Tuesday 19 July 2011

At last a break in the weather! The forecast showers avoided my area, and the wind had dropped, allowing for a walk around the Tree Nursery and Scrubby Woods this afternoon.

As expected, there were a few butterflies out today, the wildflowers and grasses along the hedgerow at the Tree Nursery held plenty of Small and Essex Skippers, Meadow Browns, Gatekeepers, a Red Admiral, and a Common Blue. I was very pleased to see the long awaited fledged young of the WHITETHROATS that have sung here all spring, my first confirmed successful breeding for this species this year :-) ( pics below)





I made my way over to the Lakes and Scrubby Woods, seeing a few SWIFT high up and, as usual, a SPARROWHAWK. On the lakes it was a case of CANADA and GREYLAG GEESE, MALLARDS and MOORHEN, but a GREY HERON was also fishing. My first sighting in the Scrubby Woods was a real pleasure, a recently fledged TURTLE DOVE was sitting up on the power line, good to confirm successful breeding for this declining migrant species :-)




A few BLACKCAPS were seen, mostly immatures, and CHIFFCHAFFS were giving their Autumn calls, both TREECREEPER and NUTHATCH were seen and a family of GOLDCRESTS, but I couldn't locate a mixed feeding flock of tits this afternoon.




More butterflies were seen in the woods, at least 8 Purple Hairstreaks were high up in the Oaks, while Speckled Wood, Comma, Small and Large White were all busying themselves on the bramble flowers.




What a relief to be able to get out and do some proper wildlifing, today cheered me no end :-), also cheering me up was a new pair of Binoculars, waiting for me when I got home, the old pair just fell to bits in my hands, they were ok optically, but they couldn't take the physical daily punishment !


Above - recently fledged Turtle Dove. Below - Common Blue Butterfly


10 comments:

Tim James said...

Sweet Common Blue shot – out this morning, none of them would settle even for a moment. They are such active little things.

Warren Baker said...

Tim - some you win....... :-)

Anonymous said...

Rubbish here again, Warren. Like i`ve said on my blog, roll on Autumn.

Bob Bushell said...

A great blog, and a brilliant Turtle Dove, another I can't get a photo of.

Jason K said...

Turtle Doves breeding on your patch...your a lucky guy Warren!

Alan Pavey said...

Some lovely crisp pics there Warren as Tim said, that Common Blue is a beaut!

Phil and Mandy said...

turtle dove is lovely, a bird i have not had the pleaseure of seeing yet mate.

Ken. said...

Hi Warren.
Glad you had a decent days wildlife watching. Nice photo of the Common Blue Butterfly.
By the way, what binoculars did you purchase?

Rob said...

Great pics Warren from a good day in the field, and new bins to boot!

Warren Baker said...

Ken,
I bought some Hawke frontier binoculars (10x43)

Have heard some good reports about them.