown one at that.

Two CUCKOO'S were seen/heard this morning, one flew from a large garden adjacent to migrant alley, calling as it did so, and the other was heard calling from the same garden, lucky people two cuckoo's in their back garden! (not that they would have even noticed). Not much else to report on the way in, one of the GREY WAGTAILS was calling from the stream behind the college, but otherwise all the normal stuff about.
A quick visit the the lake was worth while, as I recorded a MANDARIN DUCK another new one for the month, bring up the 60 mark. Another, or one of this mornings Cuckoo's was calling actively from the scrub, where a family party of at least 10 LONG TAILED TITS were flitting noisily. I walked on over to the tree nursery only to find a tractor cutting down all the low brambles and grass in one of the fields, thus ending all nesting attempts there, and destroying all the bug life in it. All this for no other reason than ''keeping it all looking tidy'' What a bunch of idiots These people are!
At Migrant alley there seem to be a passage of LESSER BLACK BACKED GULLS, with 14 going west, in groups of two's and three's, and a pair of TURTLE DOVES were on the powere lines crossing the fields.

Goldfinch at the feeders in my garden

One of the Lesser Black Backed Gulls going over migrant alley

More destruction form the local land owners/ leasers. The surrounding hedges will be the next to be ''nicely tidied''

It was another warm walk to work this morning, and the first bird encountered was a KESTREL, flying over ashes Lane,the local SWALLOWS doggedly chased it out of their territory. SONGTHRUSH'S, BLACKBIRDS and ROBINS were the only songsters heard along the lane, but at migrant alley, a SKYLARK was singing high up in the blue, and a pair of LINNETS were sitting on a fence line. A GOLDCREST was again singing at the college, and on one patch of lawn I counted 8 Blackbirds and a SONGTHRUSH.
It was hot again in the afternoon, so I left it until 17:30 until going out for an hour around the tree nursery and the fields at migrant alley, even then it was still very quiet. I did hear a CUCKOO though, and a CHIFFCHAFF sang in the distance. Atop a fir tree a YELLOWHAMMER was giving his distinctive call, and as I watched, a Couple of HERRING GULLS flew over.
I didn't find any damsel or butterflies, funny how they are here one day and gone te next!

Yellowhammer

A fully fledged and independent Blue Tit, one of many seen at the garden feeders.

First thing this morning, on the way to work, I saw a hen linnet feeding a newly fledged youngster, another species confirmed breeding on my patch. The rest of the walk in, revealed little else of note, although a GOLDCREST was singing in the college grounds. On the way home, it was hot, and very little was to be recorded in the heat. SWALLOWS, SWIFTS, and HOUSE MARTINS were above the Maize crop, and paddocks at migrant alley, feeding on the many aeriel insects.
As it was so warm, I waited till 16.00 until going out for an afternoon walk. I went to the tree nursery, where a COMMON WHITETHROAT displayed, and a GARDEN WARBLER was seen and heard. A TURTLE DOVE flew over towards migrant alley, and a HERRING GULL also flew over, with two LESSER BLACKBACK GULLS. It was disappointing not to see any butterflies, but there again, the habitat has just been dealt a blow as Coblands have mown and strimmed everything that isn't one of their trees!

Back at my garden feeding staion, a Juv. Greenfinch was enjoying the sunflower hearts

A Male Blackbird collected dropped sunflower hearts, no doubt he has a brood of nestlings in the vacinity.

Back to Damselflies.............I'm sure this is an Azure Blue!

The early cloud soon was soon burnt off by an increasingly warm sun, and it became hot by the afternoon.
I set off at 06:15 on a four hour walk round the patch, and as it is often so in June, limited birdsong was heard, as many residents are now busy with young. CHIFFCHAFF and BLACKCAP did give a few verses, as did the ever willing COMMON WHITETHROAT. A bonus was a brief bit of song from a LESSER WHITETHROAT. Three Gull species were seen flying over LESSER BLACK BACKED, HERRING and the first BLACKHEADED for the month, these and the two Geese species GREYLAG and CANADA helped the day list up to a creditable 50. The bird of the day has to go to the first HOBBY of the month, circling over ashes lane, as I neared home.

