Pittswood Birds

A new week, and the weather is still warm and sunny, - perfect summer conditions.

After work this afternoon I took a walk over to the Lakeside scrub area, hoping to add a Mistle Thrush, or Grey Heron to the months list, but neither was found. In fact it was a typical July afternoon, with just a couple of BLACKCAP singing, along with a CHIFFCHAFF. A SPARROWHAWK was seen going over with an item of prey, but other than that it was pretty dull for birds.

I went and spent some time looking for the Purple Haistreak Butterflies, and after 20mins I saw one perched on an Oak leaf. It was quite high up, and well into the brambles and nettles, unfortunately I was wearing shorts, and in trying to get a photo of the thing I got stung and scratched, and bitten by Mosquitoes :-). I decided to leave it, and got more nettles stings as I retraced my steps back onto the path. Whilst bending down to scratch my itches, a Purple hairstreak came and alighted two feet in front of me - Doh!

Here's the resulting Pictures of it. ( Just for Kingsdowner )

There were also plenty of these Small Tortoiseshell still about, I think their recovery is well under way now.

Dragonflies were on the wing, and I saw a Brown Hawker whizz past, but this Southern Hawker ( I think), settled down for a photo.

This Darter is my first of the year here, I think this is a Common Darter

This last Photo is of a Large Hover fly, Dean can tell me which kind :-)

Cheers Dean: Volucella Zonaria it is - a catchy little name :-)