Clear, warm and a lot calmer than it has been overnight, and good conditions I hoped for the moth trap. It was then with a lot of anticipation that I looked in this morning, and I wasn't disappointed. There were two new moths for the garden, two spectacular moths and two that despite my best efforts I can't confirm identification so once again any help would be appreciated.
First up was this Coronet, a lovely collection of green, black and grey, and a first for the garden.
Next an old favourite, but seen from a different angle, the Large Yellow Underwing.
Another newbie, the Shoulder-striped Wainscot
The the first of two Elephant Hawkmoths. The first looks as if it has been fighting or escaping the attention of a predator, as the thorax is damaged
There was though a second which was in better condition.
They appeared small, and at first I thought they were Small Elephants, but the stripe down the abdomen is characteristic of the larger Elephant Hawkmoth.
After the excitement of the hawkmoths came the frustration of the the two I cannot confirm identification on. Potentially two new moths.
One of the possibilities of this one is the Garden Dart but I am not certain.
I can't find anything similar to this one.
It was a warm and sunny morning, and by lunchtime quite warm, so I decided to continue the Lepidoptera theme and go an look for butterflies in the meadow and wood.
First stop was the meadow between Alton and Blackberry lane. I walked down the footpath but was only able to find a few Meadow Browns. Their numbers are beginning to increase and this one was enjoying the clover flowers.
I had hoped to find some Common Blues, but the long grass didn't seem to be the place, so I went into the orchid field. Again there were plenty of Meadow Browns, but no sign of any blues. The orchids though continue to look quite stunning.
I walked around disturbing browns, but then at last I found a male Common Blue in the low grass. It looks very tatty and this is probably an indication as to why they have become difficult to find, they must be reaching the end of the first flying period.
It flew about a little, settling again on a buttercup.
Happy that I had finally managed to get one to stay still, I left the field and returned to the meadow. The Meadow Browns continued to flit away from my feet, but a smaller flyer caught my eye, and it settled on a long strand of grass. I believe this to be a Garden Grass Veneer moth
Finally I came across another butterfly, yet another Small Tortoiseshell, but this one did show the underwing very well, and casts it as a completely different butterfly.
I left the meadow, and drove to the pond where I left the car to go into Old Down. Before I did though I walked around the pond. The Tadpoles are growing well, and many are now showing two hind legs. As soon as the front ones arrive their lungs will have developed the Toad tadpoles will be off, while the frogs may stay.
There were plenty of Azure Damselflies around the sunny bank, but it was this Red Admiral that caught my eye.
From the pond I walked to the wood, stopping to check the brambles that are now in flower. Amongst the bees were two Meadow Browns and another Tortoiseshell on the emrging flowers, but the verge alongside the field is developing nicely for the Marbled Whites a little later in the month.
I decided to walk the open rides in the wood. First off were more Meadow Browns, it won't be long before I am fed up with seeing them. On the main path towards the west I found two Speckled Woods. One decided to sit nicely.
From the west path I took the diagonal through the open patch. I wondered if the wood would prove an attraction but all I found was another Red Admiral. Back along the path to the crossroads, and then ot towards the east, only to turn towards the Kitwood entrance. This was the area in which I found White Admiral last year amongst the bramble, but this year maybe a little too early. There was though a Longhorn Beetle, which looked quite spectacular.
A Goldcrest was singing in Morris's old tree, but apart from that it was quiet. I took the perimeter path back to the cottage entrance. The clearing of the trees has made this part very light, and the floor is very green with grass, bracken and bramble.
Back at the pond an Emperor Dragonfly was hawking around the lily pads. This is a poor shot I know, but a record of the first this year.
Similar conditions tonight so I will try the trap again, but in a different location, you never know what the Butterfly Collector might find
Over the last few days you could never be sure what weather you would get. Yesterday it was cool and overcast, Tuesday started very much the same but by the mid morning the cloud was burning away to reveal some blue sky and warm sunshine. By the late afternoon the skies were clear, but there was still a quite fresh north-easterly breeze that if you were caught out in it could be quite cool.
I decided to gamble on their being some shelter that would attract some butterflies. The "June Gap" as it is known, where the flying season of the early butterflies ends and the later ones does not fully start is coming to an end. I was pleased to see that my observation of very few butterflies around was not just confined to Four Marks, I have seen this reference on all the local butterfly web sites. I was also intrigued to see a Swallowtail reported in Four Marks last week. Springwatch ran a piece on Continental Swallowtails in Sussex last week, and it appears that they are being seen on the south coast following arrivals last year. Now that would be nice.
I opted to walk to Blackberry lane, and then across the meadow to Alton Lane. I also wanted to catch up with the Buzzards, hopeful that leaving them until a little later would see a little more activity. Walking down the narrow footpath towards the meadow I could hear an adult Buzzard mewing above.
Most adult birds would be breeding at the moment and I would not expect them to be calling like this, adult birds I have seen are hunting silently. Maybe this is an immature bird from last year's nest close by, and it is missing the attention of the parents.
As I watched the buzzard I could hear young Blue Tits, and looking across to the Hawthorn tree I found at least three begging for food from their parents.
