We had never visited Martin Down outside the months of May and June so this was going to be anew experience, the weather though was probably very reminiscent of those summer months. We set off in T-shirts, something I would never have expected to do at this time of year, and headed out along the hedge line.
More Brimstones flew past, not one stopping to allow a photograph. You could see them ahead of us, but one appeared smaller, picking it up with the binoculars it was clear this was an adult Orange Tip, another new one for the year. It flew towards me, but again didn't look liker it would stop, but I was determined, so followed it back along the hedge towards the car park. It would circle some of the dandelions, but never settled, some field mouse-ear were also shown some attention, but finally it settled on some flowers of the Self Heal, and I was able to get the photograph of the first male Orange-tip of the year.
We stopped at the entrance to a field, and scanned for anything on show. A pair of Red-legged Partridge scurried away into a distant hedgerow, but there was nothing else. We carried on, finally reaching the corner of the field, and faced with several paths to follow. We decided on turning right and continuing alongside the edge of the field, the Brimstones now being joined by Peacock butterflies. They appear black on the wing and have a very strong flight, interspersing flaps with glides where the wings are held flat. One settled on a bare area of ground, to catch the sun.
A kestrel at the top of a tree had us creeping along the hedge keeping out of view, but as we looked to get the camera in position it flew off so we were left with the bird in flight.
Banking around as it attempted to get height.
As the Kestrel soared above us, a white butterfly flew past, and at first I thought it could be a Small White, but as we got closer it was clear it was another Orange Tip, this time a female.
Then finally a Brimstone settled on another Dandelion flower.
A break between two fields allowed the opportunity to scan again for partridges, but like before there was only a pair of Red-legged Partridges. I returned to the other side of the hedge and saw a blue butterfly close to the trees. It had to be a Holly Blue, and it flew up and through a gap in the hedge. Ian was still on the other side, s I called out in case he could pick it up. Unfortunately it was lost after that and it wasn't re-seen. This was my second in two days, the other being in the garden the day before. Both were my earliest ever.
Then I heard what we were hoping for, the familiar jangling song of the Corn Bunting coming a little further along the bushes. At first I couldn't make out the owner of the song, but then it moved along with at least three other birds and appeared at the top of the tree.
A real Brown Job, but one that is sadly in decline, with Martin Down being one of the few strongholds in the county. Normally we don't catch up with them until the early summer here so it was nice to get some views while there were no leaves on the trees.
Then they moved again flying away, but others were appearing from the other side, probably six to eight in the area.
Walking back towards the corner of the field and the paths across the fields we came across another Corn Bunting singing, the head thrown back as the final notes are delivered.
Leaving the Corn Bunting singing we walked on and almost immediately a Small Tortoiseshell flew past, unfortunately it disappeared into the trees, we searched but couldn't find it. That is my seventh species of the year and March isn't out yet!
While searching for the Tortoiseshell we did come across another Peacock settled on the Blackthorn blossom.
Once again a truly beautiful butterfly.
We crossed the open fields heading for the Bokerly Ditch, sheep were penned in the field to the north of the path, and as we walked past at least four more Corn Buntings flew up and into the surrounding bushes..
On reaching the ditch we scanned the surrounding fields and found what at first I thought or hoped were Grey Partridge, but on closer inspection were again Red-legged. We followed the course of the ditch, the only butterflies seen were more Peacock and Brimstone, but we did learn why we normally do this walk the other way around!
Looking down and out over the reserve, a wonderful view.
Then across towards the village of Martin.
We left the Ditch and walked down the hill to the copse where we would normally see the Turtle Doves in the summer. A Blackcap sang from within the scrub and we stopped, Behind us at least four Grey Partridge exploded out of the long grass and flew away from us with the flap glide style low over the grass. We watched where they went and started to walk over there. However we could only find a Red-legged again, but we were convinced the birds we had disturbed were not Red-legged.
Walking through the grass I disturbed a male Wheatear from a small bush. It gave us a bit of a run around, finally managing to pin it down on a small tree.
We walked back to the main track, I followed it down looking for Yellowhammer while Ian was trying to find the singing Blackcap. From behind me I heard the "Kerr-rick" call of a Grey Partridge. Calling Ian over we walked through the grass before finally flushing the bird. As it flew away I managed to get some flight shots to confirm the sighting.
We walked a little further and flushed another pair, and they headed off in the same direction dropping into the grass in front of the car park.
We headed back to the main path in search of the elusive Yellowhammers, but they were not around and we had to be satisfied with a brief sighting earlier. On the outer edge of the reserve there is a large Rookery, one Rook was close by, sitting in a tree away from the main rookery.
Another "black" bird that in the right light is really an electric midnight blue.
Later in the summer the fields are full of adult and immature Rooks searching the grassland for seed and invertebrates, today the focus was very much on the nests where there were probably a lot of nestlings. The whole area is one of amazing energy and activity with birds calling and flying around. Communication is very important, and the bird close to us had to join in.
Ian picked up a Raven distant over the a field beyond the car park. As it flew low over the field it disturbed a Hare that was settled down in amongst the crops. As we got closer we could just make out the Hare's ear poking out from the green of the crops.
And so a truly wonderful day came to an end. For the first time, due mainly to the number of good photographs I wanted to share I have had to split the day into two blogs. This afternoon at Martin Down was a chance to see the reserve in a different season, and it made you realise that there was potentially a lot to see here away from the summer. Reports of Short-eared Owl may even lure us back in the winter.
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