This fox was with a well grown cub. It didn't seem to bothered by my presence.

Now.......Here's a delemma. These two Demoiselles look different but I reckon they are both Male Beautiful demoiselles, their wings just catch the light differently. I'm only a beginner when it comes to these beasties, as was shown by my wrongly labelled Azure blue damselfly yesterday. After being tipped off by Newhythe steve, I dismissed the Azure blue. The lack of a subtle black mark on the last body segment clinched it as a Common Blue.

the first Hobby of the month over Ashes Lane. Poor pics, but it's going on my photo album!

It was dry and cool this morning at 06:30 when I left for a four hour walk round my patch. It was hard going trying to find summer migrants, but eventually CHIFFCHAFF, BLACKCAP,WILLOW WARBLER, CUCKOO,COMMON and LESSER WHITETHROAT, were seen or heard, the latter was the first this month. Most of my efforts were spent trying to find confirmation of breeding from NUTHATCH or Treecreeper, but I didn't even see a Treecreeper! The Nuthatch was seen carrying sunflower hearts away though.
A short skywatch over migrant alley produced HERRING and LESSER BLACK BACKED GULL and a GREY HERON, and around the edge of the maize field a KESTREL hunted. 48 species was a good total for June, and had either of the geese showed up or the Long Tailed Tit 50 would have been easily achievable.
whilst watching the garden, I saw the first SPOTTED FLYCATCHER this month, on a fence over on the sheep pasture to the front of the house, I havn't seen this species since seeing pair in the college grounds, back in mid May. Also had the good fortune of seeing a Kestrel alight at the very top of the tree that overhangs my garden, it dived down after a BLUE TIT fledgling but missed!

Kestrel Hunting over my garden.

It didn't get a meal............this time.

The only Damselfly to be seen was this Common Blue (thanks Steve).

The day started bright, but by the late morning it was clouding over, and rain began to fall by 4pm. Two CUCKOO'S flew over at hedge-top height, as I walked in this morning, and again a skein of CANADA GEESE flew over migrant alley, this time numbering 21. A new species for the month was seen on the stream, when a newly fledged GREY WAGTAIL was calling from an overhanging tree, a good species to have breeding on the patch. Two other new species for the month - NUTHATCH and COAL TIT were seen during an afternoon walk around the lake area, the latter was with a brood of recently fledged young, another species confirmed breeding on my patch.
A quick half an hour looking over the garden, and there were juv. birds everywhere, GREAT and BLUE TITS mostly, but also CHAFFINCH, ROBIN, STARLING and DUNNOCK. Looks like it could be quite a good breeding year for birds this year, in this area at least.

This Cock House Sparrow was ''cheaping'' on a road sign guarding his territory.

There were lots of Bumble Bees amongst the Foxgloves in my garden, despite the dull weather.

Nothing much of note on the way to work this morning, apart from 13 CANADA GEESE that noisily flew over migrant alley. It was also pretty quiet this afternoon, I spent around 90mins doing the circuit from the lake, through the tree nursery, and on to migrant alley. There were a few summer migrants calling, and singing, BLACKCAP, COMMON WHITETHROAT, CHIFFCHAFF and TURTLE DOVE, but only in ones or two's. As I walked through the tree nursery I heard a CUCKOO calling from where I had just come, maybe one of the last times I hear it this year. Last spring the penultimate call was on the 9th June and the last on the 17th.
I didn't see any dragon/damselle flies and only one Small White butterfly was recorded.



The first of the starlings to fledge are now feeding themselves, and have changed plumage from grey to brown.

Blue tit adults are coming back to the feeders, with their young in tow.

