Early this morning a
Chiffchaff was calling from the White Beam across the road from the house and was later joined by a
Goldcrest. At least 3
Grey Wagtails and 3
Meadow Pipits flew over the house just before 9:00am. As the sun came out in afternoon, so the Buddleia came alive with butterflies. First was a
Red Admiral, followed by a
Comma and then 5 more
Red Admirals came into together. And for the second day running the
Hummingbird Hawk-moth returned briefly. Peering over the garden fence I can see that there is a Buddleia 3 doors down from me. Well at least I know where it keeps flying off to. Later a
Small Tortoiseshell and a
Small White joined the other 7 butterflies and the many
Drone Flies.
Drone Fly
Possibly the 4th and last Comma that was in the garden as a caterpillar a few months back.
In the afternoon Dawn and I took Benji for a walk around Stanton Park. Plenty of
Chiffchaff singing, along with
Goldcrests and even a couple of
Spotted Flycatchers. Over the pool a hundred plus
hirundine mainly
Swallows and a few
House Martins. With so many I did expect to see a Hobby swoop in, but not today.
Still a lot of Dragonflies around with a few
Common Darters resting/sunbathing on the fences in the meadow just north of the pool, where there were a few
grasshoppers. with both
Meadow and
Field seen.
Meadow Grasshopper
Field Grasshopper
A female Common Darter
Also in the meadows quit a few
Black spindle-thistle aphids (
Aphis fabae cirsiiacanthoidis) were on the thistles, as was a
Pine Ladybird and an
ichneumon wasp sp. on a thistle head. Sitting on the branches overhanging the main pool a small number of
Black-headed Gulls in winter attire and as we approached the car park a
Grey Squirrel was seen carrying Beech Mast.
Black spindle-thistle aphids (
Aphis fabae cirsiiacanthoidis) were on the thistles, as was a Pine Ladybird.
An ichneumon wasp sp. on a thistle head.
A few Black-headed Gulls in winter plumage rest up on the branches of a fallen tree overhanging the main pool.
Grey Squirrel with Beech Mast
And no walk would be complete if Benji didn't say hello to the very inquisitive sheep.
They look like you Benji
