Sunday, 27 July 2014

Too Hot This Week

I don't like this hot humid weather so I only managed a few short outings around the local area. Its still quiet on the patch but on the 20th there were 12 common terns along the shore half a dozen egrets, lots of blkwits, a marsh harrier around the pumping station area. I caught up with another family of  stonechats, that's three pairs with fledged young, the best season so far, mind you they are well of the 'reserves'. A couple of short walks up to the seawall at S.Swale was as usual, a couple of reed buntings and reed warblers, still can't find a bearded tit!

 No swallowtail but several tortoiseshells

On the 24th a text from Andy Malone informing that he had seen a swallowtail along west beach whilst walking his dog that evening but a quick search with others revealed it was long gone!

 Egrets at Seasalter


Another trip out on the 25th revealed a healthy vista of wild flowers on Wraik Hill but no birds to speak of, the only highlight was a hare on the brow of the hill, the first I've ever seen!

 Heron at ISO 640

An evening visit to Oare produced the usual avocets, blackwits, herons etc but just a beautiful time to be out. A ruff flew in and landed nearly close to the road giving a few opportunities for the little camera.




On Saturday 26th I went to Swalecliffe after an uneventful hour at SS and spent time socialising with GJWB and Ted Lee. However, two clouded yellow butterflies were flying about over the beach and I finished off helping GB with his flat tyre and the messy kit of fluid and pump given these days to get you out of trouble. It did work to an extent even with a split in the side wall. I then followed him some of the way home where after he disappeared into the distance still inflated!!

1 comment:

Marc Heath said...

Shame about the Swallowtail, I wonder where that went? Perhaps there will be more as it seems the Clouded Yellow season has started well.