Another day and another short walk. I took myself for a
stroll on a loop from the little church in Higham down alongside Timber Lake to
the inner seawall that overlooks the Alpha/Jet Ski Pool at Cliffe.
I could hear Cuckoo as soon as I got out of the car and
although I got closer I never saw him. Both Common and Lesser Whitethroats sang
in the scattered Hawthorns as I walked down with a couple of chattering Sedgies, quite a few chuntering Reeds and two shouty Cetti's Warblers.
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| Wren |
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| Red Clover |
The air was thick with dancing flies of various tiny species
along with strands of silk with spiderlings out seeking new homes. Both ‘small’
Whites were seen along with a male Orange Tip that was starting to fade and
several immaculate Peacocks. Common and Holly Blues were on the wing and the latter
seemed to take a liking to the Houndstongue that
dotted my route. Prize butterfly went to the Wall Browns and I saw at least seven
which is the most I have seen in one spot for many years.
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| Peacock |
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| Peacock |
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| Orange Tip |
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| Orange Tip |
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| Holly Blue |
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| Holly Blue |
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| Houndstongue (Cynoglossum officinale) |
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| Wall Brown |
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| Wall Brown |
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| Wall Brown |
RSPB Higham Marshes itself was bone dry with not a single wader
visible. The only water was in the ditches which held Mallard, Gadwall, Geese
and Tufted Ducks.
I scanned the Alpha Pool and could see Common Terns and a
few gulls and Great Crested Grebes before heading into the gravel
workings. Timber Lake had similar to Alpha
but with the addition of a brood of Egyptian Geese.
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| Goldfinch |
The noise from all the machinery drowned out any bird song
but I did see my first Andrena florea attending White Bryony. They were as difficult to photograph as usual
and in fact I completely failed to get one shot. However I did find a couple of more accommodating
Bryony Ladybirds on the same plant.
Small Heath and Speckled Wood were added to the butterfly list.
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| Small Heath |
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| Bryony Ladybird |
I crossed the railway at West Court Farm and walked through the
meadows back alongside the tracks towards the car. There was not a drop of
moisture on the plants or in the ground and my boots remained completely dry.
With no water there were only a few birds but it was good to find three singing
Corn Buntings on territory while a Sparrowhawk upset some adult Starling who
must have had recently fledged young somewhere in the scrappy hedge.
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| Corn Bunting |
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| Sparrowhawk |
Marsh Frogs were vocal in the ditches and I saw single Hairy
Hawkers and Four Spotted Chasers and many Azure and Blue-tailed Damselflies
before getting back to my car where the temperature was apparently heading beyond
the mid 22 twenties.
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| Marsh Frog |
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| Azure Damselfly |
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| Marsh Frog |
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