July 22nd and in the afternoon went back to Pulpit Hill
mainly looking for butterflies and found 15 species.
A good start when a
pair of silver-washed fritillaries led me into the woods passing
another common woodland species, the speckled wood. In the clearings
peacock were feeding on the thistle heads along with ringlets and meadow
browns. Holly blues and gatekeepers, large whites, red admiral and
brimstones also seen here. Passing an impressive beech before coming out
on to the chalk hillside and its many wildflowers and more butterflies
including chalkhill and common blues, males and females all very
active, small heaths, small coppers and large skippers too.
Had a few
days in the garden and on Saturday morning, 25th, had the now increasing
mixed tit flock come into the garden and with them a few chiffchaffs
and we had one fly into the house, once around the kitchen and out
through the open back door and carried on feeding in the fennel close
by.
Monday 27th and met Don at Missenden Abbey in the rain and watched
the lake there for an hour. Good numbers of swallows and house martins,
adult and young continually feeding over the lake. Coot, moorhen,
mallard and tufted ducks with young also an adult and juvenile little
grebe present. A heron flew in. A juvenile grey wagtail came close and
too close to it's moulting parent.
Went back Tuesday morning but to the
lake at the far end and found more tufted duck with young and also
mallard and Canada geese with gosling.
At home watched a young dunnock
sunning itself.
Later that afternoon a walk past a barley field with a
few poppies growing through it, looking how they all used to I guess.
Stewart.
Images Copyright : Stewart Dennis.
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