In the fields to my right there was Hare and down at the copse I found a female Wheatear, by the chalk outcrop. She was still there when I came back that way. A little further on up the track I came across another misplaced Sedge Warbler. I say another, a few days ago I came across one in Stratton Wood. They are obviously moving through.
One of three Hares in the field next to Folly Farm
A female Wheatear
A female Wheatear
The hedgerow was full of Common Whitethroat singing away and I even managed a female. There weren't that Corn Bunting, but there were good numbers of Yellowhammer. As I climbed up to the Ridgeway I could see 2 more Hares in the field and as I reached the main track 15 Linnets flew over my head. Aloud croak from behind me revealed a Raven heading down towards Lower Upham Farm.
A female Common Whitethroat
Raven
All along the Ridgeway was the sound of Skylarks singing, if I said I heard and saw 6, you could probably double that. What was good to see is that the local farmers have cut away sections in the Wheat Fields for the Skylarks to breed in. Judging by the numbers I heard and saw, I think its definitely paying off.
Up on the Ridgeway looking north
A Red Kite came across the ridge and was immediately mobbed by a Carrion Crow and there were at least 5 Buzzards in the thermals above me. A few Swallows passed over in small parties and as the temperature started to rise so did the number of St Mark's Flies. There were hundreds of them out. They weren't alone as I came across Peacock Butterflies, Small Tortoiseshells and a few Green-veined Whites.
A Small Tortoiseshell
Coate Water as seen from Liddington Castle
A Carrion Crow mobs a Red Kite
Once I reached the castle grounds it was back down the slope to Whitethroat country. They certainly love it along this stretch, with its scattering of Hawthorns and set-a-sides in the field close by. A Kestrel hovered over the field for a short time and pounced on something. It stayed down for ages, before taking off and heading towards Folly Farm.
The hedgerow below Liddington Hill good for Whitethroats
And Yellowhammers
Goldfinch
I eventually ended up back at the copse and the Sedge Warbler was still singing away and the female Wheatear was still in the field.
The female Wheatear in the field here next to the copse
The path back up to the car was full of insects and came across, a Spotted Cranefly, a beautiful looking wasp, which I will have to look up, several 7-spot Ladybirds, a Green Shield Bug, and another bug that goes by the name Latin name of Notostira elongata. The one that got away was a strange moth-like insect with red and black wings. It wasn't a Cinnabar or Burnet, being quite a lot smaller. I found it twice and just missed out on getting a photo. And then the third time I nearly stood on it, not realising it was there and it flew off over the barbed wire fence. I guess I shall have to go back!!
A Spotted Cranefly
Brimstone
7-Spot Ladybird and Red Ants
A Common Bee Wasp - Nomada ruficornis
Common Nettle-tap moth, Anthophila fabriciana
Notostira elongata
Spider sp.
Green Shield Bug
Birds Recorded were: 2 Red Kite, 5 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, Pheasant, Wood Pigeon, 12+ Skylark, 8 Swallows, 2 Meadow Pipit, Dunnock, Robin, 1 female Wheatear, Blackbird, 1 Sedge Warbler, 11 Common Whitethroat, 1 Willow Warbler, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Rook, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, 1 Raven, Chaffinch, 15 Linnet, Goldfinch, Corn Bunting and Yellowhammer.
Mammals recorded: 3 Hares and 1 Rabbit
Butterflies: 10 Peacocks, 13 Green-veined Whites, 12 Small Tortoiseshells, 1 Brimstone and 2 Orange-tips
Other Insects recorded: St Mark's Flies, lots of Bumblebees, Spotted Cranefly, 7-Spot Ladybird, Green Shield Bug, Notostira elongata, Common Bee Wasp - Nomada ruficornis, Common Nettle-tap moth (Anthophila fabriciana) and a 1 moth sp.
Today's Photos Here