Finally a day off coinciding with reasonable weather, but that meant garden chores to do...Mrs PB was bartered down to post lunch chores, pre lunch gallivanting
Before I left home, I caught glimpse of the first House Martin of the year that I'd seen, circling over the garden briefly, hopefully scoping out a return to the nearest nests.
I headed off, not sure where to go, and decided on a fleeting visit to see the Fallow Deer, but though they were present, they were too distant for pictures. Just down the road from them is Lydlinch Common, usually a good haunt for butterflies and I saw my only ever Nightingale there. It looked a tad damp, but I squelched my way through the gate and along the path. A song Thrush was working its way through its whole repertoire, gorgeous, but invisible. First sighting was a very dark Speckled Wood
Followed by an even darker Peacock
There was something attached to the tree, but I've no idea what... and clues?
I decided it was obvious why I'd seen MARSH fritilleries here last year, as underfoot was getting worse, so I decided to try my luck elsewhere, and on the way back to the car, a rare Face-Wash Hoverfly caught my eye
And a singing Blackcap caught my ear
I decided to stay pretty local, so headed to the Trailway, where a Carrion Crow atop a post greeted me
And a pair of Blackcaps were flycatching from the depths of a tree
The first of the Chifblers, lightened quite a lot coz was quite silhouette-y!
Pretty flower, if a bit nibbled!
Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaay overhead a pair of Buzzards were enjoying the thermals (no, Linda, not yours!!)
A new meaning to pointy head!
Pretty pink flower, if a bit nibbled!
I saw about half a dozen ladybirds today, all similarly low in spots!
My first Bluebells of the year
Ragged Brimstone (first pic of one this year)
And another year first... Orange Tip, still keeping an eye out!
Not sure if the damaged wing attracted the fly somehow, but first time I've seen both, one usually evicts the other
Chiff(bler)chaff
It's amazing the difference a drop of sunshine makes!
A very smart looking Hoverfly
Robin (we've had one taking nesting materials from the garden, but feeding here )
Pristine Brimstone, rather than that poor damaged one
A poorly (I think) bee
Another thing stuck to a tree... I did wonder if it was horse poo as its a bridleway!!
A less dark Peacock
Some sort of cockchafer/shield bug thingamy jig
Another annual first, Green Veined White
And to end with, the only real surprise of the day, female Large Red Damselfly... what a beauty!!
Hope you enjoyed my meander in the sunshine (as I look out the window now, its all grey and bleughhhh... I guess Snappy wanted his sunshine back lol
Stay Safe All
Lovely ;-)
(Pardon the Scottish Accent)
Sorry PB that was very rude of me to say so little about your lovely post that you took so much time to sort and upload for us all. So nice to see some butterflies and even a Damselfly. I think your chiflber is a chiffchaff...don't ask me how as I just have a gut feeling and they are chaffchiffing away all over the place the now driving me nuts lol. Also lovely to see the blackcap. Thanks for sharing ;-)
Looks like you did alright PB, off to a good start with your Butterflies and a Damselfly. Good to see the Blackcaps, we are still looking for a female one.
The images (as appearing on my screen) are over-large, and in some cases rather grainy.
Ladybird spots. No Adalia bipunctata?
The nibbled "pretty pink flower" is (rose) campion, Damage to petals on flowers isn't always down to 'nibbling'.
Thanks Linda, I'm completely rubbish at warblers Vs chiffchaffs so will agree with you. Hopefully you'll get some fluttery stuff now you have the sun!
Cheers Snappy, first sunshine-y coinciding with a day off in ages, so was pleased with what I saw. I think there was a female with the first blackcap, but it was even deeper than the male!
Don't think I've ever seen a 2 spotted ladybird, Tuwit. The size of the pics is the same dimensions as I used pre upgrade, so a little tweak may be in order. The only graininess I saw on the pc was on the first blackcap that was buried in a tree, looking now on my phone they look ok.
Sun never lasted long and wasn't without the wind....back to rain again
A good collection of wildlife PB and looks like a good day out.
Your blue five petal flower looks like it could be green alkanet. Yep, blue petals, but not in name.
Bees love it, but it can be very invasive.
Mike
Flickr: Peak Rambler