Birding and other distractions

Made my first visit here since late July.  I didn't see any notable birds though heard Siskin and Raven. Butterflies were fairly quiet on the banks with a couple of worn/faded Common Blues and no Adonis. Most butterflies were seen in the valley and especially the top field which still had a fair amount of flower including one patch of Common Toadflax. Common Toadflax A Clouded Yellow in the valley was my first of the year for this butterfly, and it appeared very fresh. In TF Small Heath were fairly easy to find and there were a couple of Small Copper plus a female Holly Blue. Clouded Yellow Small Heath Female Holly Blue I was hoping to be able to confirm breeding of Adders by finding juveniles at this time of year. However the three Adders seen were all adults laying out in the sun, one of which was pre-slough thus showing cloudy eyes.  A comparatively dull looking Grass Snake in east field was only my second of the year for this less common snake here. Singles of Slow-worm an...

A day of blue butterflies although as it turned out the main quarry wasn't found (if indeed any were present). Kingsdown is a promising area for the vagrant Long-tailed Blue, mainly due to the proximity to France but also because the host plant of everlasting pea is well represented along the cliff tops. There had been a report of this butterfly at Kingsdown earlier in the month, two being found on 8th August. As it was a sunny day I therefore decided to have a pay a visit there, though despite searching numerous clumps of everlasting pea I couldn't find any Long-tailed Blue. However, other butterflies did not disappoint, especially Adonis Blue, with a few to be found on the undercliff though many more on the Leas. Most individuals were in good condition, though the same could not be said of Chalkhill Blue and Common Blue, with specimens looking rather worn in many cases. A single Small Copper was seen, also one Red Admiral. Kingsdown Leas Everlasting Pea Adonis Blue on the und...

My first visit to this beautiful area in East Sussex, near the Long Man of Wilmington archaeological site. Weather in the morning was fine with some sunshine, though rain started shortly after midday. I was keen to see Grayling, the only regular site for this butterfly in the south-east. At rest Grayling are very well camouflaged and I only managed to find one (an earlier visit in late July may have been more successful).  Most of the time the eye-spot could not be seen, only the underside of the hind wing being visible. Very good numbers of Silver-spotted Skipper were present, though Chalkhill Blue vyed with Meadow Brown as the most numerous butterfly. Some very fresh Adonis Blue were also found, more so at the bottom of the slope. However, they were very active and I only managed an underwing picture. Long Man of Wilmington Grayling Grayling Silver-spotted Skipper Silver-spotted Skipper Female Chalkhill Blue Adonis Blue Deep Dean

Another very hot day, already 30 C by the time I finished a butterfly survey at Boxley Warren shortly after midday. Having received a call from Chris G that there had been a small fall of Pied Flycatchers at Leysdown I headed over there in the afternoon. The birds were in a line of silver poplar / willow in the coastal park, and showed generally well. There were at least three present. One bird showed a second wing-bar, though had a relatively weak white line on the primary coverts, so unlikely to be anything other than Pied.