Pittswood Birds

The fine spell of weather continued today, if anything it was hotter than yesterday, making for a very tiring afternoon patch visit. With temperatures in the 80's and sunshine pouring down, I decided to visit the Tree Nursery again, mainly to see what butterflies and Damselflies were about. Birds were at a premium at this time of day, in this heat, but there were a few LINNETS about, mainly to-ing and fro-ing from nest sites, BLACKBIRDS and SONGTHRUSH were heard scurrying beneath the shrubs, hiding away while they go through their moult, and three of the KESTREL family were seen up hunting, it was interesting to see all the SWALLOWS having a break from whizzing around the sky, around 30-40 birds were seen lined up on the Greenhouse roofs.

The Butterflies that were present were few in species, but many in number, scores of Skippers were flitting busily from thistle to ragwort, as were hundreds of Meadow Browns, just two Green veined Whites were found, with one Large white, one Small White, one Small Copper, one Holly Blue, and a Red Admiral.

A visit to the run off pool was made, where again an Emperor Dragonfly was seen, as well as the Common darters, Common and Azure Blues, and Blue Tailed Damselflies. Walking back home totally drained from the heat of the day ( I didn't think I would be saying that a week ago!) I noticed two LESSER BLACK BACKED GULLS foraging over a field of fresh cut hay, whilst higher up a dozen BLACK HEADED GULLS fed on the thousands of flying insects brought out by the hot weather, the same insects that should of been around for the SPOTTED FLYCATCHER brood that seems to have perished in the run of poor weather earlier in the month, but, and its only a maybe, I'm sure I saw a Spotted Flycatcher carrying food as I walked home from work through the College Grounds, fingers crossed !

I'm on holiday for the rest of this week, so I'll be able to get out for some early patch walks and find that Mistle Thrush still needed for the July list  :-)

A couple of photo' s from today  :-)

Meadow brown

Essex Skipper (?)