Sunday 4 August 2013

The initial fog cleared by 06:30hrs this morning, leaving a mostly sunny sky for my five hour full patch walk, in which 43 species were seen, a little below par for the time of year.

Of the 43 species, two were new for the month, those being a WILLOW WARBLER (56), a migrant bird, seen in the Wooded Headland at Migrant Alley, plus a SISKIN (57) that was seen over at the Scrubby Woods, no doubt one of the small party I recorded here last month.

A party of CROSSBILLS was an exciting addition to the mornings list, an unknown number of which were heard flying over Migrant Alley, their calls rang out but I couldn't locate the birds themselves high up in the blue sky. My efforts to try to find the likes of Long tailed Tit and Mistle Thrush failed again, but they will hopefully join the August list at some point.

Not much else to report here though, SPARROWHAWK and KESTREL were the only Raptors seen today, when a Buzzard seemed just as likely given the conditions. The only Gull species today were HERRING GULLS, and only the GREYLAG GEESE were seen flying over this morning, I wonder why there were no Canada Geese with them today ?
ROBIN at the Greenhouse Grounds
As was this scruffy DUNNOCK
The only Damselflies seen on my patch in the last few days are Common Blues.
Female Common Blue Damselfly
Female Common Blue Damselfly
Male Common Blue Damselfly
Butterflies were more evident though, and I found a fresh Common Blue as well as a fresh Small Copper
Common Blue Buttefly
Small Copper
Small Copper
Small Copper

8 comments:

Marc Heath said...

Lovely butterfly shots Warren. Like the cropping on the close up efforts. Something different.

Warren Baker said...

Thanks Marc, not quite a Swallow Tail!

Maybe one day :-)

Unknown said...

Fantastic images love the damselflies

Greenie said...

Warren ,
You were right about the Clouded Yellows , but they were probably home grown .
Out of interest , was the Small Copper a smaller than usual specimen ?

Warren Baker said...

Greenie,
The small Coppers were ''normal'' sized, not small like the late broods.

Alan Pavey said...

Great stuff Warren and more Crossbills too :-)

JRandSue said...

Superb macro.
John.

Jason K said...

Cracking flutter photos Warren! Believe it or not I haven't recorded a single Common Blue at Shenstone as yet this year!!!