A gloriously bright day, the hottest of the year so far, found me hunting out recently arrived birds as well as butterflies emerging from their hibernation. All was successful, with the 1st whitethroat of the year recorded as well as 5 chiffchaffs and 1 blackcap. Other notable birds included 5 nuthatches around Chapel Lane footpaths and near the golf course, 1 garden goldcrest, a flock of 8 late fieldfares, a common buzzard over the club house at Ash Valley G.C., a coal tit in local conifers. In all, 33 species.
Butterflies were all new for the year. 6+ peacocks, 2 brimstones, 1 small tortoiseshell, 1 comma and 1 common blue. All, apart from the peacocks were too fast and flighty to permit photos.
Plants are now beginning to flower, with plenty of colt's foot (Tussilago farfara), white dead nettle (Lamium alba), common dog violet (Viola riviniana) and germander speedwell (Veronica chamaedrys) all evident on the golf course and in the hedgerows.
A super 4 hour wander. Photos show 1 of the nuthatches, a flyover kestrel, dog violet, a 7 spot ladybird, germander speedwell and a peacock but
terfly
terfly
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