At the beginning of the week I was excited by the odd show of bluebell flower stalks, by the end of the week the floor of the wood in many places was probably up to fifty per cent covered. Here some more of which over the next few weeks will not be the last
Leaves are emerging everywhere, the beech leaves looking pristine and a lovely lime green, sometimes when caught by the evening sunshine against a black background.
But also with the shimmer of the bluebells behind them.
New emergers seen here together Is Dog Mercury and Wood Spurge seen here together. Very soon as the canopy closes over the Dog Mercury will carpet the floor.
Lesser Celandine and Wood Anemones are still flowering along the verges of the lanes, and in greater numbers now are this delicate little flower, the Greater Stitchwort. This plant was once used as a herbal remedy for a stitch (the pain sometimes felt in the side during exercise), hence the name ‘stitchwort'. It is a member of the Carnation family
Some say that if you pick greater stitchwort, you will cause a thunderstorm. In Cornwall it was believed that greater stitchwort was the property of the pixies and picking it would anger them – often resulting in the pixies enchanting you!
At Swellinghill Pond the Cuckoo Flower or Lady's Smocks were in full flower around the bank of the pond.
While the Pussy Willow is now almost past its best.
The pond itself is looking quite spectacular. Several of the Willow Trees have been removed which allows for much more light around the pond itself.
The warm weather was also a contribution in bringing out the insects as well, and at this time of year it is always an exciting time as you search for those butterflies that do not hibernate over the winter but are newly emerged individuals. There is no better site than the first male Brimstone that flutters bu on a sunny day, never stopping, but I also find a lot of joy in seeing the first male Orange Tip on the wing, the contrast between the orange tips on the white wings just visible as they scour the flowers along the verges, pausing only briefly to investigate before continuing their journey.
My first ones were seen on Thursday (9th), but none were confiding enough to photograph, I finally managed to get one to stay still long enough for a photograph on Saturday along the verge on Brislands Lane.
Another of the early spring emergers is the Holly Blue, the first "blue" butterfly of the year. They can be found around the evergreen bushes several of those I have seen this year so far have been around Laurel bushes. The first like the Orange Tip was seen on Thursday (9th), and they have been present in the garden too. This one, a male, was photographed in Old Down on Easter Sunday (12th
Another emerging in the warmth was a Green-veined White a welcome find along Brislands on Thursday (9th) as well.
Peacocks have been around for sometime, with one occupying my garden regularly. This one liked a laurel bush too.
The Red Admiral has been conspicuous by its absence recently, but I did managed to find one by the owl tree in Old Down on Tuesday (7th), although it only gave the briefest view while settled in the dead leaves before flying off and out of sight.
I returned the next day and it was in the same place and much more confiding.
On the same day I came across another close to the Old Down Cottage entrance. It remained for the rest of the week and on several occasions I saw it dueling with another Red Admiral and chasing after Goldfinches that dared to come close.
The latest butterfly to be seen and take the year total to ten were two Speckled Wood at the top of Kitwood Lane in the verge on Sunday (12th) morning.
Other insects of note were plenty of large Buff-tailed and Red-tailed Bumblebees, here a Red-tailed on one of the many Bluebells at the end of the week.
While for me this Tawny Mining Bee was of special interest despite my friend telling me there were plenty about. Classified as a Solitary bee, this lovely looking Bee flys from March until May. The female is more conspicuous, with its fox red hair on the back, than the male, which is what we have here. It prefers to fly to a range of different nectar producing and pollen bearing plants such as Beech (in good numbers here), Blackthorn and Garlic Mustard.
Bee Flys have also been notable along the verges. This individual was prospecting under the hedges in the Desmond Paddocks on Thursday (9th).
And so to the birds, Old DownWood has been the provider of some of the best opportunities to get to find the newly arrived migrants.
The bird of the week though has to belong to a Firecrest I found singing along the main path running north south through the wood on Sunday morning (12th).
I remember when I found my first one here in Old Down five years ago, since then they have become a lot more widespread around the county and I think I would have been disappointed not to have found one this spring.
It showed briefly singing and feeding around some Hazel switches.
Early I had come across its slightly smaller commoner cousin the Goldcrest. Some mix the two up, but as you can see there is a very clear difference, the lack of a white supercilium above the eye perhaps the most obvious.
The crest is also a lot yellower, hence the names Yellow equals "gold" and the deep orange more "fire".
On Monday (6th) with the skies overcast there was a movement of Lesser Black-backed Gull, this one flying very low over the houses close to home.
