Another sweltering day !
This morning as I walked to work I had good views of the SPOTTED FLYCATCHER, in the college grounds, there was no sign of any youngsters, nor did it seem to be collecting food for any, but it is still quite early yet. Also seen was a flyover LAPWING headed west.

This afternoon was just too hot to go out, so I waited until 16:30 until the hottest part of the day had gone. I was out for 2 hours, and visited the college grounds, and stream, and walked a circuit of migrant alley. Very little was seen birdwise, but plenty of Butterflies were out, nothing new though.

A 40 minute skywatch over Migrant Alley only produced LESSER BLACKBACKED and HERRING GULL, with a GREY HERON. Kestrel and Sparrowhawk were nowhere to be seen, but the PEREGRINE was on its favoured perch - just off my patch.
There were lots of SWALLOWS about today, their numbers increased by more newly fledged young. (see the pics below)

As I left for home, I walked through the Greenhouse complex, and saw a WHITETHROAT and BLACKCAP together in a large Blackthorne bush, not usually where I see these species,a sign that things are moving towards the long autumn migration ?

June ended with a total of 65 species being recorded, the second highest June total. Four new species were recorded that have not occurred in any June-
Mute Swan, Red Kite, Meditteranean Gull and the Little Ringed Plover, which was a patch tick of course.

The mean number of species seen in June over the 8 years of recording, is 62.8, so this June was above average, and the total species recorded in all junes' combined is now 82.

As I sat writing this, all the swallows over the house went into alarm call, I looked out a saw a HOBBY circling round, nice end to the day.

I walked to work this morning at 06:45, and the temperature was already 70F ! This afternoon it reached 86F in the shade, but if you were silly enough to go out into the sun it was alot hotter!

Me, being silly went out! Other mammalian critters did not, they, along with most of the bird species stayed in the woods and hedges trying to keep cool, apart from the SWALLOWS, HOUSE MARTINS, and SWIFTS. They were in their element, soaring high catching the abundant insect prey that proliferates in these conditions. Of course, the Birds of prey are never far from a gathering of hirundines, and as I watched the sky over Migrant alley, KESTREL, SPARROWHAWK, and PEREGRINE all tried their luck, but none was successful, as far as I could see.

I walked over to the stream behind the college grounds, hoping for a Kingfisher to flash past, one I need for the months list, but none appeared, instead I ended up watching, and chasing dragonflies and Butterflies, at least they enjoy the heat!

By 17:00hrs I had flagged, and was in need of shade and water, I go out in all conditions - cold, wet, fog, snow and ice, the lot, but I think the hot humid conditions are the most tiring!

Below are some of the insects I photographed. Oh, and its going to be hotter as the week goes on!

Above is a Beautiful demoiselle, that was by the college stream, below is a Female Black tailed Skimmer

This Painted lady butterfly was absolutely pristine, this one didn't migrate from Africa, it was 'homegrown'. I waited for ages for it to open its wings, but alas it wouldn't, and I was getting roasted.

Below is a Comma Butterfly, there were more of these about today than I have ever seen on my patch.

I also saw this Small Skipper, only the second one I've recorded.

Of course, there were lots of these Meadow Browns about, as usual.

Just to put a bird photo on, I snapped this Juv. GREAT TIT on the feeder in my garden

This is what greeted me this morning at 05:30 as I left for my patch walk- FOG!
I had 6 hours this morning, more than enough time to find those 4 species needed to beat the record for June - if they were out there, but the fog was so dense, it was difficult to record anything! One of the first birds on the list was a bit of a surprise, a CUCKOO, it was heard calling from over at the lake area, probably the latest I've heard one calling on my patch. As I made my way round Migrant alley and the college grounds, I was getting soaked by the knee high grass, and vegetation, and to rub it in I was only recording the usual suspects. I managed to find my first newly fledged SWALLOWS at the college equine centre though, they were huddled up on a telephone line.

As I walked back home for a halftime drink, I passed this SPAROWHAWK on the Greenhouses. I thought it was holding prey, and hiding it with it's wings, as they do, but saw that it was actually airing it's wings in the cool air.

The second half of my walk was done in equally foggy conditions, and the day list was on just 37! I did quickly add LONG TAILED and COAL TIT through the wet woods though, and the CANADA GEESE took me to the 40 mark, this was worse than yesterday! A JAY screeched from the wet woods as I left to enter the Tree Nursery, where a PHEASANT flew up, and a MISTLE THRUSH started to sing from the top of an Oak.

It was now 09:30 and only now had the fog began to disperse, so I went over to Migrant Alley for a Skywatching session, I could noe see the SWIFTS and HOUSE MARTINS that I had only heard earlier, and a YELLOWHAMMER went over, calling as it did so. As the sun came through, it got very warm and humid, but I carried on, and was rewarded with HERRING, and LESSER BLACK BACKED GULLS, as well as 5 BLACK HEADED GULLS all going west, a little while later the KESTREL revealed itself, and started its usual routine, of upsetting the Swallows and PIED WAGAILS round the Greenhouse area. I picked up a white flash of a bird from behind the tree line, just off my patch, and was pleased to add MUTE SWAN to the list as it came over. Hooray! This species is new for the month! They are scarce on my patch, in fact this is the first one i've ever recorded in June, and the first seen on my patch since a group of 5 flew over back on March 14th! Maybe too little too late for the june record though, still 3 more species needed! The last bird on the day list was a welcome sighting of a LAPWING, fittingly number 50, a decent enough result for the day.

Below is a male HOUSE SPARROW, anticipating a bit of sun.

This BLACKBIRD was on the telephone line as I neared home

Below is a Comma Butterfly, seen in the hedgerow behind my skwatching seat.

My eagerly anticipated mornings walk, was an anticlimax, I was scratching around to find birds, at times it was totally silent! The highlight of the patch visit was finding a Deer, it had got itself into one of the sheep fields, and was looking for a way out.

By 10:00hrs it was very warm, and the sun had burnt off the early low cloud and mist, I sat in the tree nusery at the end of my walk, and tallied up my species count, just 46 species had been recorded, a poor total for 3 and and a half hours walking. I had some hopes of finding a Kingfisher, or Greylag Goose to add to the months list, but with just one full walk of my patch left, and two afternoon visits, I think last years June record total is safe!

