Sunday, June 8, 2008 - Quail, Grizzled Skipper, and Mother Shipton |
2nd of my three BTO tetrad surveys this morning. This one on the Hampshire Downs in the north west of the county. Had an excellent start when I got to the furthest point of the survey square and was just about to turn round and start the survey: I heard a very short, very distant burst of Quail in between the Skylark songflights. Was very fortunate as the Skylarks could easily have drowned out the call, and once I had turned round to start the survey I'd have never heard it.
So the survey got delayed by half an hour as I continued walking to get closer to the call. Managed to track it down to a field but still fairly distant, and very difficult to pin point where the call was originating from. I've heard people talk about Grasshopper Warblers "throwing their voices" and it being hard to trace the origin, and this was equally tricky.
The highlights of the survey were two Stone Curlews in a pig farm, and better still, 3 birds in a recently ploughed field showing really well. Also a couple of Corn Buntings, Yellowhammers, Linnets, and good numbers of Skylarks. Three Small Blue Butterflies was a surprise too.
After the survey, I headed to Danebury and caught up with Grizzled Skipper at last! This Butterfly has eluded me for the last few years. With their fairly short flight season, and weather dependancy, I struggle to see too many species in a year. I think a butterfly yearlist would be an amazing challenge! Also saw my first Mother Shipton's Moth. Quite a smart Moth despite being named after an old Hag! |
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Diary of wildlife watching in and around North Baddesley, Hampshire.
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