Scarce raptors

Another beautiful sunny day, with just a light southerly breeze. A call from Dave as I was on my way alerted me to his car having been discovered to have a puncture. He would be late. I had in any case planned to survey the breeding birds around Netherstead Farm, so his delay simply gained me some extra time

I spent an hour or so mooching about, counting the local House Sparrows etc, noting a couple of Starlings (not seen here since early April), and hearing a Cuckoo. I also had an interesting chat with Yad (Jad?) originally from Sweden, who told me about various impending comings and goings (mostly goings unfortunately) of certain residents of the hamlet.

Dave arrived and we started birding. Almost immediately he spotted a raptor heading from the south. A Kite. We dashed to a place where we could get a better view as the bird, a Red Kite, which slowly approached and eventually circled away to the east.

78. Red Kite (approaching)

The fly past

Heading away

I managed to get a series of shots of it (plus a lot of shots of blue sky) before it was lost from view. The second here this year, and a nice pull back after I was not around to see the one in March. It didn't appear to be wing tagged, but I imagine that is not as significant as it used to be.

Feeling pretty chuffed we headed towards the pool. On reaching the half-way pond Dave pulled another one out of the bag, as he spotted a pair of Hobbies circling. They came closer and eventually flew over, but they were too high and quick for me to get a shot of them.

Being a sunny day, we were always on the look out for interesting insects. Thus I was pleased when we found several Small Heath butterflies.

Small Heath

These diddy little creatures always settle with their wings up. In flight the upper surface appears all orangy brown, but unless you are looking at a dead specimen, you will never see that properly.

At the pool I was pleased to see that the Canada Geese have bred successfully, and five goslings were counted.

The flashes by contrast were pretty poor. The near flash is about 50% dry, and contained only a few Mallards, Lapwings, and a Pied Wagtail. On the way back we found another new butterfly for the year.

Small Copper

The Small Copper is about the same size as the Small Heath, but is generally commoner, and certainly prettier.

Finally we reached the dragonfly pools where, at long last, I saw some dragonflies (well actually damselflies).

Azure Damselfly

Large Red Damselfly

Blue-tailed Damselfly

The feel good factor is definitely back.