Birding and other distractions

After carrying out BBS at Challock I headed to Dungeness where two Collared Pratincoles had been found the previous day. The birds were still present around Hookers Pit and had now been joined by a third individual. They spent most of the time hawking over the fields, though occasionally settled in a pea field. Also seen there a Great White Egret and couple of Hobbies.  I then checked out Denge Marsh where two Cattle Egrets in a hay field were in summer plumage, though views were rather distant. A smart Yellow Wagtail was more obliging on a close fence-line. No particular birds of note in the Gully though the area looked very attractive in the sunshine and with many flowering plants including Foxgloves. Collared Pratincole showing rufous underwing coverts Collared Pratincole showing white trailing edge to wing Pochard (drake) Yellow Wagtail (male) The Gully on Denge Marsh Dungeness Power Station shrouded in mist 

A walk to primarily look for the Adonis Blue on the far slopes of this site. The butterflies weren't difficult to find though photographing them proved less easy as the males, in particular, were very active in the sunshine, either territorial skirmishes with rivals or chasing females. I was unsure of the identification of two individuals (one of each sex) though had dismissed them in the field as Common Blue.  However, later after reviewing the pictures (8 and 9 shown below), and posting on Facebook Kent Butterflies group the consensus of opinion was that they were both worn Adonis, hence only showing traces of the dark line through the outer white margin of the wing. Other butterflies there included numerous Small Heath and Common Blues plus singles of Small Copper and Green Hairstreak. Three specimens of Bee Orchid were great to see, with more numerous Man Orchid nearby. A juvenile adder, approx 6 ins in length, was also a nice find, no doubt an individual born last year. Strawb...

A very warm day though clouding over by 3 p.m. Parking was a bit of a nightmare, no doubt a reflection of the current popularity of the site. The main purpose of the visit was to see Glanville Fritillary, reports indicating they had recently emerged in good numbers. The butterfly proved straightforward to find in the Cutting, the warden saying about 20 were present, mostly males at this stage. He said the stock originally came from the Isle of Wight about 10 years ago, and that they had been able to repay this by sending 60 pupae back some years later when the island population fell to a low level following a poor summer. Less expected was a Marsh Fritillary, with two present though only one seen on the day. Other butterflies included many Small Blues, a Green Hairstreak, plus Common Blue, Dingy Skipper and first of year Speckled Wood. A female Broad-bodied Chaser posed well on a fence post. Glanville Fritillary Glanville Fritillary  Glanville Fritillary Marsh Fritillary  Mars...

A beautiful evening with an impressive sunset. Four, possibly five Turtle Doves were seen, including two purring males. Hopefully at least two pairs will breed. A walk along the shoreline to the point revealed a number of attractive Linnets, generally skulking Whitethroats, and a very vocal Song Thrush.

Having failed to see the Collared Pratincole at Higham Marshes on 16th another attempt was made today since the bird continued to be reported, albeit from Cliffe Pools. Fortunately the pratincole was still present this morning though views were distant as it hawked over BB5. On Flamingo pool was a Little Ringed Plover, together with two Ringed Plovers.  The number of Mediterranean Gulls breeding on the islands is relatively low this year, possibly a maximum of ten pairs. The usual population appeared to desert the area during the cold weather of April, and instead seem to have switched to the Medway where approx. 360 birds were counted on the RSPB boat trip last Monday. Other birds at Cliffe included three Cuckoos, three Lesser Whitethroats and four-five Nightingales. Holly Blue was one of several species of butterfly seen. Male Cuckoo Sedge Warbler Little Ringed Plover Holly Blue

A repeat visit to this site as the same day last year. A warm day at last, up to 18C during the afternoon.  Whilst the principal purpose was to look for butterflies the birds of the area obviously attract attention. Singing Yellowhammer and Corn Bunting were enjoyable, though much less unexpected were two calling Quail from the downland. One of the Quail was fairly close though try as I might couldn't see it. The principal target in terms of butterflies was Marsh Fritillary, a species I had never seen before. On the same date last year I failed to see any as it was a very early season, and the flight period of adults was coming to an end. The timing on this occasion in a late season proved ideal and I soon starting seeing the fritillary in Bokerly Dyke. At least 10 were seen in total, some of the males engaged in territorial skirmishes. Other butterflies included first of the year Small Copper, Common Blue, Small Blue, Brown Argus and Small Heath. Brimstone and Dingy Skipper were n...