Date: 21st July 2020
Time: from 6:45 a.m.
Weather: dry, sunny, light wind, 11°C to 16°C
As on all my early morning visits, I spent some time watching the Red Foxes. I have written a separate dedicated blog post here.
After watching the Red Foxes, I tried finding and photographing some butterflies. This was a little more difficult than in recent days since the temperature was much cooler. Other than the abundant Gatekeeper, the number of butterflies was generally low.
However, I still recorded 7 species of butterfly: Common Blue (1 female), Small Copper (2), Marbled White (1), Red Admiral (2), Small Skipper (1), Gatekeeper (c.40), Meadow Brown (2)
My record of Common Blue was my first for the site for the year.
With regard to birds, I saw both a male and a red-headed female Blackcap foraging in the bushes around the edge of the church car park plus I heard 3 male Blackcaps singing briefly at various locations around the site. In addition, I heard 2 Chiffchaffs giving their soft whistled contact call but failed to see them.
Whilst watching the Red Foxes, I heard a Green Woodpecker calling on several occasions and it finally revealed itself clinging to the top of one of the high trees that border Church Hill. I also heard a calling Great Spotted Woodpecker in the western section of the cemetery but failed to see it.
I regularly see both Herring Gull and Lesser Black-backed Gull flying over the site but Black-headed Gull only occasionally. However, on today’s visit, I did see a single Black-headed Gull fly over as I watched the Red Foxes.
Today was the first time in many recent visits that I failed to hear or see a Swift. Surely it is still a bit early for these birds to have moved on and started their migration south?
Species recorded during this visit were as follows (heard only records in italics):
Blackcap
Chiffchaff
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Long-tailed Tit
Robin
Wren
Dunnock
Blackbird
Song Thrush
Goldfinch
Green Woodpecker
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Jay
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Woodpigeon
Collared Dove
Black-headed Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Red Fox
Common Blue
Small Copper
Marbled White
Red Admiral
Small Skipper
Gatekeeper
Meadow Brown
Here are some photos from my visit:
Photo: female Common Blue
Photo: Small Copper
Photo: Small Copper
Time: from 6:45 a.m.
Weather: dry, sunny, light wind, 11°C to 16°C
As on all my early morning visits, I spent some time watching the Red Foxes. I have written a separate dedicated blog post here.
After watching the Red Foxes, I tried finding and photographing some butterflies. This was a little more difficult than in recent days since the temperature was much cooler. Other than the abundant Gatekeeper, the number of butterflies was generally low.
However, I still recorded 7 species of butterfly: Common Blue (1 female), Small Copper (2), Marbled White (1), Red Admiral (2), Small Skipper (1), Gatekeeper (c.40), Meadow Brown (2)
My record of Common Blue was my first for the site for the year.
With regard to birds, I saw both a male and a red-headed female Blackcap foraging in the bushes around the edge of the church car park plus I heard 3 male Blackcaps singing briefly at various locations around the site. In addition, I heard 2 Chiffchaffs giving their soft whistled contact call but failed to see them.
Whilst watching the Red Foxes, I heard a Green Woodpecker calling on several occasions and it finally revealed itself clinging to the top of one of the high trees that border Church Hill. I also heard a calling Great Spotted Woodpecker in the western section of the cemetery but failed to see it.
I regularly see both Herring Gull and Lesser Black-backed Gull flying over the site but Black-headed Gull only occasionally. However, on today’s visit, I did see a single Black-headed Gull fly over as I watched the Red Foxes.
Today was the first time in many recent visits that I failed to hear or see a Swift. Surely it is still a bit early for these birds to have moved on and started their migration south?
Species recorded during this visit were as follows (heard only records in italics):
Blackcap
Chiffchaff
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Long-tailed Tit
Robin
Wren
Dunnock
Blackbird
Song Thrush
Goldfinch
Green Woodpecker
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Jay
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Woodpigeon
Collared Dove
Black-headed Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Red Fox
Common Blue
Small Copper
Marbled White
Red Admiral
Small Skipper
Gatekeeper
Meadow Brown
Here are some photos from my visit:
Photo: female Common Blue
Photo: Small Copper
Photo: Small Copper
Photo: Small Copper
Photo: Small Skipper
Photo: Red Admiral
Photo: Gatekeeper
Photo: Hornet Mimic Hoverfly
Photo: Common Ragwort
Photo: Common Ragwort
Photo: Blackberries
Site totals to date:
Birds = 48
Mammals = 4
Butterflies = 20
Dragonflies and damselflies = 6
Reptiles = 1
Amphibians = 0
💚🦆 🦉🦋🐝🦊🦡🌼 🌳💚
Stay safe, stay well, stay strong, stay connected with nature
No comments:
Post a Comment
If you feel like commenting on my blog, you can contact me by completing the comment form below. I will respond to all comments and enquiries and constructive criticism will always be welcomed.