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.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZmNr0Sr3RrZulqzCfHAkRMnZCvQD9uYAiRXuie26oaBDQYGtdbeJvmdPvu3BRMZNJvFcJqYR7x-EbqDEdgyRVPNTPP67410LICNlozq3WBnA-aJbu2cLdweEHB0TgP6O7vxuiSe_KQHQdWIiGIWMdsnv4kP1HWiQodjl1Gieeo1WCLIwap4JhM_-T/w640-h426/DSC02399.JPG) |
Wren |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiePAUQ2PSWpCeRLXcL6q_aYLi2W8cG1Oy8XdMg1npUZFEsviWALCtF9o_kmxMyxjm3Ukf7oaSXJhq8-eUjDbh59fw3kxtOeOdFzDBdMEr6WaCvEbCpkl1TnZHeDEvhkjz0stM27bq3xCoF_YM8XyUSX5A3ck-MIM54J05_yu93okAqKgRss02Y726x/w640-h426/DSC02408.JPG) |
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.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj38kPfDlhZ3l3erNnZSw2iXSEqZj2_7iN9LgkDhUWKOF4SZKiIszRNIuxhiRPQPHgrAu-q8JLDMtcAoYjYxUYRIqk0vPi0Vv8NbLdi_VmMX06EmiGTtLU83r_QdqgatYeF1dbEwwEhrERCf3JB0wN-0jq_yjTUaF-S3Wc-7g6DfIUCLEjcqYDH_pSP/w640-h426/DSC02419.JPG) |
Peacock |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFEahTgCJVnk0xbLwX0GayOxsj0mvcTyy1OQE0GykIT_HHJf9phtbVI-piyNtkhdpPq01cZIUtW01O6TRs6R6XVZTKnr9KZe9sNsTrGUgPF_xWXMukGvIh3g3RCWGW3CusjrzKUl_qx96Xmw9zNWOXFVwqNMjMSOk4n4Xa4bnxM0gYwQclZ8J9TaXQ/w640-h426/DSC02421.JPG) |
Peacock |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl_JwlwnsvXKl9Zp3z6rRcpAaTlxWjmgt4fXqSRlhFmjT-GAaaFOmwTWJjOrrvTeLC3Yd29bxoweym5_MpFcKjLhy7m7VsYrEhWdysIjixJ-dl7Zj0K0dx0CIitPKV8nCYaEsl-V8FUYB-S7mv8oJLlvJWeVszKgkfmLsc2umX_8dStVephcoURPxK/w640-h426/DSC02441.JPG) |
Orange Tip |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZb7ChTJAbxHen7MgTf3GEyIQJ6bPANbumlu1iolnuLf0TRfy5Tq-WPi-_v3vxvblZ2Dlvn-EHvNn01vXknWfYF5uLpqDw4XI4ShBb0raHPn4nhMeODFFpT4G-j4evstKbKeSfFdS7se-a0OTRAKf2_Gv-cVKu1OUZTdW7RQ-nYwKT5VJGO7R1UxDI/w640-h426/DSC02446.JPG) |
Orange Tip |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPwJi88lkaTWb-iJKqtNUNnxgzxe65YlbDgFnlnhKXAwAFoCGFt4hrZeFYVHVyxuJwTrWby89L_JC-KueAA4MyhualEYvzkNcAa2K5inTHZbSIshYx39OFENd1ZVd8veMvIFi5hm8MPHbLgD_vVOlE9FiwmFNPE1IZtTsZGjw9Q70qC-dm-izFCAhj/w640-h426/DSC02454.JPG) |
Holly Blue |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSCX3LnzIoDpu_KWuQhsFvYCqWsuH-oJ-FIlxMFClRvpwQN77Y4P6cfooyGE91y7y4SOyCLpTa27tmnZPKtPFAuSGOkOkswhlB37idTaoytqHSlUuUb9KMqbQNqVurpD5c1ziaGmq8Mjtu6YPlGU5iy5oma3PXx2m9vLPcIwFDC4Wu8TUbpuzo01gu/w640-h426/DSC02465.JPG) |
Holly Blue |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyy1j7cFx5KnuhRWpgENnMBGwJc0yFcIDka1c8qh33k1wO84xvPGxujVenhSjcWK-ppxUUc3yDdGH5Mwc5ywfaNeF7wdfpRdZ981KCtH00pBjld3-WmaqY6XZRZ4QgucGzganQn1VKI1n9DNOvHcpb_07MeqatENNpqvbCFov12cdk3p3w0Z7v2Aud/w640-h426/DSC02417.JPG) |
Houndstongue (Cynoglossum officinale) |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuginOjFqlMRdKQ_bBbgDkcJTkga-3B6M-HQTl7Aq96VHp_JsIy1DJKXiVnpEU54aQOl4QU2oZqEGcGd_o8i9qnpTaA-WavJxGwplKpkTEzSqlkIbUV4xmlA_IoUJIL1wzTLTiak-uUxSZiPMpbel5Ea-Rbd50kcRa8GDVM5LWTTIbMp2eEmeaJdaz/w640-h426/DSC02411.JPG) |
