Easterly wander

A longer walk this morning, over Brick Kiln Hill to Millennium Wood and then on to Tescos and back. Good number of birds encountered, 30 sp for the whole walk, but no real highlights. A common buzzard was over Bury Green and the regular pied wagtails were observed at Little Hadham cricket ground. Plenty of swallow movement, esp. over the polo fields and M. Wood. Several chiffchaffs "wheeted" from oaks at Millennium Wood whilst one called the more regular chiffchaff song. A blackcap sang from the hedgerow in Millfield Lane. A photo of a swallow on wires was taken from this Lane.

The regular butterflies were present, with 2 views of a gatekeeper shown here, depicting the diagnostic 2 white patches in the eye spot on the fore wings. Also shown here, another view of a ringlet. A brown hawker dragonfly flew past as I entered M Wood.

Scarlet pimpernel ( anagallis arvensis) was recorded in amongst maize, set for pheasant cover and I also include a photo of field bindweed (convolvulus arvensis). This is a regular sight along the hedgerows.

Finally, a photo of oedemera nobilis, here showing the male with its bulbous green hind legs. The final photo shows a chiffchaff, unfortunately in poor light, although the temperature was high.