I Wasn't Expecting That

My plan today was to wait for the fog to lift so that I could have a good walk around Stratton Wood in the sun and warmth that was forecast. My aim, if I was I was lucky enough, was to see if there were any Grasshopper Warblers in the heart of the wood. There's an extensive area of  grassland which is now covered in 2 metre high Hawthorn trees and it just looks good for a warbler or two.

As forecast the fog lifted at 10:00am and I arrived at the Car Park for 10:15am. With the heavy rain we'd had I decided wellies were in order, which was just as well, as it was pretty boggy in places. A Willow Warbler greeted me as I got the car and as I headed up the path a Carrion Crow was mobbing a Buzzard as it attempted to fly east. A Blackcap was singing from the hedgerow on my right and for a brief second popped up on a branch in front of me before disappearing into the bushes.

Another Willow Warbler was singing around by the Pylons close to the bungalows and also there was a Chiffchaff, Lesser Whitethroat, another Blackcap and Garden Warbler, which obligingly flew up into the Ash Tree and started singing. More often or not they're heard singing inside a hedge and really in the open.

Garden Warbler

In good voice

Further on a Common Whitethroat began singing and as I passed the bungalows, I was suddenly aware that all around me there were dozens of St Mark's Flies emerging. They were everywhere and they weren't alone as there were also many Drone Flies in amongst them.

St Mark's Fly

Drone Fly

The track I was on runs up to Kingsdown Lane and as I reached it the sun had warmed up the ground so much that there were butterflies everywhere. Orange-tips, Brimstones and Green-veined Whites. It didn't matter where you looked there would be one next to you. Also on the flowers were lots of Bee-flies and Bumblebees.

Bumblebee

Orange-tip in flight

Orange-tip

Orange-tip in flight

A male Brimstone

Green-veined White

Just before Kingsdown Lane the track goes to the left and runs parallel with the lane. The path here is extremely muddy and I am so pleased I wore my boots. A little further along, the path veers away to the left from the lane and there is a gap on the left that takes you into the open woodland, where I'd hoped to find some interesting warblers. Unfortunately there was nothing, apart from that is a Willow Warbler, 4 Peacock butterflies and a couple of Rabbits. I also came across a Scorpion Fly and managed a quick photo before it disappeared.

Peacock Butterfly

Scorpion Fly

So feeling a little deflated I threaded my way through the hawthorns and followed the deer tracks back towards Kingsdown Lane. After several minutes I eventually popped out of the bushes onto the path. As I did so a Holly Blue passed me by.

In the past I've normally followed the path back round towards the A419, but I have often seen dog walkers heading off north by following a trail through another copse just in front of me. By following the track, you go through the woods until it comes out onto a meadow. And what a sight it was, there were Cowslips covering the whole field. It was like a sea of yellow as far as the eye could see. Quite impressive, especially when the sun came out. I followed the edge of the wood and came across another Willow Warbler singing his heart out on the uppermost branches of a Silver Birch. At times he took off and was still singing as he was flying to another song post. Well I can honestly say I've not seen that before!

Willow Warbler

Willow Warbler

Willow Warbler

Willow Warbler

Willow Warbler

In the wood, just behind where the Willow Warbler was singing, there was right commotion going on with Blackcaps, Blackbirds and other birds all scolding something in the bushes. Being inquisitive I followed another deer trail into the wood to see what all the fuss was about. By the time I'd walked 10 metres in, whatever it was had gone. However to my amazement there was a Sedge Warbler singing from the Hawthorn Bush next to me, in a Wood! I walked around to the back of the bushes and realised that on the other side was Kingsdown Lane again. As I popped out onto the lane, the Sedge Warbler obviously saw me and flew about 20ft down the lane before flying back into the wood. Really bizarre, the only thing I can think of is that it's using the lane as a navigational aid before heading off to its breeding ground. Or is it nesting at Stratton Wood! Who knows, but I certainly wasn't expecting that!

