Birding and other distractions

Finally a sunny, less windy day and an opportunity to visit the local site before the trip to Lesvos. Reptiles were seen in good numbers with totals as follows: PV - one Adder (melanistic), 3 Slow-worms  TF - four Adders, 15 Slow-worms  The Adders in TF included a male/female pair lying close together. While watching them I noticed another male approaching the pair, and thought this could get interesting! Sure enough the two males had a short battle before the intruder slid away. The first time I'd seen the adder dance at this local site. Butterflies were active in the sunny conditions especially in PV, where Peacock was easily the most numerous species. Adder pair in TF Adder dance Male Adder Melanistic Adder in PV Slow-worms Peacock

After dropping Ross off at Fenn Bell I continued to Allhallows, parking in Binney Road. Weather was chilly to start with though warmed up as the day progressed. Walking out via Ivy Fleet I found a female Wheatear, then heard many Sedge Warblers and several Reed Warblers along the margins of the dyke. The flooded area of marsh looked great with many wildfowl and waders including Black-tailed Godwit and Whimbrel. There were also about 15 Swallows and a House Martin feeding over the area. Reaching Stoke Lagoon I found a pair of Stonechat, and a pair of Marsh Harrier were involved in a food pass over the distant reed bed. Along the southern side of the lagoon I was delighted to see a Purple Heron which flew off towards the gas tanks in the direction of Grain. I lost the bird after watching it for about a minute.  A Raven was 'cronking' on a pylon.  T here was not much on Stoke Lagoon and I headed back, seeing Yellow Wagtail on the way. Purple Heron  Purple Heron  Se...

A sunny day, generally warm though with a cool breeze. We parked at Old Lodge, then followed the track along the top ridge before walking down the slope to the lower levels. One of the first birds seen was a Woodlark which flew over in song on the top ridge. Two were seen in the same spot on the way back. Bird of the day was Redstart with four males being seen, though none showed particularly close.  Willow Warbler was often heard in song. However, there was no sight or sound of Dartford Warbler and, more surprisingly, Stonechat. Redstart sporting a ring.

Windy with sunny intervals today. I started in PV where one Slow-worm was found, also a melanistic Adder. There is a central path that has been cleared though no management of vegetation beneath the pylons, apparently because the contract with National Grid has expired. In DV two male Adder were in front of the fence, though tightly coiled presumably due to the cool conditions. An additional four Adders were found in TF, one an impressively large male. Nine Slow-worms were found, all under refugia. No male Adders in any area had sloughed yet, though one had cloudy eyes. Bullfinches were heard both in PV And TF, plus singing Treecreepers. Adder in DV Adder in TF  Large Adder in TF Adder in TF Three of the Slow-worms in TF.