A cold start after last night's heavy thunderstorms, but eventually the sun broke through. A female Sparrowhawk was seen to take a Song Thrush on the research centre land this afternoon, and 15+ Swallows swept east across the strawberry fields, the first I've seen on the site for a few days. House Martins are still in evidence but in much reduced numbers and no Swifts for over a week now. Some of the straw in alleys of the strawberry beds had obviously been disturbed and a trail of loose straw led towards the Badger sett - remaking their beds!
A quick look at the Buddleia trials resulted in singles of Red Admiral and Gatekeeper, disappointing as the flowers should be covered with butterflies at this time of year in in these conditions.
An unusual find was a Macaw tail feather by the recorders' hut. It was quite dirty suggesting it may have been there for some time - I've yet to hear of a report of one on site, but who knows, a Eastern Rosella was found roosting in the car park shrubbery in May!
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