Holme Reserves and Titchwell RSPB

GREEN HAIRSTREAK BUTTERFLY

Holme Dunes NWT

The day didn't go as planned, chores and jobs all morning. Dull weather and no sunshine for most of the day and it didn't look over exciting for migrants to be honest. Helped mother with errands in the afternoon and took her to Wards Nurseries at Ringstead, the sun was now fully out, but still a chill in the air. Went birding at a respectable 4.30pm!!!

Holme Dunes NWT
Stayed local and started off at Holme. Parked by the 5-bar gate, half way along the Firs Road and walked to The Forestry (NWT). Whitethroat singing in the buckthorn along the coastal footpath. 3 Marsh Harriers over Holme Marsh. In the Forestry I had a lovely time photographing a very obliging Green Hairstreak Butterfly and some interesting bees (need to ID these) and had a lovely surprise of three cute Fox Cubs playing outside their den and then shot into the bushes, when they clocked me! Small Copper and Red Admiral also seen. 2 Grey Partridges, Blackcap singing, but no sign of any wheatears at all. In the sueda bushes below the footpath on the way back to my car, I saw three Reed Buntings chasing each other, Meadow Pipits and a few Linnets. 2 Shelduck were in the lagoon and several Swallows were skimming through. It was a beautiful evening.

Green Hairstreak Butterfly.

Spring Beauty or known as Buttonhole Flower.

This is edible for human consumption!

Speedwell.

Hoverfly – Eristalis?

Red Admiral.

Pond Skater in the small pool in the NWT Forestry.

Magpie in the NWT Forestry.

Meadow Pipit.

Redwell Marsh Hide NOA
Stopped here briefly. Birds seen: Shelducks, Shovelers, Mallards, Avocets and Black-headed Gulls, Swallows, Sand Martins, Redshank and a Marsh Harrier.

Choseley Drying Barns
Not the selection I had when I last visited, but had 4 Corn Buntings on the wires, Yellowhammer, 3 Wood Pigeons, 2 Collared Doves, 1 Chaffinch, 4 Linnets, 1 Blackbird, 1 Pied Wagtail, 2 Red-legged Partridges, 1 Grey Partridge and a few Pheasants. No sign of the recent turtle dove.

Titchwell RSPB
It was 7pm when I arrived, so didn't have long here. Walked round the Fen Trail and on to Patsy's Pool. Pair of Bullfinches were seen just before the Fen Hide, Blackcap, Chiffchaff and Cetti's Warbler all singing. On Patsy's pool, a good selection of birds including Mute Swans, Tufted Ducks, Greylags and plump, fluffy goslings. Also a Muntjac Deer was feeding by the 5-bar gate. Back on the main path by Island Hide I heard a Bittern booming twice. Sedge and Reed Warblers in chorus together along with another Cetti's Warbler. A Reed Bunting called from the west side of the path. Great Crested Grebe on the pool, also west of the path. With the sun setting and light fading fast I walked back to my car. Back in the carpark I had another male Bullfinch feeding in the small apple tree.

Muntjac at Titchwell RSPB.

Greylag Goslings by Patsy's Pool, Titchwell RSPB.

THE SIGHTINGS BOARD AT TITCHWELL RSPB!

Sunset at Titchwell RSPB.

Drove home via Ringstead and saw several Grey Partridges in different fields on route home.

Very frustrating to hear at 8.58pm that a Wood Warbler was singing at Sculthorpe Moor NR at 6pm this evening. I would have gone straight from Holme if I had known. Message on pager says reserve opens at 8am – no good to me, I'm work in the morning – oh well, roll on Monday afternoon!

Good luck to anyone looking for the wood warbler tomorrow.