Dark Green Fritillary

A quick visit this morning with Paul and David to Lullingstone in Kent to see Dark Green Fritillary, where we saw about 100 of these very smart butterflies which were on the move all the time so we had to be patient to get our pictures.It is a fantastic place to visit. I even had a year tick there with a Turtle Dove .









Yellow Hammer

Monkey's Moth Magic

Privet Hawk Moth

Martin text me this morning to say his better half Julia has found two Privet Hawk Moths on the school run today. So myself and Smithy went after work to see these large Moths .The Moths were twitched by most of the local Birders as most of them has not seen one before.They are so smart I went back with my camera and Daughter to get another look .

Starling

Had a odd Starling on the neighbours roof this afternoon looked to have lost some feathers around the head.

Black and Blue

As the Weatherman said sunshine in the morning and rain later myself David and Dick went to see the Blue Winged Teal at Earith Fen Cambs first which showed ok but to windy and elusive to take good pictures even for this blog.So then on to Brampton Wood which was twenty minutes away to see Black Hairstreaks.It did take some time to find them as it was overcast but soon as the sun came out we had about 10 which one or two showed really well.




Black Hairstreak

Black Hairstreak

Black Hairstreak in Pupa stage

Common Spotted Orchid

Mid Week Update

Collared Dove

This evening I had four Little Egrets over the Ingrebounre Valley and a Peregrine Falcon on Tuesday with Steve Smith.



A very worn Common Blue

It was safe to check the Blue Tit box this week as they fledged about three weeks ago and surprise to find no casualty .

Out and about

Common Whitethroat

This morning I went and tried out my new lens and I am really pleased with it.So armed with my new lens the valley did not kick up any surprises.I did see Common Tern,Sparrowhawk and heard two Grasshopper Warblers,Cettis Warblers,Whitethroat etc etc.........

Blue tailed damselfly

Marsh Frog

Welsh Warbler

The 6th ever record of Marmora's Warbler turned up in Gwent S.Wales which I think was not on anybodies radar this year to turn up.As soon as we got out of the car the bird was on show and constantly singing and holding territory it was on show the whole time we were there as were Whinchats,Tree Pipits and Ravens.










As the Forest of Dean was not far away myself,Paul Boy,Monkey and Bradders wanted to see Wood Warblers,Pied Fly and Spot Flys at Nags Head and was not disappointed. .After our exhausting morning Posh Boy Bradders recommended the Ostrich Inn Pub for a superb lunch which you can find in the (Best Pub Guide).



Pied Fly

Wood Warbler

Heath Fritillary

Today made the most of finshing early at work so I went to Hockey Woods in Essex to see Heath Fritillarys for the first time and they are very smart.This year I have made the point of trying to see more Butterflies.........

Trumpeter Finch

Yesterday I went up to Norfolk with Jono,Monkey and Henry to Cley to see a very Smart male Trumpeter Finch which we saw really well.It was one of those birds that I wanted see for ages.After spending some time on the East bank watching this cracking pink stunner I went to dip the Thrush Nightingale at Walsey Hills which had been a bugger to see all day.A short drive up the road to see the adult male Red Backed Shrike made up for dipping the Nightingale.Managed to get five year ticks as well in the time we were there. It was a really busy evening birding BUT well worth going up there and getting to bed at 1 0 clock in morning for........

The one in the middle is the better Birder