First Hairstreak.

With the mild Winter it was thought that the butterfly season might be a bit early this year. However, that has certainly not been the case with many species normally seen by now still not appearing. Today I met up with Nigel and we headed off to where I saw the Speckled Woods last Wednesday. Despite the area seeming to be quite warm we failed to connect with the Speckled Wood today. We did see some Small Tortoiseshell laying eggs in the nettles.

We then headed to Abbotts Wood where a surprise was a superb Green Hairstreak in an area I haven't seen them before. This is also the first year when my first Green Hairstreak of the year wasn't on my local patch!! This Hairstreak was missing the streak and had just a single white dot. I spotted the butterfly as it appeared flying past me. Fortunately I saw it land on a small bush, it was then trying to focus on it as the bush was moving in the steady breeze.

Green Hairstreak.

Also in the wood was my first Early Purple Orchid of the year. This particular orchid is often out before others as it is in a little warm corner. I just hope that this year it is not picked or flattened by someone!!

Early Purple Orchid.

We also heard a Nightingale deep in the undergrowth and we saw an Orange Underwing moth that was sitting on the path. Unfortunately it saw us before we saw him and it was straight up and away.

Over the last few days I have seen a Common Redstart moving through as well as a Red Kite. Also male Emperor Moths attracted to a pheromone lure and some more Pyrausta ostrinalis micro moths. On Monday I also saw my first Green-veined White of the year as well as 4 more Speckled Wood. With the Hairstreak today this puts me on 11 species for the year which means I have seen about 25% of the species I am likely to see in the UK this year already!!

Speckled Wood.

Chiff Chaff.

Back on the Patch.

With things at last starting to get going on the insect front it was back to the local area to see what was emerging. Overnight the moth trap was a waste of time with only a few common moths. Out on the patch I found an extremely fresh Speckled Wood basking in the morning sun. Strangely she had what I think was tiny bit of blossom on her head and a small fly resting on her hind-wing. Another Speckled Wood was also seen. Bee-flies are also building up in numbers well and I found one basking on a leaf. Being earlier in the day, this normally difficult insect to approach allowed a few shots. 

Speckled Wood.

Bee-fly.

Following this I checked on my colony of Pyrausta ostrinalis. This species is quite rare, and according to the Sussex recorder is in danger of extinction in the county. However, I do have a strong colony here and in a short space of time I had seen 13 of these beautiful little micro moths. They are extremely similar to the common Pyrausta purpuralis. I also saw my first Large White on the walk and later in the garden back home a Holly Blue flew across. This puts me on 9 butterfly species for the year so far.

Pyrausta ostrinalis.

A Specklie Day.

With another gorgeous day today I headed out to an area where I've often seen my first Speckled Wood of the year. Parking the car and heading along the woodland track the sound of birdsong was everywhere. I heard a different song high up in the trees and looking up I had some great views of a Lesser Whitethroat. I was able to watch the bird for several minutes, although it didn't descend down at all. I was quite surprised I had only seen a single Comma and was beginning to think I was going to be out of luck with the Speckled Wood when one suddenly appeared flying in front of me. It perched up a few times and then starting a battle with another one. A little later I returned to the same area and saw more. I think I probably saw 3 in total with one male performing very well for me on the return.

Male Speckled Wood.

Rye Harbour.

With a part sunny day promised a trip to Rye Harbour seemed a good idea to see the arrival of some Spring migrants. As it happened the sun was out all day and it feels like a bit of sunburn on the face has appeared!!

The day started with opening the moth trap. With a bit of rain overnight the numbers of moths were possibly affected but there were a few moths there. These included 3 Angle Shades and a Powdered Quaker which all just about warranted photos.

Triplicate of Angle Shades.

Powdered Quaker.

It was then onto Rye Harbour with several Avocets seen from the first hide. Other highlights included my first definite Small White butterfly of the year, many Sandwich Terns, a few Mediterranean Gulls and Wheatear. At Castle Water many Sedge Warblers were heard. a couple seen, and 2 Common White-throat. Moving on to Pett Levels around 50 Turnstone were roosting and feeding near the ponds.

Avocet.

Sandwich Tern with Sand eel.

Redshank.

Turnstone.

Small Signs.

