21st April - Testwood Lakes and the Lower Test Marshes, Hampshire

Today was going to be about seeing some of the locally rarer birds recently reported.  When I left home I wasn't sure where to go first, but in the end opted for the Testwood Lake reserve.  The day before there had been a Wood Sandpiper reported, they seem to be regular here on spring passage.  As I left home the bird was reported as being present.  I knew though that it wasn't going to be close up views as they usually stick to the far side of the pools on Meadow Lake.

When I arrived  i met a few others who confirmed it was still about but had skulked away into the reeds, it was definitely a long way from the hide.  When I reached the Sand Martin hide it was still out of sight, so I settled down to wait.  Fortunately it was an overcast morning as the sun shines straight into the hide first thing.  

There is a new Sand Martin bank on the reserve and it looked like the Sand Martins were making good use of it.

With the Wood Sandpiper still not showing I settled in to try and photograph the Sand Martin once again.

Another distraction was a Fox at the back of the lake, definitely n the prowl.

THere were two Common Terns that were using the tern raft and another that continued to fly around, trying to muscle in.

The first of probably many tern photographs this spring and summer.

There had been a pair of Redshank at the back of the pool the Wood Sandpiper was in and they would raise your hopes, but finally the Wood Sandpiper appeared.

As always distant and nothing like the views I had in Sri Lanka, but definitely a Wood Sandpiper.

The views were better through the scope, please believe me.

I then had a choice do I head off to Basingstoke where the Hoopoe had been re-found, or do I try for a Grasshopper Warbler.  I opted for the short drive to the spot where over the past week a Grasshopper has been singing and showing very well.

It didn't take long to locate it and I was able to settle down to enjoy some of the best views I have ever had of this secretive bird.

One of the most curious sounds the warblers bring to the spring chorus is that of the Grasshopper Warbler.  This is usually an incredibly shy and skulking bird that, if it's intentions are not to be seen will make it impossible to see.  However this bird seemed to be completely the opposite.

They normally creep through grasses and brambles, scurrying around on the ground like a little feathered mouse in the most unassuming way.

It is often only when they sing that their presence becomes obvious, although to hear it without prior warning, a bird, is probably the last thing you would expect to see.

This bird though was prepared to sing out in the open and sometimes the song was clear while other times difficult to pick up, but that could be age.

As the name suggests, the Grasshopper Warbler makes a chirrupy song, but not in short bursts like a cricket or grasshopper.  Instead it churns out the noise with great persistence, like the reeling of a fishing rod going on indefinitely.

It is such a strange song that it is both loud and quiet at the same time, often not changing in volume the closer you get to the bird.

Naturalist Gibert White wrote of it in 1768:

Nothing can be more amusing than the whisper of this little bird which seems to be close, but though a hundred yards distance; and when close at your ear, is scarce any louder than when a great way off.

After a spell in the bushes it came out onto a prominent branch and showed off the light and dark brown plumage that makes it so hard to see when skulking through the bushes and on the ground.

Having enjoyed being in the presence of this normally secretive little bird I finally decoded to leave, as I walked away it continued with it's song, still out in the open.

I then made the journey to Basingstoke and a search around a housing estate that turned into a wild Hoopoe chase.  THere was a report at lunchtime of the bird being seen, but that was probably from the sighting in the morning.  In the end the search was called off as there wasn't any sign of the bird.

Still no complaints today I had some of the best views ever of a Grasshopper Warbler, very happy.

20th April - Noar Hill, Hampshire

Tucked away amongst the farms and fields around the Rotherfield Estate, Noar Hill is a delightful little reserve that has a wonderful reputation nationally and in the county.  Every year towards the end of April for quite sometime now I have been visiting for one thing, the Duke of Burgundy.  Noar Hill is a prime site for this little butterfly, the chalk pits and rolling hills provide micro climates in early spring, with temperatures warmer than the surrounding area, couple that with plenty of the butterfly's feed plant, Cowslip and it is ideal for them.

Whilst the temperatures have been low over the last few days there has been plenty of sunshine, so I had high hopes of finding some this morning.  I arrived mid morning and as I walked up the slope to the reserve the wind was still quite chilly.  I walked into the first chalk pit but other than a Green-veined White that flew through nothing showing.  As I came out there were several Early Purple Orchids in bloom.

Walking around the slope to the first hollow a Peacock was nectaring on a dandelion bloom.

There had been quite a bit of clearance and chopping back done through the winter and these had created a few more sheltered spots.  I found a cleared pit close to the large Junipers and there on the moss was my first Duke of Burgundy.

It would fly up, but would always return to a similar spot.

Had to get low to try and photograph the underwing.

This was a male, the males have four functional legs, the front to not used for anything.  The females have six functional legs.

Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps sang around the bushes and trees, mostly hidden behind the leaves.  The Whitethroats though would sing from a prominent place.

I walked through the reserve trying to find new locations.  I came to one that I knew well and found another male around the ant hills.

Sat up on a leaf.

The wind blew and tipped it over again showing the under wing.

Originally thought to be a Fritillary, due to the chequered pattern on the wings, it has since been classified as close to the metal mark, the only one of that group found in this country.

I found another male close by, so up to now I had seen three individuals

I walked to the far end of the reserve to another sheltered spot where a Green-veined White sat nicely on a leaf.

A lovely Early Purple Orchid in the pit.

A Speckled Wood settled on the ground.

I chased this Orange Tip for ages, it would pause at the Self Heal flowers but never settle, but finally it did.

I walked down the bridleway and it was dominated by Holly Blues, they seemed to be everywhere.  Not all would settle but a few did, this one on the Ransome's, or wild garlic.

This one on a branch of the hedge, initially with the sun behind the cloud, but as the sun came out it opened up.

The Bridleway comes out into the open and view aout across the fields was spectacular with the white fluffy clouds.

I then met another person who was looking for help in navigating the reserve, so I walked with him back to the first chalk pit.  He had not seen one before so was happy to come with me.  As we walked to the far side of the pit another male was sitting on a leaf in full sun

The slope on the pit allowed me to get low again to see the underwing.

I walked back through the reserve and found another three Duke of Burgundy taking my day total to seven.  Not a bad count for my first visit this year and some of my earliest sightings.

As I walked past the newly cleared area near the junipers I heard a Firecrest singing and I waited and it showed nicely.

I was hoping to find a Dingy Skipper, but there weren't any about.  I did manage to see Large and Small White though, but again they did not stop. 

I walked back down the bridleway once more with more stunning views.

A Song Thrush was hunting on the grass amongst the Cowslips.

It wasn't until I made my way out that I found another butterfly, the Comma.

Walking out of the reserve another spectacular sky in front of me, the clouds and sky colour reminding me of the cartoon Simpsons Sky!

Great to see the little Duke once again and to spend time around the lovely reserve, I would have liked a Dingy though, but there is still plenty of time.