Grizzled Skipper and Early Purple Orchid at Alex Pastures SSSI

Grizzled Skipper on Blue Bell

Early Purple Orchid

Same individual as top picture

Second individual with a clipped wing.

Visiting the privately-owned Alex Pastures today, I'm reminded how precious the site is and, at the same time, how vulnerable too. The encroachment from Blackthorn is quite a shock to the eyes (from where it was last, just a month ago). Nevertheless, the flora and fauna continues to be bountiful and diverse compared to the countryside that surrounds it. At the entrance, a small display of Early Purple Orchid is a sign of good things to come. On the grassland, the predominate plants at the moment are Bugle, Violets and Primrose. In the sunshine Grizzled skipper (4), Brimstone and Orange-tip criss-cross the paths continually. Lizards seemed particularly abundant and were under the eye of Kestrel and Buzzard above. Nightingale, Blackcap and Garden warbler have all returned in good numbers and were singing well in the mid-day sun. A large Dung Beetle collecting Rabbit droppings was new to me - I could have stayed there all day.

Two Red Kites over Shadoxhurst.

Distant view showing one of  the Red Kites probably over Hamstreet road / Hornash Lane junction

Long over due, the first 2 Red Kites of the year and spotted whilst cutting the garden lawn this afternoon. Originally given a fantastic view, they moved quickly North East and I had no time for a decent photo - but even at a distance the jizz is there.

Packing wood Nightingales

Packing wood is an area quite new to me so tonight it was nice to find two Nightingales singing there and adding extra knowledge on territories in the Orlestone forest area.  They were accompanied by Chiffchaffs, Goldcrests and Blackcaps. In the sky there, two Buzzards.

Over the house this evening 6 more Buzzards soared elegantly together on a thermal. This is the highest number we've seen over our area.

Buzzard on pylons, near Packing Wood

One of 6 Buzzards over the Garden this evening

No summer birds.. ..yet?

I'm standing at the back of the garden over looking mixed woodland and farmland backing onto Orlestone forest - it looks a fine English landscape. There are just 2 Swallows collecting nest material in the nearest horse paddock - they seem to have been around for several weeks now. The local Buzzards have finished displaying (update pair in the air 12.45pm) and are now keeping out of sight. Listening and looking carefully there are simply no summer migrants in sight or song. Not a Whitethroat a Cuckoo or any passing warbler. There's no sign of Hobby, flycatcher, House Martin, or passing Sedge warbler. As I watch, to my side a Hawthorn is just coming into flower and it's sweet spring scent is already very noticable - unlike our once common summer birds.

Mallards - a surprise garden brood

They can wreck our plant ponds and cause havoc for the Newts, but hats off to this Mallard who has secretly hatched her brood of ten right under our noses.  My first sight of them was the ducklings tucked behind the hen parading down the lawn. They're now safely in the larger garden pond, undisturbed and where her nest was we will never know.

Song Thrushes - and quick garden round-up.

Song Thrushes and Mistle Thrushes seem common in woodland and garden this spring, perhaps they benefited from the near frost-free winter? Our garden Song Thrush sings from the top of our Norway Spruce most mornings and evenings belting out its manic song and it's in competition with two other neighbouring Song Thrushes.

Tonight, the sky is clear and there's a super bright full moon. Temperatures have dropped fast. I have a home-baked theory that Nightingales don't like to sing when its cold, and so despite arriving back in Orlestone forest in good numbers over the weekend there's not a song to be heard tonight. Our Redpolls look to have finally moved on, but in the woods there are still plently of little flocks of both Redpoll and Siskin around. Looking south west this afternoon through binoculars we were able to watch Venus against a vibrant blue sky. The real targets of our sights were Buzzards, and at the moment it's easy to find 2 pairs of Buzzards displaying in the air, south east and south west of the village.

The largest garden pond is crystal clear and shinning the torch through the water easily shows Palmate and Smooth newts in good numbers, and also our solitary female Great Crested newt.

During what was a beautiful sunny day, the first Large Red Damsel flies took their maiden flights from emergent rushes on the pond edge. Two Orange tipped Butterflies trooped up on down the garden occasionally stopping to feed on the Ladie's Smock.

First spring Orlestone Nightingale

A single Nightingale was singing from Birchett wood tonight and two Willow warblers present as well.