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. 

I was keen to see Chalkhill Blue so headed over to the far side of the banks this morning. I saw about ten on the wing, all looking fresh and fairly active in the sunny conditions.  A single Small Tortoiseshell was the first of the species for a couple of weeks. Following that I checked out the valley which was again alive with butterflies. Perhaps fewer Peacocks than last week though plenty of Gatekeeper.  Common Blue are starting to increase, and Small Copper were again not difficult to find.  I notice that the male Common Blue shown below has a faint row of barely visible spots along the middle of the hind wings. Highlight was finding a melanistic (black) adder, though probably a different individual to that seen last week as further along the valley. The adder was indeed very black and therefore with little evidence of the zig-zag pattern on the upperparts. Chalkhill Blue Chalkhill Blue Gatekeeper Large White Common Blue male Common Blue female Brimstone Melanistic ad...

I walked from Allen's Hill to the Black Barn Pools. On arrival it was high tide in the river, so waders were numerous on the pools, especially Black-tailed Godwit. There were probably around 1000+ godwits though difficult to accurately assess the number as heat haze and distance was a problem. Several Greenshanks were seen and 30 adult Dunlin, though best of all were two adult Little Stint. Nearby the Common Lizard found on the previous visit was still present in the same area. On the Radar Pool the number of fledged Mediterranean Gulls suggested a very good breeding season.  The same did not appear to be the case for Black-headed Gulls, at least for this brood. It is known that Mediterranean Gulls prey on young Black-headed which might account for the low numbers to be seen. There was a profusion of Buddleia bushes in full flower so it was a disappointment that only moderate numbers of butterflies were present.  Odonata included Ruddy Darter and Common Blue Damselfly.

A very enjoyable morning walk down the banks then along the valley.  Weather was mostly sunny for the first hour but then clouded over. PV looked a picture with an abundance of flowers. Butterflies were very active, particularly Peacocks, at least 50 being seen.  They were frequently found on bare ground of the path, presumably absorbing heat or taking salts.  Peacocks A total of 17 butterfly species were seen, one of the first being a Small Copper on the Banks. A female Silver-washed Fritillary then posed well for the camera in PV. Both Small and Essex Skippers were present, the latter more common and in a head on view showing the 'dipped in black ink' antennal tips, which are a key id feature for the species in comparison to other skippers. Small Copper Silver-washed Fritillary Red Admiral Green-veined White Marbled White Common Blue Peacock Reptiles seen were two adders and three slow-worms. The first adder, a melanistic individual, remained well hidden amongst vegetat...