Newton St Loe At Its Best !

Date: 08/05/2016

Location: Patch - Newton St Loe

Weather: 
Blue Skies, Some Wind

Other Species: 
Goldcrest, Blackcap, Song Thrush, Bullfinch, Buzzard, Sparrowhawk, Whitethroat, Yellowhammer, Skylark, House Sparrow, Barn Swallow, House Martin, Grey Wagtail, Grey Heron, Green Woodpecker, Linnet, Kestrel.
Butterflies:
Small Tortoiseshell, Orange Tip, Peacock, Small White, Large White, Brimstone, Red Admiral, Comma, Green Veined White.

Observation: 
Blue skies today so headed out as normal through Bath Mill, a Kingfisher flashed along brook with the normals in trees and up to the fields. Whitethroats, Yellowhammer and Skylarks on top fields and this cracking little Dunnock singing away competing with the Skylarks.

Still not many Butterflies about but a little windy across fields this Small White finding nector where it can, not many plants about.

On 22 bird species at this point with a surprise Sparrowhawk over Seven Acre.

At Village, House Martins and Barn Swallow screaming across the landscape, here a almost in shot! After many failed attempts.

On out through Village and Churchyard this Crow having a crafty bread roll which it must have scavenged.

Lots of Blackcap and Chiffchaff hidden now by foliage in the Covert Woodland on my way down to Fisherman's Car Park.

A quick turn right along College Drive to see Grey Herons paid off with 8 birds in nests, such great mad looking chicks !

Pre-Historic chicks !

At Lake very little Grey Wagtails the best of it, Teal seem to have departed.

A few students about making noise and off footpaths as they do ! 

So carried on out towards Stanton Prior where there was very little also, a Red Admiral first one I've seen on patch this year !

Yellowhammer, Linnet & Skylarks at Park Farm then on round to 12 O'Clock Lane where this Roe Deer looked nice surrounded by green.

Buzzard soaring across Englishcombe and a distant Kestrel, Chiffchaff as normal along lane.

Got this nice looking Female Orange Tip on wild garlic, cracking !

Carried on down lanes thinking that's it for photos and this stunning Buzzard drifted over from Pennyquick and across lanes perfect light !

Then while thinking that's definitely it a male Sparrowhawk just before road and home !

Amazing and a cracking bird to end on species count today was 40 Birds and 9 Butterflies although Butterflies seem slow to start on Patch this year ?

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Butterfly Hunting

Date: 05/05/2016

Location: Draycott Sleights - Crook Peak - Priddy Mineries

Weather: Blue Skies, 14-19c, Some Wind Speed 9/10 mph

Other Species: Brimstone, Peacock, Small White, Grizzled Skipper, Dingy Skipper.

Observation: 
Draycott Sleights was first destination last year went there 16th May so bit earlier, only second day of pure sunshine and only 2 Grizzled Skippers & 5 Dingy Skippers seen with around 2 Small Whites and 2 Brimstones and this Speckled Wood.

Grizzled Skipper looking good perched also so this and another doing the dance !

More Dingy Skippers around 5 on lower slope near gate.

Dingy but beautiful !

Couple of Tiger Beetles mating.

Crook Peak almost nothing, walked to top checking all normal spots Brimstone was only butterfly. Wind was fairly strong around 10 at least. Lastly popped in to Priddy Mineries even less here. I will try again in a week or so .

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Badbury Rings, Dorset

Date: 03/05/2016

Location: Quick visit to Portland & Badbury Rings, Dorset

Weather: Blue skies, 13c, some cloud

Other Species: 
Kestrel, Stonechat, Whitethroat, Buzzard, Linnet.
Butterflies: 
Grizzled Skipper, Dingy Skipper, Brimstone, Peacock.

Observation:
First blue skies and good forecast for my butterfly season this year so thought I'd try a new spot Badbury Rings in Dorset. But first dropped into Portland Bill a quick wander round most birds seem to be hiding from me! Many Blackcap's, Whitethroats, Willow Warblers I saw, but didn't hang around this Wheatear about it! Didn't stay too long as temperature was rising and was on a mission for Butterflies today, did see a few Small Whites on wing at Portland.

 On arriving lots of cars and dog walkers so my hopes dropped but needn't have worried on entering the rings spotted a Dingy Skipper almost instantly !

Above me this Kestrel hunting seemingly not worried I was below.

Lots of Whitethroat on slopes happily singing away, perfect light for a change.

Really showing why it's called a Whitethroat !

Also many Stonechats this mate with a beak full of caterpillars and flies.

After taking far too many shots of the Stonechats as usual! This Grizzled Skipper landed making mission complete as these two were my targets today.

Oops another Stonechat, they just seem to pose all the time!

These Linnet seemed to be annoying the Stonechat, a pair kept landing close and the Stonechats would chase them off.

Leaving the rings and entering the woodland a few Bluebells carpeting the floor.

And this Beetle, a Black Oil Beetle.

Beech Avenue or the B3082, a hidden Dorset beauty for sure !

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1st May Patch Walk

Date: 01/05/2016

Location: Patch - Newton St Loe

Weather: Grey Skies, Coldish wind, Rain to end

Other Species: 
Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Skylark, Yellowhammer, Whitethroat, Blackcap, Barn Swallow, Swift, House Martin, Kestrel, Buzzard, Stock Dove, Tawny Owl, Nuthatch, Mistle Thrush, Linnet.
46 Species Seen
Butterflies- 4 Small Tortoiseshell, 3 Euro Peacock 
Mammals- Hare, Roe Deer

Observation:
Started as normal out through Bath Mill with Chiffchaff and Blackcaps in song along brook but little else. Up on to fields Skylark singing and 2 Buzzards soaring above. At the byways crossroads the call of Yellowhammer could be heard and the oilseed rape field supplying the ideal backdrop.

Also around 4 Whitethroats now, hiding mostly in the hedgerows

Butterflies still very slow to start this year on patch with only 4 Tortoiseshells and 3 Peacocks along byways.

At village House Martins!! 

Just 2 amongst the Barn Swallow but great to see!

Another taking patch year total to 71 species.

Barn Swallows hawking over farmland and nest making in normal barns.

On out through village Blackcaps in covert woodland and while walking to see Heronry, a single Hare sprints past me on College Drive, making all the cars stop! 
Excellent to see.
At the Heronry, Herons seem to have departed except for 1 with Heron chick still in nest.

Nothing new or much on lake although Mute Swan still covering nest. Lots of Lambs in fields at end of college, and a single Roe Stag.

On College Football pitch 2 Mistle Thrush busy feeding and a large group of Corvids.

  
Carried on out towards Stanton Prior and up hill to Park Farm where I met Robert, fellow patch birder.
Few more Yellowhammer and Skylarks singing at farm. Walked along 12 o'clock lane with Blackcap's and Chiffchaff in woodland.

On 40 species at this point then year patch tick number 72 arrived! 
Our first Swift of the year darted above us 41! 
Then a Tawny Owl called a Pied Wagtail flyover and Long Tailed Tit landed close by 44.
Robert then let me walk home while he drove! But a pair of Linnets, Bullfinch and a Greenfinch took total to 46.
A nice way to end walk.

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