I finally managed to walk into work today after attempting to do so for the last 2 weeks or so. I scanned all those fence posts hoping for some of the success that Warren has had in the last couple of weeks. Unfortunately no passerines today, but a reasonable tally of 23 species including a
Little Owl,
Sparrowhawk and
Cormorant! A nice mixed flock of
Chiffchaffs,
Blue Tits and
Long-tailed Tits worked it's way through the coppiced Sweet Chesnut hedge near Gallagher's Gallop, performing a medley of small bird alarm calls. Five
Swallows skimmed the cattle field near Kiln Barn Farm, but the House Martins were no longer anywhere to be seen. I failed to find 'easy' species such as Yellowhammer, Greenfinch, Goldfinch and Linnet....very strange. The bright sun promised failed to materialise and the sky remained mostly overcast.
However once again Lepidoptera were the highlight of the day (apologises if you're accessing this site from The Kent Ornithological website): 24x
Red Admiral, 2x
Painted Ladies, 12
Commas, 5x
Large Whites and at last a
Hummingbird Hawkmoth. Interestingly most of these were confined to just 3 buddleia bushes.
I finally managed to walk into work today after attempting to do so for the last 2 weeks or so. I scanned all those fence posts hoping for some of the success that Warren has had in the last couple of weeks. Unfortunately no passerines today, but a reasonable tally of 23 species including a Little Owl, Sparrowhawk and Cormorant! A nice mixed flock of Chiffchaffs, Blue Tits and Long-tailed Tits worked it's way through the coppiced Sweet Chesnut hedge near Gallagher's Gallop, performing a medley of small bird alarm calls. Five Swallows skimmed the cattle field near Kiln Barn Farm, but the House Martins were no longer anywhere to be seen. I failed to find 'easy' species such as Yellowhammer, Greenfinch, Goldfinch and Linnet....very strange. The bright sun promised failed to materialise and the sky remained mostly overcast.
3 comments:
Adam,
I've been thinking along similar lines, with more Red Admiral sightings than in the rest of the year, and a few Painted Ladies around.
I haven't yet seen a HBHMoth, the first year of many (there was a time that they didn't get much further than here, but they spread further inland now)
Adam ,
Well done with the Hummingbird Hawkmoth . Like Kingsdowner , I haven't seen one this year , which is unusual .
I checked the Buddlea bushes on my patch today adam, and not a thing!
Your obs. on yellowhammers is recipricated here.
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