Wall Brown |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZo4YIe7dy8QhgIjlEAdvLb2n6q2XchfvAhS4P26AE0tMb8yaHnwlIHjEhrFyD2ZEFwgkAxv0KFgnRZ8NdwnADXHy15_2eBDqRXBvzDV5Dmcv-NGaquMbJ_2EJ18L-xYH4iwi1Mjw1tngRdpGFLcaQIHPmH0nHSZENtC_35tttYDhBckamDuQ_7rsx/w640-h426/DSC02412.JPG) |
Wall Brown |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUAB_LqWlTNj1D4KJqwyT65s68lu2hMaiNbB_i1ZuTHPOO9UIS446dhZS_lVF6B6QbVVdVmzqOF18A5ucHN6jsacY-3t9gdd_bxYp49ktzDJpVPNABAo3IDDEQbqyugVJ4b9vvnGNKUP18bLzdK4jQUo_vlhKJCF4goplbU4h5421YdmGQgzLus0If/w640-h426/DSC02430.JPG) |
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.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWHFDOjClRYDE9SWGuourn3byk0l3EzMdrKORnzvVxKiYyUoX9bVMhF47Q8f1JciiajsUAvMkDU1Do4-2fK9GXZzrk1Ldw--ZF8ajuhwomSwK3wMeJAihfDaYAZGuCWrDPPNnWaewlrtBgOBZ-XssK-3zZIfe2qP-js640vckNDO0P2o4lmP3l9TYi/w640-h426/DSC02424.JPG) |
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.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBEINR-c-4k1c7YvBeoGRVFBPfsKizrGGwjz82SdwQqM1Gg2dABydcm0JJOEx5W3gTP3Neck1hEaGljeehzqasjFTFIguIRXkj0NKR662i01YQKq7wdwF8-c51-t8ZUV_Olyf3DO5bZTYQx0SNK_32Xp2oB0xW7vQA5BsOf1y7KGhi1uG-rkFmazXc/w640-h426/DSC02429.JPG) |
Small Heath |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAswfK8mPjmNNmMcZQftS0wbdVMdm531rzJcH2Y-jRUwf_6ys1q6VUDV3c__ugOGe_bafVuTFZT71FlHF1mxvQan2-6wOlgWJNjHI5YSJOSeGjCRcOQ7Tl5zHW1sQyNY2xXp_OiDm6xUi9ITyLW_4ZrbfSQbxu_X8TweyZ3avO8WhGq23qeLghsnVd/w640-h426/DSC02463.JPG) |
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.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOR0DbWN89PCGqm8Q8QnwrKDqlQ1HgEXTS4Ap5kV-vepKI1khiQUB26KsAqlkMsf63cSeWnZKzlB8-Sk-mlCNAvH8scp3omOOKZvw_-Mo4_m4gvo4apczVfDq3dTy9Br_xIACQtmC-vgnBAWr5UgxEhYN7m9R-XW2cjtnTURHYhxUjKHM86KU2G_Fa/w640-h426/DSC02472.JPG) |
Corn Bunting |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJXxm8rP9y3xypBxe2mFDL7HKgDdjD4dztbU9c4dSjiMsguL5mu19UmGWSl3vK1kOwfT_AgOLiOcZSEbrAC499ozJGNsqpLY3tK6GY6gWZDJfUatdF_utM_qyNhykFcCGsZ89wG09JzbqzaEJnuaVYNWMmj9gdM-WI5mcP_4kYlvvPtCkyI-blGAZl/w640-h426/DSC02473.JPG) |
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.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp_3pQbPJrM2-3mFcUQXFowPUXbEBtgdHFScJM2uUru3DHXF_YYvFsvtnqqqZxXpXRWI6hGX01bNNawE1BjcbvUcn5_sznpRlwFyMDbXVQ1wVNJ62vg5czECw1x2DPsBKo8aiuVw8V9RmATqc1ypOQvTGXmD5amdHvon6v09ZUULCX76LIafcljw_r/w640-h426/DSC02401.JPG) |
Marsh Frog |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkVq22qmwbUGqn28OxzG6COBcBPKurL8GqTjtEhkVtL7CCqA_k3H7wK2wIpW2Cg80eJmC48DshFxAIU7bbf1QT7LJWxEiIhBSEx-cv2vXdbiataGfNHKL4Q980DDnjtn2sFVkhG5f5Z1bSol0jqn_Zhadb8L7g9nKMU5t2iPneD3jc4TaiMcYXrr8f/w640-h426/DSC02404.JPG) |
Azure Damselfly |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLwPVH620PQQ815Jb7YeWoDdMJhZP2WlavdhwT0tcxfIms8egR2ZTgs5tnkVDK12LdgS2uBCoGwfKpMzw8eohiN3edVcGq8bBbF5_EF3UJRNhZzB5dtAtEOARlIPUwvrQlBAH83hVHeGVU5Mz7_gPXW734s45IG6GtRLlAdk19E5Sd7pYamkpnDx2H/w640-h426/DSC02475.JPG) |
Marsh Frog |
No comments:
Post a Comment