I will have to get up earlier and look harder tomorrow morning!!


Below is the Deer that was stranded in the sheep field. I think it will get out eventually, I very rarely see Deer on my patch. Sorry for the Pic. quality but it was a long way off , and in the mist.
I went up to the garden shed at one point this afternoon, to get some garden bird pics through the window, but it was so hot in there I gave up after taking this BLUE TIT photo! ( what a wimp I am!!)

My Idea was to hide away from the heat all afternoon, and go out this evening, but I got as far as Migrant alley and a huge thunderstorm appeared!!

I think I should have just gone down to the beach today!!

Thunder storm approaching, the camera did well to brighten the sky in the image below.

Early this morning I was awoken by a thunderstorm and heavy rain, but it had all but cleared by 07:00hrs, although the rest of the day was mostly cloudy, there were some sunny intervals, and it felt hot, humid, and uncomfortable in these spells.

This afternoons visit was curtailed to just 90 minutes, it was just too hot and humid for me, I may go out later this evening. I did get to visit the lakeside scrub, and was surprised at the amount of BLACKCAP and CHIFFCHAFF song, I didn't get to photograph any though, the now very dense undergrowth hides them well. Whilst I roamed, I came across a feeding party of birds, again there were Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs present, with BLUE and GREAT TITS, and a family of TREECREEPERS, as I waited for a photo opportunity, I could here at least 2 TURTLE DOVES singing, and an unseen WHITETHROAT scolded me from a thick clump of brambles.

As I trudged back towards home, dehydrated, and leg weary, I saw a large Butterfly, it alighted on an old drainpipe, and showed itself to be a Red admiral, this one, unlike yesterdays, did open its wings, moments later I got a pic of a speckled Wood, a butterfly that I didn't get a photo of yesterday.

Nearing home I saw the KESTREL hunting around its usual haunt- the greenhouses, which wasn't appreciated by the PIED WAGTAILS, and 4 anxious BLACKBIRDS that gave their ''pink'' ''pink'' alarm calls until it moved on.
I'll be glad to get out early in the morning, when it's much fresher. I still need 4 more new species for the month to beat last years record, time is running out!


Above and below are the photo's I managed to get of the Treecreepers. A bit blurry - for some reason I didn't have a steady hand today, too hot!!

Below is the Red Admiral Butterfly on an old drainpipe, it could have found something more natural to show itself off!

Next is the Speckled Wood Butterfly

I also got a few photo's of damselflies, as i passed the run off pool in the tree nursery, this one is a Blue Tailed.

I think these two mating are Common Blue (Edit - I'm wrong - Again. They're Azure's :-( )

I think this one is another Common Blue ( Edit - Another Azure, thanks greenie!)

I came across a patch of Ragwort in the tree nursery, with the obligatory cinnabar moth caterpillars on it.

This Flower was in the scrub area, Anyone know what it is ?

Another very warm and humid day, although it was cloudy first thing as I walked into work, and it was the half hour walk in to work that provided the most birds. A flock of at least 22 LONG TAILED TITS, with BLUE and GREAT TITS accompanying them in smaller numbers, with two CHIFFCHAFF and a TREECREEPER tagging along, were seen working their way from the Scrub at migrant alley, and into the college grounds. Quite a sight and sound to behold.

The humid and hot weather this afternoon meant that very few birds were about, KESTREL and SPARROWHAWK were around hunting, and HERRING GULLS flew over as did a lone BLACK HEADED GULL, but the afternoon ended up being more noteworthy for the Butterflies! So i'll leave you with some pics of what I saw. Apart from the ones that got away that is! These included Speckled wood, Large White, Painted Lady, and a probable Gatekeeper - which would have been my first of the year.

Above is a Small White

Above and Below are Small Tortoiseshell, different ones! They are coming back!

Above and below is the Large Skipper

Below is a Red Admiral, only the second one recordd this year, alas it refused to open its wings!

Above and below is the Meadow Brown - the most Common butterfly on my patch

Lastly , above and below, the Common Blue, looking a little tatty now.

Thunderstorms are forecast for tomorrow!!

A bit of late news from last evening - the hedgehogs were out!! They are quite a rareity where I live, these are the only two I know of. they came out around 21:00hrs, and were eating the leftover fat from a steak i had for dinner!

Back to today, which again dawned sunny and warm, a LESSER WHITETHROAT was heard singing as I walked in to work, as was a TURTLE DOVE and BLACKCAP, nice to have a bit of song first thing.

This afternoon was the usual trek round the tree nursery, but I decided to pay the lake and scrub area a visit, before going back over to migrant alley. I was looking for butterflies along the nursery boundary, but without much luck, just Large Skippers and Meadow Browns with a single Painted lady were recorded. Over at the lake and scrub area it was all very quite, as per normal in June, the lake had 13 CANADA GEESE on it, but not the hoped for Greylag goose, there was also a recently fledged MALLARD seen, it was scurrying across the water dodging the Geese! A male BULLFINCH alighted 20 feet in front of me, but kept itself hidden behind the foliage - like they always do!

I cut through the tree nursery to get to migrant alley, but half way across I heard a call- a Wader call, I looked up,but saw nothing but blue sky, then again it called, loud and clear, this time closer, but where was it ? Once again it called and this time I saw it, a tiny Wader, I got my bins onto it and had a glimpse of its face pattern - Ringed Plover, or was it a Little Ringed Plover ? I watched it fly over to migrant alley, and only ever got views of it's underside, but I did have the call to go on. On my return from my walk, I was straight on the computer, listening to Ringed and Little Ringed Plover calls, and no doubt in my mind it was a LITTLE RINGED PLOVER, (126, 101) Yesssssss!! A fantastic bird to have on my patch, I never would have believed this one would get recorded here, all that scratching around this month has paid off handsomely, I love patch watching!!

Also rans during a skywatch at Migrant Alley included the KESTREL, SPARROWHAWK, a CORMORANT ( only the second this month) and both LESSER BLACK BACKED and HERRING GULL, but I must admit, it was a halfhearted skywatch, as I was itching to get back and ID the wader, what a find!

Below is a JUV. LONG TAILED TIT, seen along the footpath between the wet woods and lake.

Below is a Male Bullfinch. A typical view of one of these very shy birds!!