Last year the paddock next to the meadow had a good show of Spotted Orchids, I was hopeful there would be a similar show this year. As I looked into the field I saw one just coming into bloom.
A scan around the paddock revealed that there were plenty more in full bloom, so I stepped in for a closer look.
The Common Spotted Orchid is widely variable in colour and height, the flower spike produced in June to August at first looks like a cone, but then becomes more cylindrical. The flower colour varies from white to pale purple with purple spots to a pattern of dark purple loops or dots and dashes. Looking around the paddock there were plenty of flower spikes showing this variation in colour and pattern.
As I walked amongst the orchids I disturbed a few Meadow Brown butterflies that were keeping low in the grass out of the wind. As they flew up they would be attacked by feisty little Common Blues. Unfortunately the Blues never settled so I am still waiting for the opportunity to photograph one.
From the ground you could see the grasses blowing in the breeze, and they would sway out of the way to reveal the orchid spikes, standing out in the buff surroundings.
I returned to the meadow, and my search for insects. The breeze though was not helpful, and scanning across the daisies and grasses I could not see much moving. As I walked I flushed out a few Small Tortoiseshells and the rapidly increasing Meadow Browns. One did sit long enough in the breeze to allow me to get a picture.
I cross Alton lane to walk down past the garden centre. Looking down the lane summer is definitely here, the deep and full greens of the leaves framing the lane all the way to the bottom.
The plan was to walk past the garden centre, and then take the footpath down by the Shetland Pony paddocks. In the first field the cattle feeding has kept the grass down, but there was enough to hide a pair of Red-legged Partridges. They seem to be turning up everywhere just lately, and once again they refused to fly away, and sped through the grass.
I climbed the style and walked down the track alongside the horse paddocks. In the distance I could see a large groups of Rooks getting agitated, and then from behind the trees I saw the reason for their concern, a Grey Heron.
I knew this would only turn out as a silhouette, but I love the picture. Herons have a certain prehistoric look about them in flight, but for me this reminds me of Wile E Coyote from the Looney Tunes cartoons. In particular the one where he puts on a pair of wings to chase the Roadrunner. It takes some time to get the flying right but he eventually does and then cruises with long high wing beats, turns to smile smugly and immediately flies into a mountain, priceless. I hope you can see what I mean.
The paddocks weren't empty, and one of the Shetlands had another foal. It wanted to come over to me as it would inch slowly, but always seemed wary of its mother so never moved too far from her side.
the path was sheltered from the wind, and bees could be seen low in the grass at the base of the hedge. The only butterflies though were Small Tortoiseshells, I saw at least a dozen walking down the path.
As I walked down the path I could hear the begging calls of young Blue and Great Tits and the sound of birds wings as I disturbed them in the hedge. The whole length of the path was alive with birds busily looking after their newly fledged families.
Crossing the road, two Buzzards flew over, these were silent, and were intently scanning the ground in search of a meal.
I walked up the footpath through Homestead farm. The track was sheltered and the sun quite warm, but the only butterflies I saw were more Tortoiseshells. The hedge though was also busy with bird calls.
I stopped to look back down the hill, across Hawthorn Lane and back up the hill from where I had come. Summer is truly here now.
I walked from the footpath towards the pond. There is a plot of land opposite the pond with a few nissen huts. The lawn is kept immaculately, and I always check it the vain hope there will be a Hoopoe or Wryneck there. Usually there is nothing, but tonight there were a few Woodpigeon, and this Carrion Crow, goose stepping across the grass.
I stopped atthe pond, and scanned for dragonflies. I could only see a few Azure Damsels though. The water was now almost in the shade from the trees, but one patch remained in sunlight and the reflections of the grass and marigolds in the water was lovely.
In the field over from the entrance to the wood the brambles are coming into flower. These plants are a magnet for the insects. The leaves provide a safe and warm platform to sunbathe on, the flowers are clearly a source of nectar, and in the autumn the berries as they ripen provide a further source of sugar. Today I could only find bees and a few more Small Tortoiseshells
I walked through the wood, a red Dragonfly buzzing me, but not stopping to allow identification let alone a photograph. I made my way to the nest and struggled at first to find it. The wind had picked up, and the trees were swaying, but I finally found it and settled to see if I could get a glimpse of the inhabitants.
As I watched my mind played tricks, is that the chick? I could see a shape and wasn't sure, but gradually it became clearer, and I had my first real sighting.
You can just make out the ye and the yellow on the top of the bill as it was sheltered from behind one of the branches.
Every so often another wing would flap up, but this was the only chick I could clearly see, these wing flaps though did confirm there are two chicks in the nest. I moved around, the wind moved the branches around, and the chick moved around, giving a better view as it seemed to peer over the branch.
The wind was blowing the trees, and this was producing sounds as if something was coming. It made me turn around to check, and the chick clearly heard them to as it seemed to turn and try to get a look at what was going on.
You can see the brown feathers appearing underneath the white downy feathers on the head, but when the other bird flapped its wings they were all down, with no sign of any pin feathers. Ageing them is difficult but I would say they will not be fledging until well into July.