Video of Sedge Warbler singing Here

By walking west from this point I passed a second meadow, which was also covered with Cowslips, and eventually ended up walking south and parallel with the A419. There were a few more butterflies along here including a Peacock that alighted on a rock when the sun went behind a cloud. It stayed there for a few minutes, no doubt warming his body from the heat being held in the rock. When the sun came out again he was gone. I came across another bee which I think is a Lasioglossum leucozonium. Trouble is there are so many look alikes, that all I'm going to say is, this is a probable.

The busy A419 is to the right. In the distance is Liddington Hill

Peacock 

Possible  Lasioglossum leucozonium.

My walk was nearly drawing to an end and as I joined the gravel path, I heard a familiar sound coming from within the middle of the brambles and hawthorns. It was a male House Sparrow chirping away non-stop. I can only assume that he and his mate are nesting in the bushes. Well yet again I wasn't expecting that!

A male House Sparrow chirping away in the middle of these Bushes

Video of the male House Sparrow chirping away in Stratton wood

After 2 hours I eventually ended up close to the car park and managed to photograph a female Brimstone which at first glance I thought was a Large Cabbage White. Having seen a Cabbage White earlier I very nearly ignored this one. It was only when it landed I suddenly realised it was a female Brimstone, they really are pale compared to the males.

A female Brimstone

And another Green-veined White

Birds Recorded today were: Buzzard, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, Feral Pigeon, Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Skylark, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Song Thrush, 1 Sedge Warbler, 2 Garden Warbler, 3 Common Whitethroat, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 7 Blackcap, 7 Chiffchaff, 7 Willow Warbler, Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Rook, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Starling, 1 House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Linnet, Goldfinch, Greenfinch and Bullfinch.

Butterflies seen were: Orange-tip, Peacock, Brimstone, Small Tortoiseshell, Green-veined White, Large Cabbage White and Holly Blue.

Insects seen were: St Mark's Fly, Drone Fly, Bee-fly, Common Wasp and possibly a Lasioglossum leucozonium.

Mammals seen: 5 Rabbits and a Grey Squirrel

Today's Photos Here

A bit of a Warbler Day

With a couple of hours to kill before I took Benji to the groom room, I just had to give Mouldon Hill another go this morning. As soon as I got out of the car a Cuckoo was calling from the fields behind me and a Lesser Whitethroat was singing in the hedgerow in front of me. In fact the whole place seem to be buzzing with bird song, with Willow Warblers, Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs and Common Whitethroats all within 50 metres of the car park.

One of many Chiffchaff singing at the Country Park

However the idea was to have a decent walk, which would take me past the wood, down to the bottom of Thamesdown Drive and then along the canal. At the end of the canal my route was along the banks of the River Ray, past the lake, through Perton & Berriman's Wood and then back past the lake again to the car park.

The woods were alive with more warblers and in amongst them were Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Great Tit and Blue Tits singing. The path eventually took me down to the main road and over the canal.

The start of the canal

As I walked along the tow-path, I found a gap in the hedgerow on my left and decided to follow the track along side the scrubland. There were a few bushes on my left and as I passed them into open ground I could hear a Grasshopper Warbler reeling away up ahead. But as I walked slowly towards the patch he was singing from, I realised I was being watched by a stag Roe Deer. He was standing about 20 metres away and didn't move an inch. I managed a couple of photos before I left him still standing like a statue.

A stag Roe Deer stares me out

There were a few more bushes on my left which were giving me great cover as I approached the Grasshopper Warbler. The thing about these warblers is that they have the ability to throw there voice in different directions, as they move their head from side to side, making it difficult to pinpoint them accurately. However this one was very easy to find. As I reached the last bush, before open ground again, I could see it through the branches, sitting high up on a Hawthorn Bush. I managed a few shots, but was I a bit annoyed as there was a small branch right in front of it, which didn't help me a get good clear photo. But hey I'm not complaining, there it was just 30ft away singing away, before it flew off to another bush.