Lastly the flotilla of CANADA GEESE, I still need Greylag Goose for the months list!

At last some of the sunshine we had been promised came our way, it was warm and sunny all day! Lots of butterflies were on the wing, Large and Small Skipper, Small white, Meadow Brown and painted ladies were all seen along the the boundaries of the tree nursery, where a WHITETHROAT was seen taking food back to its young. A pair of STOCK DOVES and a single TURTLE DOVE flew up from between the Laurel shrubs, and the usual GREEN WOODPECKER joined them a few moments later. A quick sit down in the shade to scan the sky was rewarded with the acrobatic performances of SWIFTS, SWALLOWS, and just a few HOUSE MARTINS, with a lone LESSER BLACK BACKED GULL heading west.

I next ventured over to the scrub at Migrant alley, where More Butterflies were seen, a few SPECKLED WOODS were here, but nothing more exciting than that. As I went round to take my skywatching seat, I saw that the grass field had been cut, and the cuttings lay in neat parallel lines ready to be collected. A pair of MAGPIES were there feeding there youngster, and as I watched I heard a LAPWING call, I scanned the field and sure enough up flew four of them, quite something for this species to be on my patch during June. I spent a hot 45 minutes watching the azure blue sky, but only saw a SPARROWHAWK and two KESTRELS, the latter interacted briefly before going their separate ways.

There were no new species for the month recorded, I think last years record of 67 will hold for another year. I had a look at what I had seen last June, but not this - Mandarin Duck, Kingfisher, Barn Owl, Greylag Goose, Little Egret, and Willow Warbler were seen last year, but this year I have seen Med. Gull and Red Kite that were not on last junes list!


Despite all the butterflies about, I failed to get a decent pic. of any. So I took some photo's of the birds visiting my garden pond when I got back. they were taken through the shed window so aren't too clear!
Above is a Juv. ROBIN and Below is one of the dozens of Juv. BLUE TITS using the pond.

Below is one of the Kestrels that was seen during my skywatch

Lastly the cut grass field, where the Lapwings were. This view looks north

Well after the weekends exciting finds and long bird lists, I came down to earth with a solid bump this afternoon! After walking home from work in very warm bright conditions, it all changed almost as soon as I left the house, the dark cloud rolled in, and a cool breeze got up, which was annoying as I had only gone out in a tee-shirt.

A brief forage around the tree nursery boundary for butterflies, only turned up Meadow Brown, they are everywhere at the moment, sun or not! Whilst I was there a large female SPARROWHAWK came over low, it circled above the greenhouses attracting the local PIED WAGTAIL and SWALLOW population, which seemed to revel in the game of ''mob the hawk'', they won of course and the Sparrowhawk wandered off.

I went over to my seat at Migrant alley, and sat in the wind for 40 mins, watching the fields and sky. A BLACK HEADED GULL went over - the first for a couple of weeks, as did a couple of LESSER BLACK BACKED GULLS and a group of 6 HERRING GULLS. A KESTREL came in from the south, and started hunting around the Greenhouses, its usual hunting place. On the fields and paddocks there were LINNETS, a few GOLDFINCH'S, two SKYLARKS that took turns in singing, and also the usual WOOD PIGEON and corvid mix. The only bright spot of the afternoon was when 3 LAPWING flew over, the first this month, it's been a while since I added a species to the months list, which still lies 4 behind the best ever June total of 67, i've got just 8 days to beat it!

Cool and cloudy once again for this mornings patch walk, and it was ''as you were'' for the species count, although the 50 species today did have two not seen yesterday, a Juv. GREY WAGTAIL seen by the college stream, which could not have been raised far away, and also a SPARROWHAWK that was seen carrying off some unfortunate victim across the tree nursery, and into the wet woods.

Not much singing was heard this morning, but those who were trying included, the migants birds of BLACKCAP, CHIFFCHAFF, WHITETHROAT, and TURTLE DOVE, while the resident WREN, DUNNOCK, ROBIN, BLACKBIRD, CHAFFINCH, GOLDCREST and SONG THRUSH all gave some song.

I noted a family of LESSER WHITETHROATS being fed in the college grounds, this pair have been very elusive birds, I only heard the male sing once!

This afternoon, the sun shone (at times) so I roamed around the Tree nursery boundary, looking for butterflies. I really wanted to find that Brown Argus again, but I failed. However I did get some pics of -
A Male Common Blue Butterfly, Ive had a female on my patch, but this is the first male, what a cracker!

Below is what i'm sure is a Small Skipper, and represents another new Butterfly species for my patch

I also saw another Small Tortoishell, lets hope they are on the raod to recovering some of their losses.

When I got home from ''butterfly hunting'' I was surprised to see this young Grass snake in my pond, it was only as thin as my finger and about 30cm long (about a foot in old money)

I couldn't have a post without a bird in it! So here's a Juv. GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER, taken this morning in the gloom!

The recent sunny mornings came to an end today, well it is the weekend! It was cool, and cloudy with a keen NW breeze when I left for my walk at 06:00, and the birds wern't really making themselves obvious, GOLDFINCH, GREENFINCH, WOODPIGEON, WREN and PIED WAGTAIL were the first five species on the list, seen immediatly after leaving my house, and as I walked down Ashes lane towards the tree nursery I added JACKDAW, LESSER BLACK BACKED GULL, SWIFT, SWALLOW and BLUE TIT in quick succession. Once in the tree nursery, the wind felt cold, and bird song was scarce, just a WHITETHROAT, LINNET and BLACKBIRD were heard, 3 STOCK DOVES, a GREEN WOODPECKER, 4 COLLARED DOVES and a MAGPIE flew out of the field with remaining trees, while overhead a HERRING GULL and a KESTREL wee noted, the latter headed off to the Greenhouses and began hunting. A SONG THRUSH flew out of the vegetation around the drainage pool, ROBIN, CHAFFINCH, DUNNOCK and GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER were also found here.

