MORE EARLY BUTTERFLIES

 

It was another fine spring day today; after an early frost, the sky was clear and the temperature gradually rose to about 10 or 11 degrees.

I headed over to my daughter's house late morning with a view to spending a relaxing few hours in the garden with her and her daughter. The garden is a real haven for butterflies; in the summer  months there seem to be butterflies constantly around the flowers and plants, flying to and fro as they look for nectar. In the past they have seen silver washed fritillaries and only last year we spotted purple hairstreaks in the oak tree at the bottom of the garden.

Today, the first butterfly I saw was  a Red Admiral. It occasionally flew over the fence to next door but then returned shortly afterwards to the same plant. A Brimstone appeared a little while later, but unlike yesterday, it didn't settle and I thought that they might be the only butterflies I would see today.  However, not long afterwards another butterfly flew across the garden and settled  for several minutes  on a nearby bush - a Peacock. I went over to photograph it  but as I was doing so, I heard my son-in-law  say that he could see yet another butterfly on the neighbouring shrub,  which turned out to be a Comma!  Four species in one garden within an hour or two, was a good count I thought; and  now just a small tortoiseshell to see to complete the quota of hibernating butterflies. I don't think I saw any of these till at least the end of March last year. 

Red Admiral

Red Admiral

Peacock

Comma

SPRING IS SPRUNG!

 

In contrast to my previous entry, today was a beautiful spring day and I couldn't wait to get out for an afternoon walk, as it felt just the sort of day I might find my first Brimstone butterfly of the year. My car temperature only registered 7 degrees but it felt warmer. I initially decided walking boots might be sufficient but on entering the first field at Pentylands  Country Park (just down the road in Highworth) it quickly became apparent that the ground was still waterlogged so I popped back to my car and got my wellies out again.

I walked along the road for a bit before entering at the second gate and it wasn't long before I noticed a Brimstone butterfly flying along the hedgerow! For me, that's a sign that Spring is here. I watched it as it flew over a gate and then settled on some ivy, which surprised me as I usually find the  male Brimstones are constantly on the move as they look for a mate.  I couldn't get that close,  but nevertheless I was pleased to see my first butterfly of this year, although it was the only one I saw!  

FROZEN COATE WATER!

 

Having enjoyed my walk around Coate Water a couple of days ago, I thought I'd revisit. I was glad I had added some extra clothing layers as it was bitterly cold, despite the welcome sunshine. The dip

in temperatures had caused much of the large lake to freeze over since my previous visit, and there were groups of gulls, swans and geese standing motionless on the ice. The ducks, however, preferred to swim on the non-frozen areas in close flocks. 

I walked the opposite way round the lake today, wondering if I'd be able to add any more birds to my year total. I inspected the gulls more closely; it was somewhat easier to discern leg colour when they were standing on the ice and today I picked out lesser black backed gulls, on the main part of the lake, and a few common gulls at the far end. 

At the feeding area, I was firstly alone but later joined by two others with long lensed cameras, A greater spotted woodpecker was visible high in a tree for a few minutes before flying off and a jay also appeared briefly.   Maybe it would have ventured onto the log with peanuts if there had been less people around. The usual woodland species were taking seed from the fallen tree trunk. I decided to retrace my steps and return the way I had come, as someone mentioned that they'd seen a goosander near the bridge and siskins in front of the bird hide. 

No goosanders were around, so I took the path towards the hide, the hide, of course,  was closed, but there was viewing from the side and I stood close to the hide itself to watch what came to the feeders. The lake in front of the hide was completely frozen...and empty.... but the feeders were attracting plenty of smaller birds such as blue tit, great tit long tailed tit,  and below them,  a couple of robins and a dunnock. A female greater spotted woodpecker suddenly flew onto the peanut feeder and stayed around for some time. At one point it froze still...a sign that another woodpecker might be in the area, and in fact  not one but two more woodpeckers arrived-I couldn't discern if male or females, but after a bit of movement higher up in the trees, they both left. No siskins this time either! 

canada geese with gulls on the ice

geese on the bank with ice in the background

two common gulls

common gull - a new species for the year

the only photo I could get of the jay

female greater spotted woodpecker

COATE WATER WINTER WALK

 

I've not visited Coate Water Country park for a while, though it lies in the Borough of Swindon. However, being a sunny, but still bitterly cold day, I decided to drive over there after lunch today. The carpark was not too busy, being a weekday but there seemed quite a few families around, particularly near the cafe where flocks of feral pigeons congregate along with swans, ducks and gulls, hoping for  food from visitors, which they continually seem to get! 

I took the path to the west of the large lake, past the island and pitch and putt course, through an avenue of trees down to  Broome Manor Lane. The resident black swan  seemed to be missing although it was seen a few days ago and apart from some small groups of canada geese and more gulls there wasn't a lot to see. However, turning left onto the footpath, and back into the wooded area, I came  to  a bird feeding area with a bird table and a couple of benches. It had obviously been tidied up  over recent months and now was a pleasant area to sit and watch. On arrival a greater spotted woodpecker was on the  coconut feeder but flew off and didn't return. Members of the tit family were visiting regularly (apart from coal tit); blue tit, great tit, long tailed tit and two marsh tits. Also a couple of nuthatches, who were the only species that seemed to stay long enough to get a photo, the others were in and out   very quickly. A large nearby fallen tree trunk had been 'baited' with seed and during my visit a group of children came along and emptied small bags of birdfood at different spot on the log.  Someone  else also came past and, seeing my camera and binoculars, informed me that recently some siskins had been feeding in that area, on the ground,  but although I looked out for them, there were none seen. After watching for some time, it seemed to be getting colder so I got up and walked the remaining distance back to the car. I noticed a single pochard amongst the gulls and swans ( new for year) and searched for any common gulls but   couldn't see one of those today. 

robin

blue tit on coconut

nuthatch

great tit

nuthatch (again)

marsh tit

dunnock

 bird feeding area

on the right there was a fallen trunk, which had been baited  with bird seed along the top

going...

...going...

...gone (almost!)

pochard

NIGHTINGALE WOOD

 After the large amount of recent rainfall and the increase in numbers of people going for walks, it's hard to find somewhere that has paths that aren't covered in inches of mud. 

Today, however, I did find somewhere; only four miles from home lies a fairly new  woodland known as Nightingale wood. There is a reasonable sized car park, and a network of  paths which are well made. It is frequented by dog walkers, and also families, as there are areas which contain elements which make up a 'trim trail'. However, I have seldom found it busy and so chose to  visit for the first time this lockdown.

In the past I have seen bullfinches there and there are known to be redpolls though I have yet to find one! There used to be a bird hide but I noticed today that it had been taken down and there just remained the wooden base. In fact I didn't see many birds at all until I returned to the car park where a bird feeder  is situated a few metres from a picnic bench. This was  attracting a continual flurry of tits - great tits, blue tits, long tailed tits and coal tits. It's good to know there is somewhere you can go without having to squelch through mud, and no doubt regular visits would yield a few more bird species.

Back home I was please to have a brief visit to my own garden feeders from a male blackcap. Not a regular species but one I see from time to time. Hopefully it will return.