Cliffe 24/09/21

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A warm sunny day, so I was tempted back to Cliffe to look for butterflies again, plus birds on the pools at high tide.

Walking from Salt Lane along the raised bank towards the creek Keith and I soon found Clouded Yellows, eventually six in total, which were typically very active and gave no opportunity to photograph. Nearer the creek we also saw a couple of Wall butterflies, though Small Heath was easily the most common species.

Moving on towards the river the shelter of the seawall enabled further butterfly sightings, especially near the jetty as on the previous visit. These included several Small Copper, a number of mostly worn Common Blue, a smart Peacock and 6 more Clouded Yellow. Also a few more Wall; interesting to note that they generally looked smaller than is usual for the species.

With high tide approaching we walked back along the track from the creek, checking pools as we went. Good numbers of waders had already gathered, though Avocet only flew in as we neared the south end of Flamingo. The flock looked amazing in flight.

In amongst the gulls was a somewhat odd individual, resembling Lesser Black-backed, but with greyish legs. After much discussion in the field and later that evening the general consensus of opinion was that it was a hybrid, probably Herring Gull x Lesser Black-backed.

Small Copper

Clouded Yellow

Peacock

Avocet flock

Hybrid Gull?


Same gull with Great Black-backed Gulls




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