I followed the hedgerow that leads up to Migrant Alley, and on the sheep pasture I added ROOK and STARLING to the day list, crossing Ashes lane again to go into Migrant Alley, I heard HOUSE SPARROWS calling from one of the large gardens. Migrant Alley was pretty quite, three SKYLARKS took turns to fly up and sing, and I could just hear a YELLOWHAMMER singing from across the otherside of the maize crop. Two young CARRION CROWS sat on a fence post and posed nicely for the camera.The small scrubby wood at the north end of the fields had a TURTLE DOVE singing, brightening the day a little, and I could already hear a BLACKCAP and GREAT TIT making their presence known, over at the college stream.
MOORHEN, HOUSE MARTIN, COAL TIT, PHEASANT, and flyover MALLARD, were all recorded in the college grounds, as well as families of COAL TIT and LONG TAILED TIT, which were joined by a calling CHIFFCHAFF, species number 41, thats a long time to wait to hear a Chiffchaff, but thats how quiet the birds were this morning. Only LESSER WHITETHROAT was added to the list on the walk back to my house for half time refreshments, I watched the young of the sub-station pair being fed.

The second half of my walk around the small holding, wet woods and Lake area, was carried out in similar cool, dull conditions, two MISTLE THRUSHES were seen in the small holding orchard, as well as a pair of BULLFINCH'S and a family of TREECREEPERS, in the wet woods a JAY was new for the list, as was a NUTHATCH that called. The lake and scrub area provided me with the 48th and 49th species, in the form of a GREY HERON and CANADA GOOSE.

I left the lake area, and went into the treeless part of the nursery, and walked along the edge of the wet woods that is the boundary, and at last the sun came out! This was what the butterflies were waiting for. I counted dozens of Meadow Browns, two Comma's, a possible Brown argus or maybe a female Common blue (see pic.) as well as a couple of Painted Ladies, all competing for the flowers on the few clumps blackberry bushes, that were left still intact. As I was photographing the Butterflies a large party of Long Tailed Tits came along the edge of the woods, at least 25 in all, with them were Blue and Great Tits and another treecreeper family.

I made my way over to Migrant Alley once more, in the now warm sunshine, to sit and watch the sky for half an hour, which produced the 50th species of the day - a HOBBY. 50 species is always a good score on my patch, so a productive visit was had despite the cool start.

Below is one of the Long Tailed Tits that passed along the wood edge.
A young Carrion Crow at Migrant alley

Below is either a Brown Argus Butterfly, in which case it would be a patch tick, or more likely it's a female Common blue. It seemed smaller than the last female common blue I saw though.

Below is one of the Comma Butterflies

and next one of the Meadow Browns

Lastly, I thought i'd stick this young rabbit in, it looked so peaceful in the sunlight!

Back out on my patch this afternoon, the weather was good - for once! I visited the lake and scrub area, via ashes lane, the small holding, and then wet woods, the route normally taken in winter months, I then crossed the tree nursery to have a skywatch at Migrant alley.

I saw/ heard the following before getting to the lake area.WOODPIGEON, MOORHEN, BLACKCAP, SONGTHRUSH and GREEN WOODPECKER, that was it, dire! I suppose 2 o'clock on a june afternoon isn't the most productive time to find birds! A TURTLE DOVE was heard in the scrub, and a few of the finch's and tits were seen, in family parties, the CANADA GEESE goslings were on the lake, looking much more like the adults now, but it wasn't much for my efforts.

I crossed into the Treeless part of the nursery, where the vegetation seems to have been sprayed, it's all turning yellow, and not a single butterfly or Damselfly was flushed up from it, the part of the nursery that still has trees, followed the quiet theme, just 2 STOCK DOVES and a lone WHITETHROAT were seen there.

My fortunes changed a bit at Migrant Alley, when I found a Small Tortoiseshell butterfly, not very common on my patch now. The maize field was now knee high, and hid 25-30 PIED WAGTAILS and at least 2 SKYLARKS, the latter of which came out and flew up into song occassionally. I took my seat and scanned the sky seeing LESSER BLACK BACKED and HERRING GULLS, I then picked up a large Raptor to the NE. I initially thought it was a Buzzard, but as it drew nearer I could see it was a RED KITE! Blimey another sighting! I watched it for some 10 minutes as it seemed to follow the A26 Tonbridge road, from Mereworth to Tonbridge. I'll never get tired of recording these birds, fantastic to see them on my patch.

A little while later a KESTREL came over with all the Pied Wagtails giving chase to it, and just a minute later a GREY HERON also got shown the way out, as it flew low over the greenhouses. Apart from the SWIFTS, SWALLOWS and HOUSE MARTINS, which fed over the Paddocks, that was about it for this afternoon, didn't turn out too badly !


Below is the Small Tortoishell Butterfly
poor photo's of the Red Kite being mobbed by a crow. But i'm not complaining!

lastly, another Pied wagtail Juv. They are everywhere!

No patch visit was made today, apart from the walk in to work and back, which didn't turn up anything of note, apart from a Small Tortoiseshell butterfly. I stayed on at work this afternoon to help out with the kiddies sportsday.

Normal service and my sanity will be resumed tomorrow!

The usual afternoon stroll produced few things of note, especially as a strong wind had come up. Most of the 2 hour visit was spent around Migrant Alley, as the scrubby headland there provided a bit of shelter from the wind.
It was here that I found a few Large skipper butterflies, a Speckled Wood, and an Emperor Dragonfly - very impressive.

Birdwise it was SWIFTS, SWALLOWS and a few HOUSE MARTINS that claimed the attention for most of the time, but a KESTREL hunted around the paddocks and maize crop for much of the time I was out, and a male SPARROWHAWK came through on the prowl, but it was easily seen by the Swallows and PIED WAGTAILS, and their alarm call gave it no chance of surprising one of the LINNETS or STARLINGS, small gatherings of which were on the sheep pasture.

HERRING and LESSER BLACK GULLS passed overhead, but that was it for the skywatch. On the way home a Painted lady Butterfly was seen by the greenhouses, looking the worse for ware, it seems a long time ago now that they were pouring through the countryside!


Below is a couple of pics. of a Juv. Pied Wagtail, it was picking off insects from the horse manure pile, along with Juv. HOUSE SPARROWS and a ROBIN.

Above is a Male Large Skipper, told by the black scent glands on it's forwing, below is the Female. ( If Ive been learning from Greenie correctly that is! )

Below is the now tatty painted Lady.

