Birding and other distractions

Highlight was seeing a Turtle Dove 'purring' and showing well at Motney.  Other birds included singles of Cuckoo, Nightingale (in song at Bloors) and Whimbrel, plus 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 38 Brent Geese, and a Peregrine in flight to the west of Motney which was carrying prey Five Slow-worms were found at Riverside, three being adult females. The only sighting of an Adder was a brief view of a male just to the south of Bloors. I tried out a new macro 30mm lens today using it to photograph the slow-worms and some very fresh looking Peacock butterflies. Th e attractive Green Alkanet was in flower along the lane to Motney Hill

A sunny though moderately windy day. There was plenty of butterfly activity involving Orange Tip, Brimstone, Peacock, Green-veined White plus a single Small Tortoiseshell.. Also in TF were two Grizzled Skippers giving good views on the ground. Seven adders seen in total including one melanistic individual with some bluish scales, though it was hidden amongst vegetation. Of two females seen in east field one was a smaller individual with attractive reddish-brown markings. Five Slow-worms found three of which were together under refugia at the far end of the valley. Grizzled Skipper Grizzled Skipper Brimstone Green-veined White Orange Tip Melanistic Adder Female Adder

A lone Black-tailed Godwit close inshore looked very attractive in breeding plumage. Amazing views were obtained of two male adders dancing in ritualized combat. The episode lasted nearly two minutes during which they came closer and seemed oblivious of my presence. One snake was clearly bigger and was probably the victor in the end. Video on Facebook, KRAG or KWT page.

A spell of decent sunshine today, and three local adders seemed to be making the most of it. One was this stunning melanistic individual laying out in the open in PV, though looking at the rear end suggests one of the local birds didn't appreciate the appearance.  As there is relatively little cover at this time of year the adder was very visible making it vulnerable to predation from the local buzzards I thought. The two pictures were taken about an hour apart, during which time the adder had slightly changed position.