MAY BEGONE

The last day of May was more like the last day of January with a cold northerly gale blowing and frequent heavy showers made my day at Samphire Hoe thoroughly miserable,hopefully June will be warmer.
Since the last post,most of my action was on Thursday last when news of the Laughing Gull broke  first thing at Dungeness, I then travelled to Hutchinsons Bank Croydon,and called in at Old Lodge in the Ashdown Forest on my way home.

 LAUGHING GULL All the way across the Atlantic from North America

 LAUGHING GULL

 GLANVILLE FRITILLARY- not on the Isle of Wight but in Croydon.

 GRIZZLED SKIPPER

 GREEN HAIRSTREAK

MATING PAIR OF GLANVILLE FRITILLARY

HOLDING TIGHT TO A SALAD BURNET FLOWER HEAD

 COMMON REDSTART AT OLD LODGE

 ADDER AT SAMPHIRE HOE

 BLUE TAILED DAMSEL-SAMPHIRE HOE

 FIRST LARGE SKIPPER OF THE YEAR AT THE HOE.

HOUSE MARTINS BUSY HOME BULDING AT THE HOE.

 A NEW BIRD FOR THE GARDEN-STOCK DOVE
Sunday morning went to Sandwich Bay as I thought Langdon Cliffs would be untenable for birdwatching  as it was a bank holiday.No luck with the Monty but a pair of Hobby and a fresh male Holly Blue were nice,as was the Brown Hare.

 HOBBY HUNTING WORTH MARSHES

 HOLLY BLUE

 COLOUR RINGED HOUSE SPARROW AT THE OBS ON MY CAR AERIAL.

BROWN HARE ON WORTH MARSHES
May is also Orchid time in East Kent.

 LATE SPIDERS

 LATE SPIDER ORCHID

 MONKEY ORCHIDS

 EARLY PURPLE

 FLY ORCHIDS

MAN ORCHID.

THE MAY BE OUT

The year is flying by at an alarming rate,it will be midsummer in four weeks time,spring migration is all but over,the blues are emerging,the first test was over in three days,and we may get a very short break from football and rugby in July before it all starts again early in August.
Not much to report ,the lack of Whitethroats is a bit worrying  but most birds seem to be doing ok.

 WALL BROWN

 SKYLARKS Are doing well so far on the cliffs

 YELLOWHAMMERS

 HOLLY BLUES have enjoyed a good spring- seen all over the place.

 GREY SEAL AT SAMPHIRE HOE

 SPOTTED FLYCATCHER IN SILHOUETTE.

 BLACKCAP IN SONG

 YELLOWHAMMER TOO

 AND A LATE ARRIVAL - WILLOW WARBLER.

CHAFFINCH SINGING IN LANGDON HOLE

 AN ALERT WHITETHROAT

The first Common Blue of the year at Samphire Hoe

 A WHITE GREEN WINGED ORCHID AT SANDWICH BAY

 HERRING GULL ON THE SEA WALL AT THE HOE

 COMMON BLUE DAMSEL FLY

 MEADOW PIPIT WITH A SPIDER FOR THE CHICKS

 FEMALE COMMON BLUE

 THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL

 SMALL BLUE AND ADONIS BLUE BELOW FOUND AT THE HOE LAST TUESDAY.

 TYPICAL VIEW OF REED WARBLER AT STODMARSH

Hobbies are there in good numbers

 ST MARKS FLY ABOUT TO BE AN EX ST MARKS FLY

 MARSH HARRIER

 SWIFTS TOO IN GOOD NUMBERS AT STODMARSH

 HOBBY NOT AN OBSESSION?

 LESSER WHITETHROAT SINGING LANGDON HOLE

 WEAR YOUR POPPY WITH PRIDE

CINNABAR MOTH

Had a slow stroll around the Temple Ewell part of the Lydden Downs reserve this afternoon and found this fresh BROWN ARGUS sunning itself. .........

 Higher up ADONIS and COMMON BLUES  were freshly emerged.

 BLUE BLUE ELECTRIC BLUE.

 This female ADONIS had not been found by the males yet.

 COMMON BLUE

 COMMON BLUE.

LAST BUT NOT LEAST-THE MOTHER SHIPTON MOTH.

I am completely up to date now hope you enjoy the latest tome...