Below is a Cherry tree that was by the manure heap. It was full of ripe fruit, and so a good place to stake out for feeding thrushes and the like, so I thought! But not a single bird was interested in the Cherries. It seems only the insects are favoured at this time of year. You can see how windy it was today by the bent branches!

A LESSER WHITETHROAT from the substation pair sang this morning as I walked to work, the first song I've heard from one since early may, and as I crossed Migrant alley a GREY HERON flew over, and 5 MISTLE THRUSHES touched down in a horse paddock, as I scanned through them something caught my eye in the distance, it was a family of foxes, 4 in all, casual as you like, lounging in the early morning sunshine, one of them mornings when I just didn't want to go to work!

This afternoon, predictably, given the time of year, and time of day, things were not so easily forthcoming. I walked over to the lakeside scrub, via the tree nursery, the latter had lots of Meadow Brown butterflies wafting up before my steps, they are making the most of the grass that has replaced the trees and shrubs that were there, but it will all be short lived, as the rank grass and emerging brambles are all to be sprayed and then ploughed in, ready for the next tennant to mess up the countryside, errr.....I mean become a custodian of the countryside.

Over at the lake a Grey Heron was on its favoured perch, and a family of both CANADA GEESE and MALLARD were thriving. In the scrubby area, BULLFINCH, BLACKCAP, WHITETHROAT, LESSER WHITETHROAT, TURTLE DOVE and CHIFFCHAFF were all heard and seen, most with youngsters, but no young Turtle Doves yet.

A quick visit to Migrant alley produced the normal PIED WAGTAILS, LINNETS and the odd singing SKYLARK, and as I sat looking at the sky for Raptors, a CUCKOO sang from the direction of the lake area, as if to say ''see, ive not finished yet Mr know it all!'' it will be interesting none-the-less, to see if today is the last day he calls, as it will be the same as last year. (EDIT 1hr later! Just realised its the 16th today, so he called one day later this year!)

Not many chances came my way to photograph the birds, so here's a pic of my favourite plant - the Blackberry. It's flowers seem to attract many more insects than any wild plant, a shame it is seen as a unwanted weed by most landowners!

The next photo is for greenie - it's that orchid, possibly a Fragrant Orchid, it has a few more flowers now, I took a photo of it from a different angle here. Not a very good one, the sun went in!

The days fine weather ended about 13:30, I got in from work at 13: 25. The moment I closed the door behind me, a large clap of thunder heralded a torrential downpour, did I do something really bad in a previous life ?

Half an hour later the rain eased, but the next storm could be seen on the horizon, I had just enough time to walk round the tree nursery, but in the rush to beat the storm little was seen, a WHITETHROAT was scolding me from the hedge, it's young were probably hidden there, a GREEN WOODPECKER flew up off the floor, and 3 LESSER BLACK BACKED GULLS flew west, the usual DUNNOCK, ROBIN, BLACKBIRD, WREN and busy SWALLOWS were also about, alas though I had to beat a hasty retreat back home when the rain came in again.

I had another short venture out at 17:30, this time to migrant alley and the fields behind the greenhouse, I only had an hour and the highlight of the visit was watching both a KESTREL then a SPARROWHAWK get chased out of town by the joint forces of Swallows and PIED WAGTAILS. Something spooked up around 100 ROOKS, 20-30 STARLINGS, and 20 or so Feral Pigeons from the other side of Migrant Alley, it could have been one of the local peregrines but I didn't see it.

Not a very good wild-lifing afternoon, lets hope for better tomorrow.

Below is a photo of one of my Peanut feeders, BLUE TITS were all over it!


You can see how dark it got as the thunder storm approached, in this LINNET photo.

Last night Simon from http://motepark.blogspot.com/ came over to my patch to help find what bat species were living here. Armed with a bat detector, we set out just after 21:00, although we only recorded the two types of Pipistrelle bat - which are quite common, it was a worthwhile excercise, and totally fascinating hearing the different bat frequencies on the detector. Thanks to Simon for an excellent evenings entertainment.

As well as the bats, we heard a Little owl just as we finished, and after i had said goodbye to Simon, I walked round to my back garden and heard, strange noises from the flower border, I investigated further and found 2 Hedgehogs, WOW! I have never even recorded a hedgehog anywhere on my patch, let alone in my garden, cool or what ?

This morning I was a little late in getting out after last nights wildlifing, I didn't get out until 06:30. 49 species were recorded, a bit down on yesterdays total, and there were no additional species found for the months tally.

I was wrong about the CUCKOO calling, I thought yesterdays would be the last heard, but one was calling for 10 mins from 09:45. Only one Raptor was recorded - the KESTREL, a very average day on the patch this morning.

Below is a GREY HERON which flew fromthe Lake.
Below: A Female Black tailed Skimmer, that was seen in the Tree Nursery

Also seen in the tree nursery were a pair of mating White legged Damselflies

Male on the top

being inspired by the Early Birders blog and his garden blooms pics. I decided to post some of my garden flowers

Above: Common Poppy and below Foxglove

Below a section through my Mini- meadow

Lastly a shot of my Delphinium.

At last a full mornings walk round my patch, only the second this month! Most of the expected birds showed up, apart from the Spotted Flycatcher, and Garden Warbler, but a great day list of 54 species was still recorded.

I was surprised to hear a CUCKOO early on, this could well be the last time this year I hear one, I might just see a migrant bird later on though. Four Raptor species were seen, KESTREL, SPARROWHAWK, HOBBY and PEREGRINE, all flying or hunting around Migrant Alley, where I chanced upon a SKYLARK carrying food, I watched it settle on a fence post, and waited for it to drop down to it's nest, but it wouldn't! It was waiting for me to go, so rather than upset it, I walked on, at least it confirms breeding, something which I havn't recorded for Skylark since 2007.

In the wet woods and lake/scrub area, the most obvious thing are the parties of Tits, LONG TAILED, GREAT, BLUE and COAL TITS have all started to band together in feeding parties, also joined by the odd NUTHATCH and TREECREEPER. I also saw plenty of BULLFINCH'S in the scrub area some taking food back to their nests, and as I tried to photograph a pair, what popped up from the brambles ? Yep....LESSER WHITETHROAT, at last added to the months list, bringing it to 62, just 5 more to equal the June record.

On the way home as I passed the electicity sub-station, the other Lesser Whitethroats popped up, typical! They were very agitated, so they must have young about.

