A WALK IN THE PARK

Dipping on the Baillons Crake was my own fault for not responding rapidly,but then twitching is not really my thing so I remain philosophical about such things,there were also compensations as ever:-

 FOUR SPOTTED CHASER

 SWIFT

MEDITERRANEAN GULL
The cliffs last weekend were very quiet bird wise but a few butterflies and floral finds made the walk worthwhile.

 PAINTED LADY-Did it come all the way from Morocco?it looks very travel weary.

 SIX SPOT BURNET

ADONIS BLUE -Catching the sun.

 SMALL BLUE

BEE ORCHID-just a single specimen.

EARLY GENTIAN- A rare find.

SMALL TORTOISHELL CATERPILLARS

 HOUSE MARTINS Collecting mud for their nests on the cliff face

 LATE SPIDER ORCHID

 MAN ORCHID

LATE SPIDER ORCHID.
 Samphire Hoe was a wash out on tuesday but clearing up after a bank holiday monday is always fun-why do people visit beauty spots and leave them looking less than beautiful?it doesn`t make sense does it-educate  youngsters to take their rubbish home  or put it in a bin and lets not get started on lazy dog owners.
Drizzle and gloomy skies continued so went for a walk in the park- A KWT reserve on ancient chalk grassland where 7 species of orchid were found.

 FLY ORCHID

 BUTTERFLY ORCHID

 MONKEY ORCHID

FRAGRANT ORCHID

A MAY DAY AT SAMPHIRE HOE

 COMMON SPOTTED ORCHIDS Are beginning to bloom.

 HOUSE MARTINS Are back prospecting new nest sites on the cliff face

 LARGE SKIPPER Made a first appearance this week

 As did this BLACK TAILED SKIMMER

 SMALL BLUE -a welcome sight.

 SMALL TORTOISHELL -Hopefully the first of many freshly emerged from last years influx.

CREAM SPOT TIGER- A SUPERB MOTH

HERE THERE AND EVERYWHERE.

Sunday morning was unpromising as I arrived at the cliffs,grey, windy and cool,two wheatears on the dung pile lifted the mood a little and a spotted flycatcher in the ash grove was a real bonus,a few swallows arrived and a dozen swifts flew by overhead.As I turned for home a large raptor drifted into view, a slightly forked tail led me to think kite but it was a long way up,so I  didn`t get too excited,I took some record shots and when I got home and checked them out, the bird had 6 fingers and was indeed a Black Kite.

 SPOTTED FLYCATCHER

 SPOTTED FLYCATCHER in typical pose.

BLACK KITE
Monday morning went to Dungeness to try for better stilt shots but the bird was not around so I went in search of the Grizzled Skipper.Eventually I found a single individual that was rather worn but was ok there were lots of small coppers around and cosidering how flooded the area had been a couple of months ago it was very pleasing to see.Enough I was hungry so left for the car and lo and behold sitting nicely on a bramble leaf a pristine fresh Grizzly-lucky or what.

 SMALL COPPERS sharing a buttercup.

 GRIZZLED SKIPPER

Earlier on the Reserve a few shots of interest-

 GREAT CRESTED GREBE with three youngsters- from Hansons.

 TREE SPARROWS were on the feeders at the visitor centre.

 BLUE
 TAILED DAMSELFLY

 HAIRY DRAGONFLY

 SWIFT

THE LAST THING THE FLY SAW!
Today at Samphire Hoe
Swallows arriving in off with swifts and house martins,willow warblers,spotted flycatchers and lesser whitethroats were the main avian highs and the first Adonis Blue and several common blues were found despite the mainly overcast conditions.

ADONIS BLUE

COMMON BLUE

COMMON BLUES in a precarious position.

 HOUSE MARTIN Speeding over the pond.

This bird caused a lot of head scratching but in the end northern race willow warbler was decided on.