Marbled White

It was nice to go out in what felt like summer weather, though it doesn't take much of a rise in temperature before we are complaining "It's too hot". Martin had come up with a plan that took in birds, butterflies and dragonflies and we more or less stuck to it. First up was Church Norton, though we did have a peek at Ferry Pool where a splendid summer plumage Spotshank was in residence, just too far away for a decent shot. On the spit at Church Norton the harbour looked a bit devoid of birds and I suspect that the Hudbrel was some way up the creek.

Our next venue was the meadow adjacent to Whiteways café on the road out of Arundel. Lots of Marbled Whites on the wing and one or two just emerging, providing some superb opportunities for photography. I did my annual check of the roundabout, risking life and limb in the traffic, to count the Bee Orchids, just 7 this year and going over already. The Pyramidal Orchids go from strength to strength and it was nice to find a good stand in the field itself.

The female has a distinct yellow/brown rear underwing....

....and a similar colour on the leading edge of the forewing

Next venue was Lords Piece, plenty of hyperactive dragonflies, we found Emperor, Broad Bodied Chasers, Four Spot Chasers and a Common Darter. A full supporting cast of Damsel Flies and the odd Meadow Brown, Small Skipper and the ubiquitous Marbled White.




If an interloper comes near the wings go vertical

 



Very showy caterpillar of the Vapourer - should have recognised this one straight away - the four "shaving brushes" are very characteristic.



Noon Fly, Mesembrina meridian - thanks to Jim Langiewicz for the ID

 

Having visited RSPB Pulborough Brooks for Martin to resupply with bird feed we eschewed the long walk to Black Pool for more dragons and left for Woods Mill. At the entrance to the Mill, just beneath the bridge we found a juvenile Water Rail, apparently photographed by everybody and his dog - I guess we happened to be the last. A Turtle Dove was purring away merrily, deep within the leaf cover of one of the taller trees, shame that it didn't venture up on to its usual perch on the dead tree overlooking the lake.

A great day out, lots of varied material in the viewfinder and plenty of pictures for the blog - what more can you want?

Turtle Dove

It has been a couple of months since my last birding tick, in fact it was twitching the Short-toed Snake Eagle in the Ashdown Forest, which seems ages ago. With the butterfly populations on the wane and my photographs up to date, I decided that it was time to re-join the birding scene. Several times on butterflying outings I have heard the distinctive purr of Turtle Doves but never had visual contact. So a visit to Woods Mill where a pair have been residing, and unlike other birds, have not been shy. In fact one bird has a preference for a perch in a dead tree that stands over the lake.

As I took the camera gear from the car I could hear a bird purring away in a high tree at the end of the lake. I located it immediately and sat down to wait for it to occupy its favourite perch. Actually it took some time before the action started and I wasn't really prepared for what happened next. The Turtle Dove was happily calling away when an interloper in the shape of a Great-spotted Woodpecker arrived on the scene. The woodpecker took an instant dislike to the TD and sent it away in a most violent attack, something that I never expected to happen. I sat and waited for the return of the TD as it was some distance away but still calling, Two kind birders then informed me that it was in a dead Ash tree just the other side of the leat path. I found the bird and snapped away to my hearts content, the bird not being spooked by passing families and noisy children - so much for the description "shy".

 

 

As always, photographing a bird in silhouette never produces the best quality and despite constant tinkering with the exposure, I never got that shot that says - nailed it. Still they are a lot better than anything else I have had so far and there is always tomorrow.

I then decided to check up on the progress of the "grebelings", well I can report that at least two have survived and grown well. Each occupies its own raft of water lilies and both are constantly diving for food. Every now and again each makes a call to the parent bird which now studiously ignores them.

Next venue was Anchor Bottom, specifically to find and count any Silver-spotted Skippers that might be present. The upshot was that I found only six, just to the east of the large rabbit warren. It is encouraging that the rabbit population hasn't been persecuted so much recently and their activity is creating a better environment for the butterflies. The upside is that the specimen that I managed to record on camera was a female and that she laid at least two eggs, one of which I recorded.

 

 
Finally a quick visit to Houghton where I found nothing exciting, just the usual suspects. The Painted Lady appeared fresh and was happy to be snapped nectaring on the Hemp Agrimony.

Woods Mill

During my random surfing on the web I had by chance come across the Ouse & Adur Rivers Trust and discovered that they were having an open day at the Sussex Wildlife Trust's Woods Mill. Furthermore that Dr. Richard Osmond would be attending with his Hi Tech Wild Trek trailer. Richard and I were near neighbours some 33 years ago and I thought it about time we renewed our acquaintance, especially as he had got me "into" moths back then.

It was a day for taking the macro lens and I set out on a walk to the other end of the reserve, hoping for a few late butterflies and some early morning dragonflies.  The place was more or less deserted but who should I meet on the way back to the car park - none other than Richard, with buckets and dipping net, catching the specimens for the day. When we exchanged greetings he was totally unfazed as if it was just yesterday that we had been talking to each other.

More about OARTS can be found here.



Richard and his trailer

Brilliant to be up close and personal with water life.

Out on the reserve there are still lots of 'bugs' to be found

Dock Bug, Coreus marginatus??

 

Seed Weevil - Apion frumentarium

Small Copper, Lycaena phlaeas



Common Darter, Sympetrum striolatum

 

 

Comma, Polygonia c-album - a tad worn round the edges

 

 

Not many birds to be seen but Chiffchaffs were numerous around the lake.