A quick hours afternoon visit didn't provide me with any new birds for the day list, but I did get a patch tick in the form of a Lizard! Brilliant! I keep hearing things scuttle away in the dry hedge bottoms, and always presumed it to be a Lizard, but this is the first i've actually seen, this Lizard went scurring past me as I crossed the Pipeline workings, I carefully followed it and took some pics.


Below, finally, A Lesser Whitethroat for the months list, this one was the sub-station bird.
Below is a pair of Bullfinch's, you can see the male ok - bright red. Spot the female!

She's is in the bottom right of the pic. Below is a cropped and blown up image of the male, you can see it carrying mushed seed for the nestlings. Not a very good photo, they are very shy birds!

Below is the sighting of the day for me, my first patch lizard.

Also about this afternoon were plenty of Large Skipper Butterflies

Not alot to report from my patch this afternoon, although it was nice to see a BUZZARD up high over Migrant Alley, which was inevitably closely followed by one of the local PEREGRINES. A second family of COMMMON WHITETHROATS were seen, they were around the small pool of water that collects from the tree nursery fields, it's nearly dry now though. In the scrub area at Migrant Alley I found my first Large Skipper Butterfly of the year, and also managed a photo of a Meadow Brown Buttefly, only the second one seen this year.
The weather has settled down a bit now, and scores of SWALLOWS were over the Sheep pasture and paddocks, I expect to see the first young ones out very soon, above the Swallows, 15 -20 SWIFTS were feeding, but very few HOUSE MARTINS were recorded. As I was watching all these hirundines, a LESSER BLACK BACKED GULL flew over being harrassed a CARRION CROW, the Gull seemed to be carrying off a young bird of some description - maybe one of the crows young ?

I took this Photo of the Juv. GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER that was my feeders this afternoon.


Below is a Large Skipper

Lastly the Meadow Brown.

At last a reasonable day, some sunny intervals were had, although a strongish wind still blew - but i'll take that after the recent weather!

On the way to work this morning I added GREY WAGTAIL to the months list, it was seen in one of the usual places, flying up the stream through the College.

After work I set out on a 3 hour trek round my patch, I went over to the lakeside scrub, and still didn't record a Lesser Whitethroat, where are they ? A bit of bird song was to be had, TURTLE DOVE, BLACKCAP, WHITETHROAT, WREN , DUNNOCK , ROBIN, SONGTHRUSH and BLACKBIRD all made it a pleasant visit. As I walked through the dense scrubby area, I glanced at the sky whenever a gap opened up in the foilage, the first gap produced a pair of SPARROWHAWKS, they circled low over, giving good views of the size difference between the Male and female. The second gap produced much more of a surprise - A RED KITE, yes another! ( probably the same one Ive been seeing previously though) I watched it glide over very high up, and suddenly, from nowhere, a PEREGRINE came in and started to mob it, fantastic! What a pair of raptors to see together!

After the excitement, I went for a skywatch over at migrant alley, hoping to add some more raptor species, I added KESTREL and was really hoping for a Hobby and Buzzard, six Raptor species in a day has never been achieved on my patch before, but I didn't get to see them, although the Oxonhoath birder rang me to say there was a Buzzard over his patch, which lies just a kilometer to the north of me!

The walk was made more interesting today by the sighting of my first Meadow Brown butterfly, one of several species seen today. Also I came across this plant in the lakeside scrub area.
Above is the flower spike - could this be an Orchid, maybe a pyramidal or a Fragrant Orchid even!

Above are the leaves, they were long and thin without any spots. What do you reckon fellow bloggers ?

Below are some Red Kite Photo's. Not very good, but it was high up.

below is the moment the peregrine came in and mobbed it

Also took this photo of the PIED WAGTAIL at Migrant Alley, all fluffed up.

Lastly this looked to be a young Carrion Crow, perched on the Greenhouse roof, confirming successful breeding. Probably from the nest in the wet woods.

No change in the dismall spell of weather, more heavy showers through the morning left everything wet and muddy for my afternoon walk, but it remained dry for a couple of hours whilst I was out.

I went over to the college grounds to see if I could relocate a pair of SPOTTED FLYCATCHERS that I had seen there as I walked home from work. They were very vocal, mainly because they were scolding a squirrel, which could mean a nearby nest, however I couldn't find them, or a nest, despite a patient search.

A walk round the grounds was uninspiring, not one summer visitor called or sang, the only calls were of the nearby JACKDAW and ROOK colonies, of which the now fledged young are constantly shouting for food.

I also had a look around Migrant Alley, and the small patch of scrubby woodland at it's northern most point, I was at least hoping for a Butterfly, or a Damselfly, but nothing was about in the cool damp conditions. I looked and listened for the Lesser Whitethroat, but still no sign, although I was glad to hear TURTLE DOVES singing there, and a little later 3 of them flew past me, from that location. I crossed the Gas Pipeline workings to reach my skywatching seat, collecting 2 tonnes of mud around my boots in the process, cleaning it off at least gave me something to do whilst I was at my seat, as nothing but 2 HERRRING GULLS and a KESTREL, which chased PIED WAGTAILS around the Greenhouse Complex, was seen.

I gave up around 17:00 as another shower came through, on the way home as I passed through the Greenhouse complex, I met the manager there. It was reassuring to find that he enjoyed the wildlife to be found around the greenhouses and let me know that the nettles, long grass, and hedges would not be ''over tidied'', what a refreshing attitude, good on them!

My last 100 yards of the walk was good and bad, I managed to find at least two WHITETHROAT fledglings deep in the hedge along Ashes lane begging to be fed, which I watched the parents dutifully do. Alas though, I found a dead bank vole in the road, no doubt a traffic casualty. Not wanting to see it get squashed flat and wasted (no greenie I didn't take it home for tea!) I put it up on a fence post for a passing Kestrel or maybe one of the Little Owls.

This DUNNOCK pic. is the best it got Photograph wise, it was far too dull again.

LOOK AWAY FROM THE NEXT PIC!!! IF YOUR NOT A KESTREL OR OWL!!!


Poor old Bank Vole, I hope something finds it .

