Butterflies at Tottenhoe

Back to my more local area for now and a couple of nice visits to Tottenhoe Quarry over the last 2 weeks got me a bit of sun and a single sighting of a Duke of Burgundy along with quite a few other friends with the highland being the Small Blue out in good number including a mating pair, Green Hairstreak, Small Heath, Common Blue, Dingy Skippers and a nice selection of White Butteries some posing quite well. Also heard Turtle Dove which is so rare nowdays but sadly could't see it but heard it in the Quarryfor the 2nd year running which is promising.

Greenhairstreak

Dingy Skipper

Small blues

Green-veined White

Small White

Early Start

Headed back to Loch Garten for a early start for the Capercaille though even at this time before the centre was open at Crested Tit, Chaffinches and Siskins at the feeding station. Then as it opened up it started to snow despite the beautiful sunrise. From the centre had a good view of one male Capercaille though not very active all the action seemed to be on the Osprey nest with another male coming to the nest with the female fending him off. Then headed down to nearby Talloch Moor but no sign of any Black Grouse but a Pair of Goldeneye on the nearby water though not surprisng has late in the season but had a lovely drive on the mountain roads with some cracking mountain views on the way back for breakfast.

Hovering Osprey

Loch Garten at Dawn

After Breakfast headed to Carrbridge where we had a nice walk down by the river and through the forest with views of the Iconic Bridge

Carrbridge

Male Siskin in the woods

In the afternoon a nice but a nice longish walk around Loch en Eilein ending up at the castle with the hHighlights being my first Tree Pipits of the years, good number of breeding Goldeneye out on the Loch and the singing Willows Warblers and Chaffinches filling the woodland with song around the edge.

Loch en Eilein

Chaffinch in the woodland

Loch Garten

After the late night the night before not the early start but headed down to Loch Garten which was a tad nippy really would't have believed it was may. At the centre had a Willow Tit in the Carpark always a great species to see then at the main centre the Female Osprey was doing the sensible thing and laying low on the nest occasional showering her head but around the feeder lot more intrest with lots of Siskins in full plumage, a Red Squirrel happy feeding on the nuts and a hoard of Coal tits with  the more usual birds . Just as we were about to head back to woods a Crested Tit appeared around the feeder at first high before it came down and showed reasonable well though quite flirty. Then headed out into the main woods to see what else was lurking with the highlight been a Goldeneye out in the Loch.

Crested Tit the best of some unatural perches

Red Squirrel

Up with the scottish mammals

A two week hoilday up in the highlands of scotland started after a long drive with a evening visit to the speyside mammal watch a real treat this was though the badgers were later that normal to come out due to the sunny evening enjoyable watching the wood mice raid the food and the running away quickly and also a herd of Red Deer first of many. Then had great views of the Scottish Badgers feeding feet away and were lucky enough to have a Pine Marten visit thoughly briefly which was a good enough end to the evening.

Cheeky Wood Mouse

First of the badgers

Pine Marten

Orange-tip Butterfly

Even though today i was meant to be packing for the scottish trip managed to get out early morning while there was some sun out but with some wind to it today headed to Bricket Wood Common to see if I could find a Orange-tip Butterfly to allow me some close up image even though i only found one today seemed too cold for much flight even when the sun was out it was nice to finally be able to get up close with this female Orange-tip.

Bank hoilday monday

Despite working later in the day a great sunny morning at Heartwood Forest for my butterfly transect produced a nice Whitethroat showing well at the start which is very unusal for me. Only new butterfly of the year was a Holy Blue at the start but still good numbers of Orange-tips around though the peacocks seemed to have passed their peak now. Around the Site The Bluebells are starting to come out and lots of Blackcaps and Skylarks singing away and also finally managed to find the Corn Bunting on site which is a good sighting in the district.

 

My annual Nightingale fix

Earlier in the week headed to Paxton Pits in Cambridgeshire for my annual visit really love these birds. Day started out well with a Garden Warbler and a Nightingale briefly showing at the shrubland at the start of the heron trail.  Further round had lots of Blackcaps and Whitethroats in full song  before the unmistaken sound of the Nightingale drowning them out in the usual haunt of the Kingfisher hide where there was also a Red Crested Pochard on the water and a few Common Terns. Walking the loop had a few of the garden birds just feeding, lots more warblers sinfing a buzzard getting mobbed by a crow family and quite a few butterlies now around with good numbers of Orange-tips and Peacocks and my Holy Blue for the year.

Singing Nightingale

Blackcap hiding very well

Blue tit high up in the trees

Buzzard getting mobbed