June 24th, New Butterfly

It was really pleasant this morning, the sun was out and yesterdays breeze had dropped. There wasn't a great deal of bird action on the car park but one of the first things I saw was a movement about 15ft up in an Ash, it was either a moth or a butterfly, it disappeared but a quick search with the bins found me looking at a fine Purple Hairstreak! I know they are not rare but it was a first for me, I did try a couple of photos as it sat there for at least 2 or 3 minutes, unfortunately I struggled to get a decent result!

Carrying on the walk, a LESSER WHITETHROAT sang from where the Garden Warbler has been this week and a young GARDEN WARBLER was near the restaurant, several GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKERS were seen, mainly in flight and a BULLFINCH called by the gate to the lake field. Here there were also a few butterflies one Small Skipper and 6 Meadow Browns. A GOLDCREST sang from somewhere near the lake, as did NUTHATCH and TREECREEPER. On the way back towards the fields, I went via the moat and found 2 new MOORHEN chicks.

Young Garden Warbler

New Moorhen chicks

Once in the fields the small mixed flock was still feeding in the edge of the crops, I thought I heard a BUZZARD and a minute or so later one appeared and headed into Roundshill Wood as I watched this 2 SPARROWHAWKS came into view one of which was attempting a half hearted display type flight, a SWIFT completed the scene as it passed by them. A really enjoyable walk all over far too quickly!