What a grey and dismall day, (how often have I said that this year!) Even by the time I went for my walk at 14:00 the gloom hadn't lifted. I went through the tree nursery and over to the lake and scrub area, I again couldn't locate any Lesser Whitethroats, but COMMON WHITETHROAT were busy going back and forth feeding nestlings, as were BLACKCAPS, and the TURTLE DOVES were 'purring', surely the first young will be seen soon. I watched a family of WRENS being fed, and attempted some photo's, but it was just too dull.
On the lake I saw a MALLARD with a new brood of 7 ducklings, but there were no geese around today.

At this time of year, when it's unlikely I will add any species to my year list, I fill the time trying to confirm the breeding of different bird species. To date I have confirmation of 35 species that have raised young so far, and another ten that I expect to see young for. I find these figures quite reassuring, as most of the habitat is of poor quality for the majority of the bird species on my patch.

Another thing I fill the June days with, is finding Butterfly and dragon/damselflies - but you need a bit of SUN FOR THAT!!!!

Above is a Turtle Dove, seen over the lakeside scrub, on the power line.

My search for the Lesser Whitethroat continued this afternoon. This time I went to see if I could find the pair in the lakeside scrub, the final of the 3 habitats that are holding a pair. I sat and watched, but heard and saw none! I know they will turn up again, especially when their young have fledged, a morning visit would be best.

Whilst sitting and waiting, I heard quite a bit of birdsong, which surprised me, I heard the TURTLE DOVES, singing from the power cables overhead, I also heard BLACKCAP and CHIFFCHAFF, the resident species joined in the throng, with DUNNOCK, BLACKBIRD, SONG THRUSH and ROBIN. The call of BULLFINCH was constant, as was the calls of the fledged Tit species.

On my way to the lake area I recorded SPARROWHAWK and KESTREL of note, and I could hear the PEREGRINES calling from their perch - half a mile away!

Below are some shots of a Juv. CHIFFCHAFF. It was in a the back garden of one of the houses by the lake.

I caught it just right in this photo, as it was taking off.

I also saw a GREY HERON on the lake, the first for a couple of months, as they have been away breeding. I snapped this through the trees.

Below is a Common Spotted Orchid - Probably. ;-)!

I had an enforced extra hour in bed this morning, as when I awoke at my usual time it was raining - heavy rain, so heavy the sound of it hitting the house roof was reminiscent of a train thundering past!!

By 08:00 it was beginning to ease, and off to the south a bright strip of blue sky was the promise of things to come, although it didn't arrive till 08:30. I decided as I had missed the best part of the day, to go off and do my last visit to one of my BTO tetrads, for the forthcoming Bird Atlas. The tetrad takes in part of my patch to the south , so I can kill two cats with one stone. ( I know thats the wrong saying, but I like it better!!) The best birds recorded were HOBBY, which flew low over the greenhouse complex, and the PEREGRINES which were off my patch - just. A total of 37 breeding species was recorded for the Atlas.

I got back a little before dinnertime, and while waiting for my roast, I sat in the garden and took some pics, in the sunny intervals that were very welcome after the recent weather.

After dinner I visited the fields around Migrant Alley, and the tree nursery, primarily to try and find one of the Lesser Whitethroats that have eluded the june list so far. The pair at the electricity sub-station in ashes lane weren't found, nor was the pair at the scrub at the north end of Migrant alley, so they will have to wait for another day! Not much was seen really as I plodded the muddy, wet fields, a KESTREL was up hunting and a SPARROWHAWK was chasing SWALLOWS - unsuccessfully, the only other noteworthy bird was another sighting of a MEDITTERANEAN GULL, which flew south over Migrant Alley.

Not a very good weekend, I feel a bit cheated really, the weather doesn't help! I had a look at the long range forecast, and it dosn't get much better in the next ten days. :-(


Oh well, whilst the sun did come out, I took some garden pics. Below is a Male CHAFFINCH
And a Male GREENFINCH

A BLUE TIT, looking a bit worse for wear after its breeding exertions

I saw this Large red Damselfly at one of my mini ponds

also this Common Blue Damselfly - I think! If it is it's a first for my garden- yeah!

This morning was drab, damp and cool, which made it quite hard going to find the birds. Last weekend I was birding in a tee-shirt, this morning it was back to a winter coat and hat!

Two out of the three target birds for the day were found, the SPOTTED FLYCATCHER, at the College grounds, and SPARROWHAWK, of which a pair flew slowly over the Tree nursery. The months list now stands at 60, just 7 more to find. I say ''just'' but only two are likely - Lesser Whitethroat and Grey Lag Goose. I just might get a Grey Wagtail, flyover Lapwing, or a glimpse of a Kingfisher.

Todays list reached 50, quite surprising given the conditions, most of the species were seen, or in some cases just heard, in one's or two's, with some noteable omissions such as Cuckoo - have I already heard the last call of the year? last year the last one was heard calling on the 15th June. However a Juv. was seen in mid July. Others not on the list were Long Tailed Tit and Garden Warbler, the later not too surprising as there is only one pair on my patch.

I went out to post a letter at the box along the end of Ashes Lane this afternoon, of course I took the scenic route across Migrant alley, and as I crossed the gas pipeline works, a HOBBY flew over, always nice to watch these little falcons, too quick for a Photo though!

I didn't even take my camera out this morning it was so dull. I took these pics in a ''brighter moment from my garden.

Below is the HOUSE SPARROW that returned to my garden after over 3 years absence, you can see some of its colour rings, it also brought in a youngster!

The feeders are emptying faster than ever, this large feeder is only lasting 2 days! Kerrching £££

Here's a GOLDFINCH Juv. Picking up the dropped seed from the above feeder.

I took this pic. this afternoon as I crossed Migrant Alley. The gas Pipes have now been brought in, they do get a move on, but work isn't expected to finish until late Sept. :-(

I didn't get out after work this afternoon, things conspired against me! I did however snatch some garden watching in. I was pleased to see a female GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER bring in one of its fledged young, first i've seen this spring, and there seemed to have been an influx of HOUSE SPARROWS from somewhere. One individual was sighted with a Red ring on it's left leg and a White ring over a Purple ring on its right leg. This is a sparrow that was ringed by my friend a few doors up, as a Juv. bird back in 2004, as part of a BTO scheme involving House Sparrows, I last recorded this bird back in November 2005, where has it been hiding since then ?

