7th May : Stoke Common

With the weather warming up nicely now seemed to be a good time for Stewart & myself to go out on a reptile wander at Stoke Common. On arriving several Marsh Frogs could be heard from the rubbish filled roadside ditch, mattresses, bags & bottles, everything was in that ditch, but the Frogs were quite content croaking away as they launched themselves from the debris into the water with a bloop. 

As we made our way across the common, numerous Whitethroats sang out from the bushes possibly 8 in total.

Water water everywhere.

Marsh Frogs continued to accompany us with their singing; though we didn't see any more, this Slow worm was the only one we found.

Stewart's sharp eye's spotted this Common Lizard warming up on a log, later we had a fleeting glimpse of another as it scurred out of the bracken & across a path.

The remains of a Long-tailed Tit nest.

Don.

Images Copyright : Don Stone.

5th May

Hawridge Common 

A  2 & 1/2 hour walk on Hawridge Common mid morning, Warblers were in good voice; with 3 Blackcap, 6 Chiffchaff & a Garden Warbler all in song, along with 4 Goldcrest. Also worthy of note was a pair of Bullfinch in the same area as the Garden Warbler.

Don.

Images Copyright : Don Stone.

 A few recent images from the garden.

Don.

Images Copyright : Don Stone.

2nd May 2024

Great Missenden Abbey

A pair of  approachable Gadwall on the river.

Pair of Coot busy nest building.

River Misbourne flowing nicely again after all the rain throughout the Winter.

Don.

Images Copyright : Don Stone.

22nd - 28th July.

 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.

20th - 22nd July.

20th July noticed solitary leaf-cutter bees using more chambers in my new bee hotel, saw comet Neowise, late and luckily from the garden. Good views through the binoculars.

Up and out early  on the 21st and sitting quietly a fox cub came close for a while. sat and scratched and then slowly walked off.

After breakfast went to Pulpit Hill and out on Grangelands  chalkhill blue butterflies  were everywhere, must have picked a good day. Mainly males and many still drying their wing after emerging, one walked onto my finger. Found several paired pairs but no single females.

 

Good numbers of peacock butterflies on the tall marsh thistles in a wet area in the woods there and found just one silver-washed fritillary very mobile searching for bramble flowers. After lunch a short walk from home to check on the violet helleborines and  just beginning to flower. Passed a herd of suckler beef cows and their calves, tightly resting together, tails swinging trying to keep the flies at bay.

Wednesday 22nd a morning walk from The Lee towards Swan Bottom and beyond, found more violet helleborines and again just beginning to flower and also growing by the side of the road. Field scabious growing well and looking perfect along the side of the footpath.

Came across a lone female common blue on the path and further on a holly blue, also on the ground picking up minerals from the soil I guess.

 

Later at home, heard and saw briefly newly fledged wrens around the garden, not sure how many or where they came from but do have wrens in the garden regularly. Stewart.

Images Copyright : Stewart Dennis.