A walk out to the Lees this afternoon found the farmland on the way out quite barren. Some of the so called “conservation strips” had been mown and were pretty lifeless. Any wild flowers gone, no butterflies and no bees. Still can’t figure out why some local farms do this?
Beyond the Lees things were a little different as the habitat became a little more diverse with the woodland, long ditch and the reedy ditch.
A couple of Sedge Warbler and a single Reed Warbler noted carrying food, so presumably still have young in the nest.
A Grey Heron nearby and couple of Reed Bunting, Yellowhammer and Skylark seen along with Jay, Blackcap and Common Whitethroat.
A few dragonfly along the long ditch and a lot of butterflies and bees around an area of mainly Common Vetch and a few other flowers.
Dragonflies: Banded Demoiselle, Common Blue Damselfly, Azure Damselfly, Emperor Dragonfly and Common Darter (1st of the year).
Butterflies: Small Skipper, Essex Skipper, Large Skipper, Red Admiral, Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock, Comma, Speckled Wood, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown and Ringlet.
Skylark
Essex Skipper (though I may be wrong)
Small Tortoiseshell
Banded Demoiselle
Azure Damselfly
Jay
Ringlets