The garden was very busy with many young birds at the feeders, mainly Tits and finch's, but a Juv. ROBIN was also seen. At one point I estimated 50-60 birds in the garden, quite something for a small plot the size of half a tennis court! Only problem is they attract next doors cat, which I have to keep chucking rocks at!!

One more bird was added to the June list this afternoon when a GREY HERON flew over the house, it's getting more difficult to find the new species now, tomorrow morning I may find the spotted flycatcher, or a Lesser Whitethroat or maybe the Sparrowhawk, but that will still leave me 6 short of the June record!


Above is the Juv. Great Spotted Woodpecker, below is a strange encounter it had with a Blue Tit fledgling!

It didn't take long to get the next species onto the months list, under 5 seconds! As I walked out the back door to go to work this morning I looked up, and before I had even closed the door behind me, what flew low over my house ?........Only a RED KITE, what a fantastic species to have over my house! I watched it glide slowly over, then ran back indoors, up the stairs to the front bedroom, and watched it fly off to the NW ( I think Joy was pleased I woke her out of her slumber to experience such a wonder!)

A particularly pleasing bird to have bring up the 90th species to be seen from my house.

Well this afternoon was never going to live up to that experience, but the I added a couple more species for June, a lone CORMORANT flew over the tree nursery, and whilst I was at Migrant Alley scanning the skies for the first Sparrowhawk of the month, I recorded a COMMON BUZZARD instead, That was the fifth raptor species this month to be seen before the Sparrowhawk, normally the Sparrowhawk is the first!

The months list moves on to 57, 10 more to equal the June record.

I also recorded only my second Tortoiseshell butterfly this year, whilst in the tree nursery, it was fluttering around a bunch of nettles.



Above is the Small Tortoiseshell

Above and below are a couple of fledgling BLUE TIT photo's taken in my garden. This one has been fledged a day or so.

It was much cooler today, and so more comfortable for an afternoon walk. I spent a couple of hours walking through the tree nursery, wet woods and lakeside scrub area, trying to find some of the more likely species to join the monthly list. The first to do so, was PHEASANT, I flushed up a pair in the tree nursery, this was quickly followed by a JAY, that flew through the wet woods.

At the lake, just CANADA GOOSE was on the water, and there was not much birdsong coming from the scrub area, I checked it out anyway, and was pleased to hear the CUCKOO call from close by, but I didn't see it. BULLFINCH was next for the monthly tally, when at least 4 were seen, and more heard, however the species I was really after only showed itself after quite some searching - the GARDEN WARBLER, it sang loud and clear eventually, and gave me a good view as well. Whilst sitting and listening, I saw a small movement in an Elder tree, some 20 yards away, I couldn't make out what it was, even with my bins. I crept up to the bush and found it to be a Bank Vole, munching on the flower heads!

Quite a productive afternoon in all, with 5 more new species for the month - 54 now, thats 13 behind the record May total, thats gonna take some beating I feel !

Back in the Garden Ive noticed the sunflower hearts are disappearing at some rate! A quick sit and watch showed why, Tits and Finch's are bringing in their fledged young (the first Juv. GOLDFINCH was seen today) hoards of the hungry blighters! Also the NUTHATCH'S are back after a months absence, and the GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKERS are more regular now. 50kg of hearts are now lasting less than two months!

Below is the Bank vole that was on the Elder.

This photo is of a fungi, I think it's called a stinkhorn. When I was taking the photo I couldn't help thinking of Greenie for some reason!

Hot and sunny again today, so I decided I would wait until late afternoon to do my walk of the patch. I left at 17:00, but it was still a bit warm even then! A trip around the tree nursery, produced a WHITETHROAT, which I watched carrying food to its nestlings, SWALLOWS were whizzing low over the grassy areas, and high above them were 15 - 20 SWIFTS. I watched four single TURTLE DOVES fly past, from the scrub area,they must have a food source off my patch somewhere, I didn't see them come back though.

Having not seen any new species for the month here, I walked over to the Greenhouse complex, via Migrant alley, where I picked up a KESTREL for said list, and STOCK DOVE, of which 3 were feeding in the maize crop. Another species was added shortly after when I spied a YELLOWHAMMER singing from the top of the earth mound thrown up by the pipeline workings. I sat down against a fence post, and overlooked the field of Maize that lies between my house and the greenhouses, and was pleased to see the MEDITTERANEAN GULLS were back, having a pre-roost feed. They fly constantly around for hours, picking up small prey from the field, great to watch. As I watched them, a MISTLETHRUSH flew down onto the seedling maize crop, from the small copse, which lies next to the field, it seems this particular field is full of invertibrates! One last species for the May list was seen, when a LITTLE OWL appeared on a fence post, 50 yards away, I got some rubbish photo's of it eating a small mouse. I thought if I got a bit nearer I could get some good owl pics. So I crept up from behind it, out of the small copse, but it saw me at the last moment and flew of to where I was originally sitting! No stupid Owl this one!!

Not a bad 90 minutes outing then, 5 more for the month list, 49 now, and some easy birds still to pick up.


Before I went out, I took some GOLDFINCH pics at the feeders in the garden. Nice, but still a bit over exposed on the white bits!

Below is a couple of Photo's of the Med . gulls.

lastly an horrendous effort to capture the Little owl eating its mouse! It was just too far away. :-)

Above: Two of the four fledgling Treecreepers, seen in a pine tree along the lakeside bank.


Another hot day, with a strong NE breeze to start the month June off. A steady trickle of bird species were added throughout the day, 13 species on the way in to work, 7 added on the way back, and a further 24 this afternoon. Mostly species that I would expect to pick up, but it was good to find a HOBBY, and one of the PEREGRINES flying over migrant alley this afternoon. A walk over to the scrub around the lake produced some species that can be difficult to find when you want them, LONG TAILED TIT, COAL TIT, TREECREEPER, (of which I found 4 fledged young, see photo above) and TURTLE DOVE. I failed to hear or see a Cuckoo though, they will become more and more elusive as this month goes on.

The last of the 44 species added to the list today were two MEDITTERANEAN GULLS, they were in front of my house again this evening, nice addition to June - and I forgot to mention yesterday that this species is the 89th to be recorded from my house, I wonder if I will get to 100!!