Redstarts, nightingales and hobbies - just another day at the office for Gary, on his usual Tuesday volunteering stint:
I thought that I would start the day by seeing how the bluebells were doing in the Black Wood, and although not quite at their peak, they looked magnificent in the morning sunshine.
A report that a redstart was near West Mead made me quicken my step past Fattingates where a nightingale was in full song along with a willow warbler that had added some chiffchaff notes to its repertoire, plus a rambling garden warbler. Sure enough a male redstart was on the fence line and gave excellent views (it was still present when I passed that way again at lunchtime). A party of about twenty swifts zoomed overhead but didn't hang around for long, and a very mobile lesser whitethroat refused to be pinned down.
Towards Adder Alley there were several large red damselflies and very bright orange tip butterflies nectering on Cuckooflower (or Lady's Smock). Two nightingales were also singing loudly almost drowning out a sedge warbler in the background.
At the Hanger, a greenshank and three little-ringed plover were out on the flood and yet another lesser whitethroat and garden warbler were below the viewpoint. Common whitethroat, linnet, swallow, sand and house martin were also to be seen. The hedgerow banks are still looking great with many primroses.
To round the day off, two hobbies were dashing around the South Brooks. (Let's have photos of them next time Gary!)
Another visitor spotted this wonderful broad bordered bee hawkmoth - thanks to Bill for the photos