It was windy this morning with showers, and it got windier as the day went on - another unjuly type day!

I still managed to find 49 bird species in the 5 hour visit, but butterflies were few and far between. Nothing of particular note stood out today, but the first MISTLE THRUSH since July 4th was recorded, and quite a few SWIFTS were moving through, headed west, Its at the end of July that the vast majority suddenly disappear, and I increasingly start to lose them from the daylists.

The SPOTTED FLYCATCHERS were seen feeding their fledged young at the college grounds, where a GOLDCREST was doing the same. Just one raptor was seen - a KESTREL, and only two Gull species flew over, HERRING and LESSER BLACK BACKED. At the lake area 19 CANADA GEESE were on the lake, with 4 MALLARD, a few MOORHEN and a GREY HERON, quite busy!!

The LESSER WHITETHROAT at Ashes Lane showed up again, but the number of other summer migrants seen were few, just singles mostly of TURTLE DOVE, CHIFFCHAFF, WHITETHROAT, and BLACKCAP.

Hopefully the weather will calm down soon, and over the rest of July I can make a concentrated effort on finding some passing migrants to boost the flagging month list, or even add something to the year list.


Not much to photograph today, This Male HOUSE SPARROW stayed still long enough to get snapped though. It was feeding nestlings.
Below is a SWALLOW, looking fed up with the rubbish insect catching weather!

The only Butterfly photo was taken early on, before the wind became so strong, its of a worn Red Admiral

A bright and breezy morning on the patch for me today, and 47 bird species were seen in the 5 hours I was out, as well as 15 Butterfly species, ( I didn't know I could ID that many!)
Birding highlights for me was at last finding a LESSER WHITETHROAT for this months list, in the hedgerow along Ashes Lane, and also watching a HOBBY chase SWALLOWS and HOUSE MARTINS around over the college grounds, where I also heard a TURTLE DOVE ''purring'' the first I have ever encountered here.

A KESTREL and a SPARROWHAWK were seen hunting around Migrant Alley, but there wasn't any sign of Migrants there yet, I suppose it is a bit early, although I have had both Stonechat and Whinchat in the last 10 days of July.

At the lake and scrub area, ( sorry I'm going to mention the 'A' word here) The first ripening fruit of Elder and Blackberry were seen, Autumn is creeping up on us! A GREY HERON fished on the lake, and the scrubby area had WHITETHROAT, BLACKCAP and CHIFFCHAFF all feeding fledglings, but still no sign of a Garden Warbler.

The best of the butterflies were seen at Migrant alley, - Common Blue and Small Copper, and the Tree Nursery/wet wood edge - Purple hairstreak where at least 3 found.


Above and Below is a SKYLARK, seen on the Pipeline workings at Migrant Alley

Below is a Female Blackcap, keeping an eye on me, as it had nearby fledglings

Above is a Common Blue Butterfly. ( I actually saw two males together, the most recorded on my patch!!)

The above Small Copper is probably the one I saw the other afternoon, it was in the same place.

I couldn't resist trying to find another Purple hairstreak! Below is a Gatekeeper

Whilst chasing the Common Blues, I flushed up this Grasshopper, what kind I don't know - Dean or Greenie job!