karen's country calendar

 It was still sunny at 3pm so decided it might be a good opportunity to pop over to Fen Drayton in  the hope of seeing a Starling Mumuration as I had heard there had been a few aerial displays recently. The reserve was busy, mostly with walkers and families rather than bird watchers I think so I parked my car and waited. Within 10 minutes a small flock of starlings flew over my head , then another and after a short wait I noticed a black shape moving around in the distance.  I was hopeful I wouldnt be disappointed and as I watched, the group got bigger and was soon swirling around the sky. More flocks of starlings flew in and joined in and at one time I saw three separate murmurations at the same time which then amalgamated in to one. The display lasted around 20 minutes and although the sky had clouded over a bit and the shapes werent as spectacular as sometimes, I left, satisfied that I had made the effort to visit.   

 When I heard Richard had a survey just a few miles from Frampton Marsh nature reserve I couldnt miss the opportunity to get a lift there to get  my wader  sightings up whilst he undertook his survey. On arrival everything was shut up which I was expecting as they dont open until 10am and I arrived just after 9am. However, there were quite a few cars in the car park already and I could see people in the distance silhouetted at the top of the sea wall.  I soon met someone walking back and on asking  whether there was anything  exciting to see, he mentioned the presence of a Pacific plover.  "Where?" I asked and my heart sunk when he said it was the other side of the sea wall, since I hadnt planned to walk that far but decided it would be silly to miss the opportunity of a rare sighting and tick for my list.  When I got to the bank there were several birders there with their scopes and they soon showed me where they had seen it and when it appeared in view, I was offered a look

 With a hot sunny day forecast we set off  to visit RSPB Bempton Cliffs in Yorkshire.   We took advice and arrived before 10am but were directed to the overflow carpark as the main carpark was already full (and had been since 7am, due to the presence of the black browed albatross which had been seen in the area recently) The eight or so viewing platforms are spaced out along the cliff top with the visitor centre between them so we went right to start with as that was where the albatross was usually seen.  There were hoardes of photographers with their long lenses, telescopes and tripods set up everywhere but people were keen to tell us that the albatross was indeed present, sitting comfortably amongst the gannets on the cliffs.  It was hard to find it without binoculars but just noticeable by his obvious black back.   I found people were kind enough to move out of the way when they saw I was using crutches!  We then made our way back the other way and from the viewing platforms saw gui

 Having heard that silver washed fritillaries and white admirals were on the wing I took the first opportunity to visit Brampton Wood where they had been seen.  I soon came across a couple of ladies armed with cameras pointing towards some brambles.  I asked whether they had found a white admiral and indeed they had but it had disappeared into the vegetation.. However they told me where else to find them and also swf's  I soon came across both but the white admiral was only a fleeting sight.  I wandered around for a while and saw a good number of swf, ringlets, meadow browns and large skippers and then decided to  make my way back to the car.  I then saw the same couple staring at another bramble patch and this time the white admiral butterfly was clearly visible and then flew down onto the ground where it posed nicely. So another few for my list!  silver washed fritillary white admiral ringlet

 With the promise of a warm sunny morning I made the 30 minute drive down to Therfield Heath to find Marbled whites which are flying at the moment,  I also hoped I might see Dark Green Fritillaries. Once parked, it didnt take me long to find some marbled white butterflies although they were reluctant to settle at first but I then found several nectaring.   I also saw many small heaths and meadow browns  a couple of large skippers and then two or three Dark green fritillaries but none were keen to settle so hopefully I can find them again another time when the chalkhill blues  are on the wing there. There were plenty of skylarks singing and flying overhead and then descending into the long meadow grass.   Marbled white    Underside  of marbled white   Marbled white   Meadow brown Meadow brown Small heath Skylark Skylark Large skipper View over heathland