Painted Lady and Elephant Hawk Moth.

It may be the 1st day of June but Spring is still definately in the air, with the butterfly as above and Gatekeepers. Plenty of Peacocks, Red Admirals, Small Tortoiseshells and Speckled Woods as well to delight lepidopterists (a posh word for butterfly and moth enthusiasts). Walking around the reserve at lunch-time this afternoon not only were there butterflies aplenty, but various insects etc. They are at the bottom of the food chain and as a consequence (unfortunately for them) food for the thousands of hungry mouths bigger than them.

 Nightingales are still singing along the track going up the hill as are the Common Whitethroats and Lesser Whitethroats.

It is amazing to think that Painted Ladys are here already. they hatch in February or March in Africa and fly north to Great Britain or Scandinavia, they cannot survive a British winter, so it's a little unclear as to whether they fly back down south or just perish here, killed by the cold and wet. Either way they are as the photo shows beautiful.

Another beauty is the Elephant Hawk Moth, caught in the Moth trap today, the forewings are olive-brown, banded with dusky pink, while the hindwings are deep pink. The underside is predominantly bright pink. The caterpillar feeds on Willow Herb and Bedstraw.

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Hoverflies are beginning to emerge including the Great Pied Hoverfly (Volucella Pellucens)

The call of the Cuckoo is probably the best known of all bird song, and when the first is heard in late March or early April it is a real sign that spring is underway.

Although most people will recognise the basic call, the variety of sounds made by Cuckoos are much greater than most people realise. The basic call is a two-note, low-frequency sound, the first note (usually made with the neck extended) being higher than the second, up close it sounds quite unexciting

But it can also be quite mellow and resonate from surrounding vegetation.

An increased rhythm or rate of calling indicates a bird that is excited, usually caused by the presence of another competing male, or maybe the female is in sight - a sort of low chuckle that immediately follows the call. Some authors call this the "gowk" call, and though it can be made by the female it is also used by the male when he is in pursuit of a female - a sort of dirty little chuckle ("give us a kiss darlin'")

So far this story has focused on the male as he is by far the most vocal of the pair, but the female does have her own very distinctive bubbling call. It is not used often and then only in small snatches, I have read that it may be used after egg-laying, or when responding to a male seeking copulation.

Make a visit to Northward Hill or Cliffe Pools RSPB reserves this weekend to hear this iconic bird, remember you haven't long ' The cuckoo comes in April, he sings his song in May, he changes his tune in the middle of June, in July he flies away' So don't hang around!