I first visited the Tree Nursery to look for Butterflies, there were a few about, mainly Meadow Browns, of which I found at least 25, I also found what i think is my first Small Skipper of the year, maybe someone would confirm this for me :-)
As I passed along the hedgerow, the sound of young nestlings could be heard, a female CHAFFINCH was 'alarming' nearby, so it was probably hers, a little further on this DUNNOCK sat on a post, and waited for me to pass before feeding a mixture of bugs to its young that were also in the hedgerow. Click on image to see the 'Bug Lunch'!
Below are a couple of Photo's of what I think may be a Small Skipper
Below is one of the many Meadow Browns seen
I left for the Lakes and Scrubby Woods, seeing a KESTREL on the way, and was also glad to find a well grown fledged WOOD PIGEON sitting up in a large Hawthorn bush, good to find one of those for the breeding list at last.On the Water, there were families of both CANADA and GREYLAG GEESE, as well as a COOT, two MOORHEN and two MALLARD. I walked the Scrubby Woods, looking for Damsels, Dragons, Butterflies and any more fledged young for the breeding list, the only Damsel was a White legged, and the only butterflies were more Meadow Browns and two Red Admirals, I didn't find any Dragonflies or any new bird species for the breeding list though. Just one or two of BLACKCAP, CHIFFCHAFF and TURTLE DOVE sang but no Cuckoo today, I may have heard the last of those this spring.
Above are the Greylag Goslings, and below is the Coot, it's frustrating not to be able to get very close to the Coot!
The walk home was only noteworthy for the number of SWIFTS milling around, at least 18 were seen, also, a SPARROWHAWK was up circling over the Greenhouse Complex.
7 comments:
Nice post, Warren :) I'd be pretty happy to call that a male Small Skipper. You probably know you need to check the underside of the antennal clubs to be certain it's not Essex (which has solid black there, brown on Small Skip) but in my experience Essex has a more yellowy/straw colour, a shorter and straighter scent brand in the males, and emerges a little later than Small...
Thanks Marianne, that confirms my 19th Flutter species for the year, i'm on the lookout for those Essex Skippers too :-)
The Dunnock (and lunch) enlarge beautifully Warren :)
I haven't seen any Meadow Browns here so far but butterflies (and Odonata) are in short supply. That persistent wind is still blowing here too!
Beautiful photos Warren.
Hi Songbird,
It wont be long before you find those Meadow Browns. :-) Look into the Oaks for Purple Hairsteaks too :-)
Nice Skipper photos Warren. neither Small or Essex have emerged yet at Shenstone. At the moment Large skipper and Meadow Brown are the two commonest flutters.
Hi Warren, yet to get Small Skipper here this year yet, hopefully will pick them up soon!
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