A female Great spotted woodpecker was collecting sunflower hearts for its youngster, that was in cover, and didn't want to be photographed! (this female is one we have ringed, left leg)

The promised sunshine did arrive - eventually, and what a difference it makes! This afternoon I spent an hour around the lakeside scrub, and heard TURTLE DOVE, BLACKCAP, CHIFFCHAFF and COMMON WHITETHROAT but the Willow Warbler was nowhere to be seen/heard. I moved on to the tree nursery and sat and listened, a GREY HERON flew over and a Common Whitethroat sang nearby, as well as a GARDEN WARBLER, the first I have heard in this area. I also saw my first PAINTED LADY butterfly, but it didn't stop for a photo - pity.
A sad occurrence on Ashes lane as I walked home, I found the crushed corpse of a female House Sparrow, one of the birds that had been colour ringed for the BTO ''Ringing Adults for Survival'' scheme, that i'm helping out in. She was ringed as a Juv. in Aug. 2005. Even sadder that I saw this bird at my feeders two days earlier, taking food away for its young. Its not the first House sparrow to meet it's end this way, why must people speed at 50mph down a country lane?

Another dismal walk into work, as a fine, wetting rain fell - not the best conditions for seeing wildlife, my bins didn't even come out of my fleece! It did get a bit brighter in the afternoon, or did I just imagine it? I walked round the tree nursery and the fields at migrant alley, but there was little to record, a KESTREL hunted overhead, SONGTHRUSH'S, BLACKBIRDS, and the ever singing ROBINS were the only birds trying to make light of the gloom, with some cheerful song. I did see a pair of LINNETS looking suspiciously like they were in the vacinity of their nest site, i've yet to confirm breeding for this species.
By 15:30 the fine, wetting rain returned, so I gave up and went home to see what was in the garden. I found my latest delivery of bird grub on the doorstep, in it, was 6kg of fat pellets, I put out 1kg straight away, and it lasted 15mins! MAGPIE, JACKDAW and the hoard of STARLINGS took most of it, but Blackbird, Robin and DUNNOCK got a look in too. Young GREENFINCH, CHAFFINCH, BLUE and GREAT TIT continue to visit, and the female GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER brings in a Juv. every 15mins or so.
The weather forecast looks a bit brighter for tomorrow, lets hope so!

This male Chaffinch was the brightest moment of the day

My garden Elder tree has plenty of flowers on it, this bodes well for some decent amounts of late summer fruit. always appreciated by Blackcaps and Whitethroats as they pass through.

The only good thing about the rain is that it makes everything grow! The Maize at migrant alley is doing well, ! might get a migrant Sedge warbler in it later in the year

There were only a few brief, bright intervals today, and that was early this morning as I walked to work. There was a distinct lack of song from any of the summer migrants, but SONGTHRUSH'S and BLACKBIRDS were trying to brighten the day. A strange scene appeared in front of me as I walked in, I noticed a squirrel, right on top of a telegraph pole, when I looked through my bins I could see it was dead! It must have been hit by a car and scurried up to the top of the pole and died, eyes wide open!
After work, and a wet walk home, i did some garden watching, which was pretty dire, lots of young birds about, GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKERS, DUNNOCKS, ROBINS, GREAT and BLUE TITS, also a hoard of starlings that came in every half hour or so. Otherwise it was a very uninspiring day.

Fledgling Blue Tit

Hoard of starlings, wolfing down the last of the crushed peanuts.

A new month, and the usual count up of every bird encountered took place in dull damp conditions this morning. I expected WOODPIGEON (78) to be the most numerous species, but a large flock of over 200 STARLINGS took that honour, the third most numerous species was the ROOK (58). There was a good number of BLACKBIRDS about too, I counted 45.
Now June is here I don't really expect to add any new species for the year, but you never can tell ! The best June total was back in 2005, when I recorded 64 species, so that will be my target this month, the average june species total is 62 - so todays total of 48 is a good start, especially as I heard the WILLOW WARBLERS singing, a species not recorded in june before.
I went and checked all the nest boxes as well this morning, and all but one box, containing 11 ''ready to go'' blue tits, had fledged all their young, a good year for them.

This LITTLE OWL posed for just one pic, then it was off!