⛅️
23C Friday 2nd August 2019 ~ I began the day at Brandon Marsh, which considering the influx of waders making landfall and large movements over the previous week, in particular,
Wood Sandpipers, Brandon has failed to produce anything of note on the pools once again. After an hour in the hides at East Marsh, where the best I could muster was a single
Little-ringed Plover I found the woodlands and meadows much more productive, and a lot cooler.
 |
| A juvenile Blackcap taking a breather in Horsetail Glade, Brandon today |
Lots of young birds foraging in Horsetail Glade with
Treecreeper,
Nuthatch,
Willow Warbler and
Chiffchaff also noted.
 |
| One of five Painted Lady resting on a Greater Burdock plant today |
This is really turning out to be '
an emergence year' for the charismatic
Painted Lady Butterfly, with not only Continental European arrivals but lots of home-grown ones too. They can currently be seen anywhere around the reserve and on the 'Tip' area I recorded at least twenty, five on one plant of
Greater Burdock alone!
Peacocks are also in good numbers now too, plus (5)
Brown Argus, lots of worn
Ringlets and
Meadow Browns with a few second-generation
Common Blues beginning to appear.
 |
| One of at least four Spotted Flycatchers at Napton |
After a number of visits to Napton-on-the- Hill over the previous few weeks in search of
Spotted Flycatchers, I was delighted today to finally see four newly fledged birds when I stopped on route home.
 |
| Spotted Flycatcher |
I spent a good while watching the birds constantly flycatching and calling to each other before reluctantly dragging myself away, a real pleasure to watch!
 |
| Spotted Flycatcher |
 |
| Spotted Flycatcher ~ Always obliging for the camera and great fun to watch |