Others were seen circling over the fields alongside Gilbert Street on Thursday (9th).
A bird that has recently become a bit of a rarity is the Collared Dove. They used to be common around the houses and garden but now are hardly seen. This individual was at the Blackberry Lane crossroads on Monday (9th)
The piping calls of Bullfinch can be heard along the hedgerows, the attraction being the emerging leaf buds that they like to eat, giving them notoriety with orchard and soft fruit growers. When you hear the calls it is almost certain there are more than one, but it seems that the female is a little less shyer than her mate who hides that gorgeous plumage away in amongst the foliage.
In the garden the action has become more frenzied as it would appear "our" Blackbirds have become parents once again. This becomes clear when they become a lot more brazen in their pursuit of getting more mealworms this includes coming to the back door step once the door is open. The male keeps a look out for us.
And so do the Robins.
We think there are three pairs of Robins coming to us and two have clearly got young as they take worms away, the other pair are still exhibiting courtship behaviour, the female begging for food.
I was able to catch a Robin in the bird bath during the week, always an interesting experience catching the bird in some strange positions as it dries to wash all the feather.
This chap is identifiable by his stand out hair do!
Here is what happens when you open the door and are just about to put some worms into the dish.
Others still very active around the garden are the Goldfinches, a pair of Chaffinch and Greenfinch, courting Dunnocks and a pair of Wren. Two House Martins were over the house on Saturday (11th), this is about two weeks earlier than on average.
Finally there are always the Starlings about, squabbling on the feeders, emptying the water from the bird bath as they bathe and of course their songs and mimicry from the tops of the houses. So far I have heard Green Woodpecker, Buzzard, Pied Wagtail and Grey Heron.
Rooks are nesting at the moment and pairs can be seen around the houses probably looking for any food opportunity. This one showed well and for a bird that is normally very shy was quite approachable.
Its clearly looking for something below the tree.
Back in Old Down Wood the Tawny Owl was about. It was disturbed from its favourite tree on Wednesday and I found him high up in a tall mature Scots Pine.
On Saturday around 17:30 I heard a male and female call in the vicinity, but could not locate them.
Wrens continue to declare their presence through the medium of song.
Belting out the song and flicking their wings
The two dominant migrants in the wood are Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps. Both appear to be present now in good numbers and are singing to secure their territory and to attract a mate.
Chiffchaffs have probably been the easier to see.
Depending on the view they can appear to have a slight eye stripe
As the leaves grow it will become a lot harder to photograph them.
The Blackcaps have already become harder to see, the problem being both the branches and the fact that they will not sit still.
Great Tits are very busy, singing and buzzing around the trees and bushes in search of nest sites.
Nuthatches have a range of different calls and songs ranging between whistles and trills, at times they can also make you believe there something rarer such as a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker. They are very territorial birds and will fight off any potential transgressor. This individual was whistling calls as a they directive to keep away.
On Saturday I could hear a Mistle Thrush Calling in Old Down Wood but was struggling to find it. Eventually I found it at the top of a Larch tree.
The Colloquial name for the Mistle Thrush is "Stormcock" due to its tendency to defend its territory from the top of a tall tree in high winds and rain. The conditions on Saturday couldn't be any better, still and sunny but it was a very tall tree!
Long-tailed Tits are not seen that frequently at the moment as they have paired up and probably attending nests. This individual showed itself very well at the entrance to the wood
Its contact calls suggested that its mate was not far away, and that maybe there was a nest close by.
On Sunday while walking through the wood I could hear the yaffling calls of a Green Woodpecker. There have been several calling over the last few days but it has never been possible to see them at all. As I walked on the call be came closer and I managed to locate this one high up in a dead tree close to the path.
I was able to get in closer to get a rare opportunity to photographer this very striking woodpecker.
It sat still only turning its head occasionally.
Other items of interest through the week were the sightings of our first lambs. These were in the field at the bottom of the Desmonds Paddocks. Always a sign spring is definitely here.
Walking along Lye Way I noticed this field of Rapeseed creeping down the side of the hill and it reminded me of the glaciers we had seen in Iceland last year if a different colour. I could only wonder if in the world we live today would I get the chance again to witness the wonderful natural spectaculars.
And finally I couldn't resist this as I crossed the road at the bottom of Alton Lane.
Why did the chicken cross the road?
And so to week four of lockdown, what will that bring? Last week I hoped for Swallows but they haven't arrived yet, maybe this week coming and a Whitethroat maybe?
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