One of the adults would circle above the nest, but did not appear to have any prey. The male is likely to do the lion share of the hunting, the female making sure they are safe, and breaking up their meals the male delivers. The chick was aware of the adult being close so I took one more shot.
And then made my way back to the main path. I will keep a check on them as they grow, but will not be too frequent, I want to see them fledge.
Walked back along the main path and out at the Gradwell end. Both Swallows and House Martins were flying close to the trees and hedges, their insect prey easier to catch close to the leaves than in the open due to the breeze. The rest of the walk back along Brislands was uneventful, and I made my way back to the World Cup.
I have just heard that one of my photographs taken in Iceland has been awarded "Photo of the Week" on the Bird Guides site. I am extremely pleased with this, and if you haven't seen the post you can go to it here the picture in question is the third Fulmar photograph taken at Skogafoss.
After the warm weather of Friday, we had a really heavy thunderstorm overnight, but while the sun greeted us when we got up, the clouds rolled back in mid morning, and there were a few sharp and heavy storms early in the afternoon. Those storms appeared to have drifted away, and I decided mid afternoon to go and follow up yet another tip from Jill on a Buzzard nest in Old Down. Temptingly she had sent through a picture of a young buzzard showing plenty of white down, so if I wasn't successful today they will be about for awhile.
Walking along Brislands Lane I could hear baby Blue Tits calling from within the rhododendrons, so I stopped to see if I could find them. I did, but it was very dark and they were very active with the parents extremely busy feeding them. I managed to find two together with what is just an acceptable picture.
The parents seemed to be everywhere buzzing under the leaves, to collect insects and spiders and dropping to the floor to find something in the leaf litter.
In the week I wasn't sure if I had seen young Whitethroats along the hedge on Brislands. Today though I saw four together, they darted in amongst the branches avoiding the camera today, while an adult followed after them with food in its beak.
Yellowhammers and Skylarks were singing either side of the lane as I walked into the wood. I disturbed a couple of Red Admiral along the main path, so decided to take the angled footpath through the cleared area. This is now an open area with plenty of sunshine. A large insect buzzed past me, and then landed. A dragonfly, and a at last the chance to photograph a Broad-bodied Chaser. It sat on a branch in the sunshine.
This species has a broad abdomen, this is a female, the males have a pale blue abdomen, the female yellowish brown, both though have yellow spots on the side of the abdomen, and a dark base to each of the wings.
I have not seen them in Old Down before, and the clearing of this particular area has produced a warm habitat that seems to be good for insects. Maybe as a result of the forestry work the Broad-bodied Chaser has found a good place to hunt.
Where the footpath feeds onto the main path there was another tree down..It looked quite a recent fall, probably as a result of last night's storm. I walked down the main path towards the west end in the search for the Buzzard's nest. I could hear young calling, but it was feint, and I was not able to pin point the origin of the calls.
At the west end entrance the fields in the distance just oozed summer..
I walked around the perimeter path, and then recovered my tracks, I had directions but couldn't find the right place. I decided to make my way to the perimeter track again in the direction of the Old Down Cottage entrance. As I fought my way through the brambles I came across a couple of Meadow Browns on the bramble leaves. These were my earliest Meadow Browns.
The path goes close to the fence, and I was suddenly aware of some one else close by. Looking to the field I could see a Roe Deer and two kids looking at me. I moved slowly raising the camera but that was enough for them and they turned to run off.
The kids look in good condition, and could move very well.
The field has been cut for hay, and there is little cover for the deer other than the area around the hawthorn tree. The female jumped the fence, but the two kids waited looking at here. She then came back, and led them away again.
A suitable distance from me they seemed to calm. But they continued to watch and listen.
The mother was looking to find somewhere that she considered safe for her kids, and she led them away, so I decided to leave them be.
I then met up with Jill, who thankfully offered to show me where the nest I was looking for was. I am glad she did, because I would never have found it. As we walked through the undergrowth I could hear a familiar sound from the sky, a Merlin.
It was though a Rolls Royce Merlin, and over the canopy, first a Spitfire flew over, followed by a Hurricane. This weekend is the annual celebration of War On the Line, based around the Alresford and the Watercress Line. Every Year we are treated to a Spitfire fly past, and if lucky a free display.
We reached the best place to observe the nest. Unfortunately there was no sign of the chicks. Jill has seen two, both with plenty of white downy feathers so they are a long way off fledging. The nest was also being buzzed by flies.
I did manage to see one white downy chick, but was not able to photograph it. I will definitely be back, and as they grow, there will be plenty of photo opportunities.
I headed back to the main path, and then out towards the Gradwell entrance. A couple of Speckled Woods drifted past, and around the battle field of fallen larches I stopped as another Broad-bodied Chaser buzzed around the larches. As I waited for it to show again, I noticed a butterfly in the grass. It was a Large Skipper, and an early one, and along with Meadow Brown, a welcome sign that maybe the butterfly doldrums are over.
I came out of the wood, crossed the field and managed to resist the urge to photograph the Swallows. A short walk, but once again it has delivered. Two Roe Deer kids, a first, the earliest Meadow Brown, a superb Large Skipper, and the chance to watch a pair of young Buzzards grow up. Wonderful