A Grasshopper Warbler

And this is the habitat the Grasshopper Warbler was singing in

All along this stretch of open land there were Sedge Warblers, Common Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat,  Willow Warblers, Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs and even a Garden Warbler. It was definitely wall to wall warblers and as I approached the River Ray, another Grasshopper Warbler was reeling away, with a Green Woodpecker drumming behind it. It was a shame they weren't in harmony with each other, it would have made for a good musical score.

Sedge Warbler

From this point onwards it was back up onto the tow-path and another 100 metre walk before the canal stops. As I walked along here there were many more Sedge Warblers on both sides of the canal, as well as Common Whitethroats. Before I'd walked more than 20 metres a Cuckoo starting calling from a tree above the river. Was this the same bird as the one at the car park, in fact it was. I watched it for 5 minutes or so and then it flew off back to the lake and later as I found to the field behind it.

And another Sedge Warbler singing from a Hawthorn Bush

Sedge Warbler Singing

From the canal down to the lake it was quite clear to see that the river was slightly higher than normal, which probably not that surprising, considering the heavy rain we'd had in the past few days. A Little Grebe was drifting along the main flow and disappeared very quickly under the water when he saw me. I have no idea where it popped up, but I never saw it again. I wonder if it was the one I saw on the lake the other day!

I followed the river down to the bridge and crossed over. I could now hear the Cuckoo again, so decided to see if I could relocate. I headed off to Purton & Berriman's Wood, in the hope that I might find it close by. What I did find was knee deep mud and water, its a right boggy wood. Fortunately I was wearing boots, though Benji could have done with a set. A Willow Warbler was singing from the same location, that I'd heard one singing from a week or so back. So quite possibly the same bird. There were also a pair of Chiffchaffs, with one which I presume was the female, collecting nesting material.

Purton & Berriman's Wood

The Cuckoo was quite close, but I still couldn't see it, so it was through the wood and back over the bridge towards the car park. As I passed the reed bed in the lake there were 2 Reed Warblers singing away. Instead of going through the car park gate, I took the old railway track which eventually runs parallel to Thamesdown Drive. I'm guessing any remaining track stops short of Redhill, which is just a little further on.

The old railway line

As I walked along the old track I could hear that the Cuckoo was very close. Try as I could though, I just couldn't see it. So it was out with the binoculars, scanning all the tall trees without success and then I saw it. It was perched in the middle of a small Hawthorn Bush, just 80 metres away in the field. It called a few more times and then flew across the field before diving down into the grass. Within seconds it was back up and flying off to another bush, with a huge caterpillar dangling from its beak. A quick look with the binoculars revealed the caterpillar of the Cinnabar Moth, being devoured by the Cuckoo.

Cuckoo

Cuckoo

Take off

With a nice juicy Cinnabar Moth larvae for lunch

I just love watching and listening to Cuckoos, especially the female with her bubbling call. Feeling quite pleased with myself I headed off back to the car and as I did so a Lesser Whitethroat began singing from the hedge on my right. Unfortunately I didn't get to see it, but I was met by a scolding Common Whitethroat just by the car park gate and a single Swallow flying over my head. What a great walk that was 9 different species of warbler and a Cuckoo. It can't get much better than that, can it!

Common Whitethroat

Bird Species seen and heard today: 1 Little Grebe, pair Mute Swan, Canada Goose, Mallard, Moorhen, Coot, Herring Gull, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, 1 Cuckoo, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Swallow, 2 Grey Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, 2 Song Thrush, 2 Mistle Thrush, 2 Grasshopper Warbler, 2 Reed Warbler, 12+ Sedge Warbler, 1 Garden Warbler, 15+ Common Whitethroat, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 14+ Blackcap, 21+ Chiffchaff, 6 Willow Warbler, 2 Goldcrest, Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Rook, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Starling, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, 6 Bullfinch and 1 Reed Bunting. Also seen a stag Roe Deer and 3 Rabbits.

