At last the sunshine lasted through into the afternoon, and I had a patch visit in superbly warm, and sunny conditions. I decided on a walk round the sheep pasture and paddocks of Migrant Alley, as it is here that I am most likely to find something new for the year. I did find something new, although it was not a bird species, it was my first Beautiful Demoiselle of the year, a female ( I think!) Odenata are not my strong point :-)


Above and below : Beautiful Demoiselle.

Walking through the north end scrub, I came across a few butterflies, Small Whites, Orange Tips, a Comma and the Peacock below.

Also in the scrub was the family of LONG TAILED TITS, all doing well, and two WHITETHROATS were singing loudly, there are quite a few of these on my patch now, I'll have to have a count up at the weekend. TURTLE DOVE, CHIFFCHAFF and BLACKCAP also gave some song.

I made my way down to my skywatching seat, passing the flock of LINNETS that feed on the old dandelion heads, two PIED WAGTAILS were also with them, suddenly they all flew up in alarm, and were joined in their panic by a dozen SWALLOWS. Looking up I saw the cause of there upset a HOBBY (below)

Below is one of the Long Tailed Tit fledgelings

Moving on down the sheep pasture to get to my now well needed seat, I was tiring in the heat of the day ( the first time this year ive had to say that ! ) but before I got there I stopped to look at all the STARLINGS on the fences, there were at least 60 Juvs. all begging for food from the parents, who found plenty of insects to stuff into the gapes of thier ever hungry offspring.

Above: Loads of Juv Starlings - below this one forgot to fly up as I passed :-)

I got to my seat and plonked myself down for some Raptor watching, within minutes a SPARROWHAWK came over, carrying away a prey item, which looked suspiciously like a Juv Starling - there's always one that doesn't fly away with the rest :-(.

Two more Raptors came into view, A KESTREL and a PEREGRINE, 4 raptors for the day, always good going on my patch. The good weather is set to last throughout tomorrow and the weekend, so hopefully I may find some more Damsel/dragon flies.

PS: I have recieved information on this site www.birdlife.org/community Having a quick scan through it, it looks like there are some interesting and informative articles that could well be of interest to anyone interested in the birds and wildlife of the world.

Stories from the birds in Iraq's war zone to the latest on the effect of the gulf oil spill, it's good to read about like minded people trying to help the planets wildlife :-)

This afternoon I walked over to the lakeside scrub area, as the chiansaw gang seemd to have finished, but I don't know if they will be back.

It was good to catch up with the sound of the woodland birds, a bit of a surprise was hearing a TREECREEPER sing, not heard one singing since April. TURTLE DOVE, CUCKOO, WHITETHROAT, CHIFFCHAFF and BLACKCAP were all heard, but no Garden Warbler - has it left the area, or is it busy nesting ?

On the lake, two broods of CANADA GEESE were seen, one of 4 and one of 8, while 3 drake MALLARDS lazed nearby. Also on the lake today was a GREY HERON, the first seen on here this month - something a little different :-)

A quick walk round the sheep pasture and horse paddocks at Migrant Alley didn't give me the Whinchat I wanted, time is running out now to get this species for the spring, maybe i'll get lucky in the Autumn. All the usual species seen on the past few visits were seen, WOODPIGEONS, ROOKS with fledlings, JACKDAWS, CARRION CROWS, PIED WAGTAILS, LINNETS, a few GOLDFINCH a GREEN WOODPECKER, and the local SWALLOWS zooming about. One bird I saw was a bit different from of late, a LITTLE OWL, it was perched on one of the Greenhouse Roofs, but flew off into the nearby copse before I could photograph it. The only raptor seen today was a KESTREL, also hunting around the Greenhouses.

A few more butterflies were seen today, above: a Small Tortoiseshell and below a couple of Small copper photo's

Below a couple of young Rabbits in racial harmony!

Lastly a Photo of the Hedgehog that visits my Garden - great little beasty!