Over the past few days it has felt like Spring is really getting going. However, many insects are still being reluctant to show. Today a short visit to Rowland Wood resulted in just a Comma showing as well as a male Adder. It was good to see and hear my first Willow Warbler of the year. Unfortunately some unexpected rain soon started to fall so the visit was cut short. On the way home we called into Arlington Reservoir to see if many hirundines were flying. There were plenty of Swallow and Sand Martin as well as small numbers of House Martin. A pair of Grey Wagtail were also good to see, as were the Common Terns. A White Wagtail was also pointed out among the Pied Wagtails.

Sand Martins and Swallows in the rain.

Great Crested Grebe.

A couple of days earlier a walk along the river produced a Small Tortoiseshell egg laying. After she had flown I investigated the cluster of eggs on the under-side of the nettle leaf. A Glow-worm larva was also seen during the morning but unfortunately no new emerging butterflies.

Small Tortoiseshell eggs.

Glow-worm larva.

Spring has Sprung.

With the weather warming up for a while I've been out and about around the back of Seaford. On Sunday I saw my first Ancylis comptana of the year, a very small micro moth found on a few chalk downlands. More surprising was finding a very young Emperor Moth larva. This means there has been some adults out for 2 to 3 weeks already. Of course, very young larva are not easy to be sure of identity. There is still a question mark over whether it is an Emperor and with one expert saying it is and another thinking it isn't, if anyone out there can confirm either way I would be pleased to know!! The consensus now is that it is indeed an Emperor larva 2nd instar. 

Ancylis comptana.

Probable Emperor Moth 2nd instar stage larva??

Last night, with the weather settled I decided to put the moth trap out for the first time this year. Nothing very exciting this morning unfortunately but a small selection of Common Quaker, Early Grey and a very nice March Moth making a total of 10 moths.

Early Grey.

March Moth.

Following this I went for a long stroll over the back of Seaford where I found a Pyrausta ostranalis and a Pyrausta despicata. Both these small micros were my first of the year. I also came across a Long-tailed Tit that posed quite well. I was hoping for some new emerging butterflies but this was not the case. However several Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock and Brimstone were seen including a male Brimstone that posed well for a picture.

Pyrausta despicata.

Long-tailed Tit.

Male Brimstone.

Oxfordshire.

It's rare for me to be tempted to go long distances for a bird, but with the ultra smart Red-necked Grebe returning for a 3rd year running in summer plumage to Farmoor Reservoir near Oxford, the temptation was too much. I would like to thank Ewan Urquhart from Oxford for confirming the bird was still there and for showing us around on the Friday. Picking Pete up at 6am (the middle of the night)!! the traffic was not too bad and we arrived well ahead of the time we were meeting up with Ewan so we walked around to where the bird was expected to be. On the way we saw some splendid summer plumaged Great-crested Grebes and several groups of Tufted Duck.

Tufted Duck Pair.

Great-crested Grebe.

Great-crested Grebe making waves.

There was no doubt though that the star of the show was the superb Red-necked Grebe. This bird is probably the least seen of the regular Grebes and even more so in its breeding plumage. I was hoping that the bird would come much closer than it did but eventually I managed a few reasonable shots as it regularly dived to catch Sticklebacks or occasionally catch small flies from the top of the water. The bird will very shortly be leaving for its breeding area, possibly in Scandinavia or Russia.

Red-necked Grebe.

Red-necked Grebe with Stickleback lunch.

When Ewan arrived we soon headed for another part of the reservoir where 2 Great-northern Divers have spent the Winter. Unfortunately we only saw one of these and that one was well out in the middle. However, we did see the first reported Common Tern of the year on the reservoir. Also whilst Ewan was taking a business call I spotted in the distance a Hobby chasing a smaller bird. This was my 2nd Hobby of the year and was I believe the 1st record this year in Oxfordshire.

Ewan then suggested we head for Otmoor RSPB reserve. Although he couldn't spare the time to stay with us we followed him there so we wouldn't get lost. Just after he left us I spotted a pair of Common Toads walking across the car park. This gave us the opportunity to get some great photos of them, without the macro lenses we had to use the telephotos but this worked very well.

Common Toads.

Is the male falling asleep??

That's what you call getting a lift!!

Following this it was the dreaded long drive home with every car in the South-east being on the M25 around Heathrow. However, it could have been a lot worse as the traffic did clear for most of the remaining trip. My thanks to Ewan for giving up his time to help us see so much. It really was a great day.