Birds were thin on the ground, but a couple of WHITETHROAT sang from the boundary hedge, where both Dunnock and Chaffinch were feeding nestlings.
I also took a walk over to Migrant alley, but the field margins had been pointlessly mown, taking away the wildflowers, thistles and nettles - Hadlow College strike again! No butterflies were recorded here!
Above: Mown field margin. On the right of the fence is the Greenhouse Complex, they have a more relaxed attitude to wildlife on their land.
I didn't stay long, as I just wind myself up the more I look at the habitat that's been destroyed. Whilst there though, the GREY HERON flew over (above) and a HOBBY was also seen, a couple of SKYLARK sang high up, and a few SWIFTS were hawking insects with the Swallows - at least the farmers cant ruin the sky!
Above: The unidentified Moth, i'm sure one of the experts that read this blog will enlighten me to it's identity :-). Edit: Now ID'd as a Small Yellow Underwing thanks DeanBelow: is the Silver 'Y' moth, you can make out the silver 'y' on each wing - just!
Below is another Brown Argus, I love these little Butterflies
Below is what i reckon is a very worn female Holly Blue. Edit: but I reckoned wrongly :-) it's a female Common blue, Thanks Greenie.
lastly another worn Butterfly - small Tortoiseshell
It looks like the May bird list for this year will fall just short of the record 72 recorded last year, I still need two species to equal it, and have just 5 days to find them, the only birds I can realistically expect are the Black headed Gull or maybe a flyover Lapwing - we shall see.
11 comments:
Looks like another Burnets companion Warren :)
It`s a Small Yellow Underwing, Warren/Josh. One of the day flying noctuids. Cracking pic of it, mate.
Warren ,
Nice shot of the BA , which can be identified as a male by the bluish colouring on the abdomen , the female being brown on the abdomen .
But , I'm afraid your worn female Holly Blue , is in fact a very fresh female Common Blue . The top wings of the female Holly Blue would be brighter blue , with extensive dark markings on the forewing and black spots on the rear of the hind wing .
The worn Small Tortoiseshell would have overwintered as an adult and could be up to 9/10 months old .
Josh i thought it was a B C, but it was much smaller, thought the sexes might have been different sizes :-)
Thanks Dean, Top Moth man :-)
Greenie,
Ive got to get myself a better butterfly book! there were no spots on the female Common Blue photo on my laminated chart :-)
Hi Warren.
I really like your Brown Argus shot. Sounds like our feathered friends are a bit hard to find at the moment. Will try to catch up with previous posts asap.
Really nice butterfly/moth photos! Love that sm. yellow underwing esp., very striking. Neat shot of the heron overhead too.
Hi Warren.
Like Phil. I like the photo of the Brown Argus.
Nice selection of Butterfly/Moth photo's.
I can't believe that you struggle to see a B/H/Gull in your area.
Lovely butterflies and moths! Hope you still equal your record.
The Small Yellow Underwing is a real beauty and not one I have seen before.
NIce collections of butterfly photos!
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