Today's Photos Here

Nice Wood shame about the Map

Looking around the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust's website I came across a woodland at South Marston I'd not come across before. So armed with the Reserve Map which I downloaded off their website, I headed off to St. Julian's Community Woodland. Talk about secluded, as you come into South Marston it is literally the first turning on your left, just off Thornhill Road. You pass several brand new homes and at the end of St. Julian's Close there is a small car park.

Having parked up I had a choice of two gates to walk through, but looking at the map it made sense to walk through the entrance to the north. Or so I thought! According to the map there were a couple of board walks and ponds on route, so hopefully an opportunity for some amphibians. The trail took me through a small wood where the path was covered in hundreds of Garden Slugs Arion horntensis and Large Black Slugs Arion ater. Having tipped toed my way through them the wood opened out into a bit of a glade. I'm sure if the sun was out this would be fantastic for butterflies.

Just a few of the slugs along the pathway

The Large Black Slug,  Arion ater

One of the glades

As I walked through the glade I passed one of the trail  posts, which suggested there were dragonflies in this area. Something to come back for when the weather warms up a bit. On the map there was a board walk marked on it and I try as I could, I couldn't see any sign of one. The map also showed a long path and this one definitely turned to the left, well before it should. And as it turned, it did so again just a few metres further on. This was definitely the wrong Map!

Trail Post

The path actually double backs on itself and runs through another glade. Though this time on the right were lots of mature trees with Grey Squirrels running about. Up ahead was a metal bench and table, which overlooked a pond. Unfortunately the pond looked as if it had a puncture in its lining and wasn't as full as it was probably supposed to be. Instead there was just a green algae sitting in the bottom.

A bench and table overlook a pool.

The hedgerow in front was a bit more interesting as a came across 2 Blackcaps, a Common Whitethroat and Chiffchaff. Having passed the hedge, the path then turned to the left and doubled backed to the car park. Which was probably just as well as the heavens opened up and the rain came lashing down. I will definitely go back again, but will probably wait until the summer when there will probably be a very good chance of butterflies and dragonflies around.

When I got home I was straight onto the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust's website and sure enough the map download link on the St Julian's Wood page was for The Firs, which is at Royal Wootton Bassett. Nevertheless it was still an interesting walk.

Birds Recorded were: Wood Pigeon, Skylark singing overhead, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Song Thrush, 1 Common Whitethroat, 2 Blackcap, 1 Chiffchaff, Coal Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Jackdaw, Chaffinch, Goldfinch and Greenfinch.

Also Recorded: Grey Squirrel, Garden Slug and Large Black Slug

Today's Photos Here

Three in a Row

With the forecast of rain this afternoon, I headed off to Liden Lagoon this morning. As I got out of the car, the first spots of rain started to come down. So much for a dry start. As I walked down to the waters edge there was a huge splash and 3 Cormorants that had been swimming close to the north bank, saw me and took off at high speed. They didn't hang around and having landed close to the southern island, then took off again and headed off towards Coate Water.

As the rain came down so did one or two Swallows, and as I found shelter along the east bank several more came down to the Lagoon. In fact by the time I'd walked ¾ of the way round there were over a dozen Swallows feeding just above the surface.

Swallow

As I watched them skimming the surface, a large party of Lesser Black-backed Gulls came down to bathe. Strangely enough there weren't any Herring Gulls, which in the winter always seem to outnumber the Lessers. A familiar "quack" came from the north island and I was pleased to see that the pair of Gadwall were still present. 

On the islands and around the banks, there were a few Blackcaps singing and at least one Chiffchaff on the southern island. As I walked along the tarmac path 4 Sand Martins joined the the Swallows and just before I got into the car a pair of House Martins flew over estate to join them. Having only seen 1 Swallow this Spring it was good see a few more of them and now their cousins. 

