What a Beautiful Day

What a lovely day in was here in Nythe with temperatures soaring to 20°C in the shade. An afternoon walk around Nythe pool and woods was rewarded with a Kingfisher sitting on a bough above the water. Impossible to photograph it was just nice watch it briefly before it headed upstream.

Also about were several male Blackcaps, a single Garden Warbler, 3 Chiffchaff and a single Willow Warbler all singing.

An unusual sighting were 13 Lesser Black-backed Gulls on the bank of the newly shaped spit. A first for me here, but I have a feeling this wont be the last time I see them here. There were 2 drake Mallard and a female with 2 ducklings, though unsurprisingly mum and her youngsters made a hasty retreat when the gulls arrived. Also about 3 Moorhen, a Treecreeper, 2 Goldcrests, and both Green & Great Spotted Woodpeckers.

Butterfly-wise still a few Speckled Woods, one or two Orange-tips, a single Brimstone and 2 Holly Blues.

Other insects noted, lots of hoverflies, Common Nettle-tap moths, Harlequin Ladybird, a Cardinal Beetle (Pyrochroa serraticornis) and either Raspberry Beetles (Byturus tomentosus) or Byturus ochraceus

A few images from today.................

A duck Mallard with her 2 ducklings. They soon went into hiding when these....

..........Lesser Black-backed Gulls turned up.

Lesser Black-backed Gulls

Lesser Black-backed Gulls

Lesser Black-backed Gull

Lesser Black-backed Gull

Lesser Black-backed Gulls

Gull Island with 13 Lesser Black-backed Gulls. In the background singing Chiffchaff, Blackbird, Blackcap, Wren, Moorhen, Chaffinch and a Garden Warbler

A male Blackcap

A male Blackcap

A male Blackcap

A male Blackcap

Harlequin Ladybird

Cardinal Beetle

Cardinal Beetle

These are either Raspberry Beetles (Byturus tomentosus) or Byturus ochraceus. A closer examination will be required.