12th May - Broxhead Common and Noar Hill

I was keen to find a Tree Pipit today, and with not too much time I decided to try Broxhead Common, only a short twenty minute drive from home, after that it was a nother short drive to Noar Hill for something special.

I walked on to the heath with a Chiffchaff singing amongst the birch trees.  A bird at the top of a dead tree turned out to be a Stonechat, but as I walked around the gorse I heard a Dartford Warbler singing.  The Dartford Warbler moved amongst the gorse and eventually showed, and it showed very well.

Light was difficult but the Dartford stayed in close range.

Great views of the male above the gorse.

I walked around the paths and heard a Tree Pipit singing in the distance.  As I walked around the pond I flushed a Woodlark from the ground, it was joined by another and flew up to the overhead cables.

This view showing off the very long hind claws.

I managed to get a long distance view of a singing Tree Pipit, but couldn't get close enough for an acceptable photograph.  Deciding to walk on as I approached where I had parked the car I disturbed two Small Heath butterflies, a first for the year.

Next stop was another twenty minute drive to Noar Hill.  As I walked on to the reserve it was in glorious sunshine, the reserve sheltered from the cool wind.  I walked into the first chalk pit and found a Duke of Burgundy.

Having seen the dukes earlier in spring, what I was hoping to find was a Dingy Skipper and it didn't take long to find one in the same pit.

Perched oon the Cowslips that are now just going over.

There were still a lot of Early Purple Orchids in bloom, and it was orchids I was over, but not these ones.

Walking through the other pits I disturbed a Holly Blue and then a couple of Common Blues, another first butterfly for the year.  Here the two unusually sitting together in the sunshine.

Another Duke of Burgundy, in total I saw twelve all around the reserve, a very good number at this time of year considering they emerged early in April.  Most of them were males and in quite good condition.

A Painted Lady flew through, of course not stopping, there were also Brimstone and Orange Tip on the wing.  I came by a couple of Juniper bushes and on a Hazel close by were three Green Hairstreak, all immaculate.

I was looking for a particular orchid and headed to the area where I had seen them last year.  I had heard they were showing and again like everything this year they were early, maybe two weeks early.  As I searched the area I found this Common Twayblade, with petals just starting to show.

It took a few sweeps but eventually I found a short flower stem of a Fly Orchid.

The fly orchid has a tall, green spike growing from shiny, oval leaves. The flowers are well spaced and resemble flies. They're dark reddish-brown, with a shiny silver-blue patch in the middle that looks like a pair of wings - they even seem to have tiny antennae!

Fly orchids grow in chalk and limestone soils, from woodland glades and rides to open grassland. They can also be found in quarries, on roadside banks, and sometimes in fens. The flowers that grow from their tall, green spikes in late spring resemble flies.

Despite the flowers looking like flies, they actually attract digger wasps. They release a scent which mimics a female wasp's pheromones, luring in males that attempt to mate with them. The male wasps get a dusting of pollen, which they carry on to the next flower that fools them, hopefully pollinating the plant.

After some more searching I found a spike that was yet to flower.

No doubt there will be more over the next few days and weeks, last year I found a white form of this orchid, so maybe we will see one this year.

Walking on it was back to the butterflies and more Dukes and this Orange Tip that actually stopped and I was able to get a different angle on the butterfly.

Then down the main path this Holly Brown on the meadow sweet with a lovely dark background.

As I walked out of the reserve to the car I heard a Raven calling close by and it then came out over the fields.

Success in getting the targets I went for although a shame I couldn't get a photograph of the tree Pipit, Orchids are now back, three species seen today, some lovely butterflies including a good count of Dukes for the time of year and a great Dartford experience.

11th May - Titchfield Haven, Hampshire

I opted for Titchfield again this morning as the weather looked a little dodgy and there was always the shelter from the hides to fall back on.  There was also the outside chance that the Red-rumped Swallow seen on Sunday might be about, but the chances were looking slim from the negative reports posted this morning.

As I approached the A32 junction with the Ropley Road I noticed a Brown Hare in the field close to the road.  Fortunately there was a pull in available and I pulled over and managed to get to the camera without disturbing the hare.

One of my favourites and this one seemed unconcerned by me and started to have a wash and brush up.  Probably wet from the dew and rain of the night before.

A good old scratch.

And a clean and stretch for the toes.

I left the hare to its ablutions and made my way to Titchfield.  Fortunately I was able to park along Cliff Road, so I dropped down the steps to the sea wall.  The tide was starting to draw out and there were a pair of Oystercatcher in the water and they appeared to be swimming, not something I have seen before.

I walked around to the spit behind the sailing boats in the hope that there might be some Sanderling, however the only birds were a pair of Common Tern showing nicely on a groyne.

And two Oystercatcher that were probably the same two I had seen swimming earlier.

I went to the west entrance and the Meon Shore hide.  It was pretty much like I had encountered Saturday, the island dominated by the Black-headed Gulls and Avocet feeding in front of the hide.

What was of interest were the Swifts that were hawking at the back of the scrape and occasionally coming closer across the south scrape.  These were the largest group I have seen so far this year and were joined by a few Swallow.  As always the Swift present a challenge to try and get an acceptable shot.  These were the best I could do over the time I was in the hide.

Saved the best until last?  Probably.

The Common Terns were showing off as well.

This pair engaging in acrobatic displays together high above the scrape.

A little more standard.

I love the way they lower the tail and bring the streamers of the fork in as they come in to land.

There were two pairs of Sandwich Terns in amongst the Common Terns and also quite a few Buzzards high above the reserve.  A more recent sight has been the presence of three Tufted Duck pairs on the scrape, these ducks breed later than others so we may see some ducklings, if they can evade the marauding Lesser Black-backed Gulls.

I walked around to the Knight's Bank hide to see if the Swifts were any closer there.  I thought that I could watch them and have lunch.  Unfortunately nobody told the Swifts.  But there was a nice show of Marsh Harriers.  A male and maybe a female although it could be an immature male Marsh Harrier.

Although the female type was calling a lot, so maybe it was the male's mate?

The male scattering the gulls on the Frying Pan.

News then came in of a sighting of the Red-rumped Swallow at Posbrook so I was off there more in hope than anything else.  When we arrived there wasn't any positive news, seen by one person and there did seem to be some doubt.  There were plenty of hirundines distant above the trees and a few Swallows came past as we stood on the Canal Path.

Unfortunately it wasn't to be and I had to go.  There were no more sighting in my absence, so I didn't miss out today.  Its the middle of May and anything can show up, remember last May?