Sand Martin

Birds Recorded: Pair Great Crested Grebe, 3 Cormorant, pair Mute Swan, Canada Goose (not counted), Mallard, pair Gadwall, Moorhen, Coot, 12 Lesser Black-backed Gull, Wood Pigeon, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 4 Sand Martin, 2 House Martin, 12 Swallow, Dunnock, Blackbird, 4 singing Blackcap, 1 Chiffchaff, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch and Goldfinch.

Today's Photos Here

The Sun is Back

I spent an hour walking around Liden Lagoon this morning in glorious sunshine. The local Angling Club were down there early as well, on a works party, sorting out the cages that had drifted off their moorings during the winter storms. Just one butterfly this morning a Green-veined White, which was a surprise as the temperature was around 8°C. If memory serves me right the temperature has to be closer to 11°C before they appear. NB. See bottom of today's Blog about butterflies and temperatures.

Liden Lagoon in the sun

An angler wades out to the cages

Behind the bungalows a Chiffchaff was calling again and a Blackcap was singing away deep inside an ivy clad tree to my right. As I peered through the branches from the path, I suddenly realised that the pair of Gadwall I thought had left were still present. Having seen me they scooted off towards the "north" island only to be pursued by the resident cob Mute Swan. His posture was really threatening with his wings up and neck and head right back over his body. Quite scary to say the least and not surprisingly the Gadwall decided that a quick retreat was in order and disappeared into the north-east corner of the lagoon where the river Liden runs out.

A very threatening Mute Swan

Its head well back ready to strike

The Gadwall were its target

A bit further round the track I could see on the pontoon, that bisects the two islands, that there was a Cormorant soaking up the sun. It's been quite awhile since there's been one here and further along towards the top of the "south" island there was a Grey Heron hunting in the shallows. This was also another bird that hasn't been seen here for a few months. As I watched the Heron feeding, I could hear a familiar sound coming from the bushes just behind it. A Lesser Whitethroat, but try as I could, I just couldn't pinpoint where it was sitting. Even when I got round the other side of the island I could hear it, but finding it was impossible. However I did see and hear a Willow Warbler and also another Chiffchaff and Blackcap.

A Cormorant returns to the Lagoon

And so does a Grey Heron after a long absence

The "south" island full of warblers

As I walked down the slope of the tarmac path, a large flock of Lesser Black-backed Gulls came into bathe. In fact a total 21 birds flew in plus 2 Herring Gulls, the cob Mute Swan was yet again not impressed and steamed into them and helped them on their way.

Lesser Black-backed Gulls come down for a bathe

Two Herring Gull and Mallard

The Herring Gull on the left is a 4^th-summer the other an adult

Also around the edges of the Lagoon a few Lesser Pond-sedges are now out.

Lesser Pond-sedge

Birds recorded today were: pair Great Crested Grebe, 1 Cormorant, 1 Grey Heron, pair Mute Swan, Canada Goose, Mallard, pair Gadwall, Moorhen, Coot, 2 Herring Gull, 21 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, Wood Pigeon, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Pied Wagtail, 1 Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Blackcap, 3 Chiffchaff, 1 Willow Warbler, Goldcrest, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Carrion Crow, House Sparrow, Chaffinch and Goldfinch.

Today's Photos Here

Of Interest

Butterflies are cold-blooded, which means that their body temperatures are not regulated on their own. A butterfly's body temperature is instead affected by the temperatures of its surroundings. If it is too cold butterflies must warm up their bodies in order fly, if it is too warm they must cool down their bodies in order to fly. The optimum body temperature for a butterfly to fly is between 82 °-102° F. Butterflies can fly in air temperatures as cool as 55° F but they must regulate their body temperature and keep it warm by practising behavioural tactics such a shivering their wings or basking in the sun. If the temperature is over 108° F a butterfly body temperature may become to warm to fly and it may have to cool its body temperature.

This extract was courtesy of the website "Obsession with Butterflies" See Here for more details