Birding and other distractions

The amazing summer continues with another warm sunny morning. Together with KC we concentrated on the Black Barn pools. Waders there included a Pectoral Sandpiper for its fifth day, plus 30 Dunlin, four Snipe, two Little Stint, and one each of Curlew Sandpiper, Ruff, and Green Sandpiper. The waders appeared jumpy and the reason for this became apparent when a juvenile male Peregrine flew in, making a couple of half-hearted stoops towards the other birds. The falcon then drifted off though was then joined by a female Sparrowhawk which gave it some grief. There was not much size difference between the two birds. I looked for lizards in the nearby area, but with no success. I've yet to see one in Kent this year! Juvenile male Peregrine Female Sparrowhawk

After my post last week lamenting the lack of Red Admirals and Peacocks am happy to report some from Port Regis this morning, mostly on Buddleia behind the seawall. Also with several Painted Lady and Holly Blue. A Hummingbird Hawkmoth was a bonus and my 4th this summer including two in the garden. No migrant birds to really speak of, though a number of Blackcap 'tecked' from the bushes, and several Whitethroat were present, perhaps local breeders or their offspring.  However, there were plenty of birds in 'ouzel alley' including a decent size (c100) flock of finches, mainly Linnet together with a fair number of Greenfinch. Yellow Wagtails frequently flew over from adjacent weedy fields, and hirundines included at least 20 House Martins. All the passerine activity attracted the attentions of two Sparrowhawks, while a more distant Peregrine was also seen in the area. Painted Lady Peacock Red Admiral Hummingbird Hawkmoth Yellow Wagtail Sparrowhawk Peregrine

Mostly cloudy this morning though fairly warm. Despite the lack of sunshine several Adonis Blue were in the usual area of SB, all males. One was also seen in TF. Other butterflies today included Small Copper, Small Heath, and Common Blue. However, so far there have been disappointing numbers of Red Admiral and Peacock this summer, with no sign of any today. A large Adder in PV was thought to be a female, albeit the markings were not dissimilar to a male, especially the very dark dorsal zig-zag. The size alone would point to a female, also the snake had a very short tail. Two Slow-worms were seen in TF, also what was probably a juvenile Adder, though only a brief view before it disappeared in the grass. Adonis Blue in SB Adonis Blue in TF Small Copper Green-veined White Adder Slow-worm  Field Eryngo

Another evening visit to the area in pleasant sunshine. An adult Turtle Dove appeared on the wires at about 7:15 followed shortly by a juvenile. Two more juveniles were seen within the next 30 minutes, though didn't associate with the other two birds. Although, at one point two juvs chased the adult in flight before all resettled on the wires. The tide had turned in the creek and no less than 12 Spotted Redshank were feeding on the opposite bank in the exposed mud. One adult still had much blackish plumage. Also there were two Greenshank and three Curlew. Adult Turtle Dove Juvenile Turtle Dove

The Cape Gull identified at GW yesterday was a first for the UK and hence a trip there had to be done. We arrived around 10 this morning, the weather already very warm with hardly a cloud in the sky. The bird was present at the far end of the dam involving a walk of about a mile, but then gave close views on the foreshore of the reservoir. A brute of a bird with a massive bill, small dark eye, and greenish legs. It gave brief flight views on a couple of occasions revealing the distinctive upperwings: white trailing edge to the secondaries contrasted with all dark primaries (no mirror). The gull then flew to the reservoir tower where it sat on railings for the next hour. Other gulls present included an adult Yellow-legged, sub-adult Caspian, and Lesser Black-backed, enabling a useful size comparison with the Cape Gull. Other birds present included a fair number of Common Terns over the reservoir and several Yellow Wagtails on the foreshore. Cape Gull Upperwing of Cape Gull revealed in s...

Very hot today hence the butterflies at QW were very active.  Marjoram is now in full flower with reasonable growth despite the drought. Now is the prime time for Silver-spotted Skipper and indeed they were hard to miss in one particular area which is shown in the picture below. Adult numbers probably reached double figures though impossible to count with any accuracy as they constantly zoomed around.  I found my first of year Brown Argus though struggled to see Adonis Blue. However, no problem with Common Blue or Chalkhill Blue, both being numerous. Two Jersey Tiger moths fed on the Marjoram while a Hummingbird Hawkmoth was briefly seen at the far end of the reserve. Queendown Warren Silver-spotted Skipper Silver-spotted Skipper Silver-spotted Skipper Brown Argus male Chalkhill Blue female Jersey Tiger moth