1.4.08 - Catch-up

A bit of a catch-up as I haven't posted anything for a while. However, I haven't been up to that much, the only outings I've had over the last few weeks have been a couple of heathland trips, both to the same place. I didn't see anything on the first visit that I didn't see on th second apart from a beautiful Grass Snake sheltering under some corrugated iron.


On the second visit, it was a lot warmer so there were a lot more insects active. Orange-tips, Brimstones, Speckled Woods and a Peacock were on the wing. Also among the heather were a lot of Large Red Damselflies, there seemed to have been some kind of mass emergence! I also came across a very early Four-spotted Chaser which was a real surprise find!


The insect highlight though were Emperor Moths, I saw a few of the beautiful males fluttering over the heath, it was the first time I've seen any, I'd love to catch one landed!

Reptiles were very active, I saw a few Common Lizards, one bright green Sand Lizard and a couple of Slow-worms. The best were a couple of Smooth Snakes, one in exactly the same place as I'd found the Grass Snake. These were only my 2nd and 3rd sightings, and it's the first time I've been able to get photos of one.


I was also very pleased with the bird sightings, Tree Pipits were a first for me while it was great to see Redstarts, Hobbies, Woodlarks as well as a Wheatear, Dartford Warblers, Reed Bunting, Meadow Pipits, Raven, Sparrowhawk and Kestrel.
Here are some links to bird shots although they're not very good!
Firstly a male Redstart
http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/ar...hp/photo/57867
Tree Pipit
http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/ar...hp/photo/57865
Hobby
http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/ar...hp/photo/57866

Around the garden over the last few weeks, the highlight has definetely been a Red Kite which made a very brief visit before being driven off by a Buzzard! It's the first I've seen in Britain.


Also a couple of Mediterranean Gulls have passed over, at this time of year they sometimes fly over with the flocks of Black-headed Gulls. I've also seen the first Orange-tips, Small White and Holly Blue over the last few weeks.