Silver-washed fritillaries were back and easy to see in their usual spots along Coombe Lane today. There were two beside the road where the powerlines cut across the valley, and two a little further along where there is another decent clump of brambles. Restless, but not too shy, one or two fed happily on the briers while we gawped.
The woodland along this stretch of the valley is looking better each year, thanks to the efforts of local conservationists. Foxgloves everywhere, lots of dappled shade – attractive enough to a doe Roe Deer and her kid, which were seen twice along the woodland edge at close range, and then skipping through a horse paddock (which the horse didn’t seem too happy about).
Considering it’s July, the presence of birds was exceptional too.
Highlight was a family group of at least six Marsh Tits, including some wonderfully fluffy youngsters, crowding together on branches and calling frenetically to one another. More were heard in a separate location, making a total of 8+.
A male Bullfinch posed helpfully beside the road, before disappearing into the trees with a female, and a Grey Wagtail flew through (good to record one again in summer).
Goldcrests ‘weedled’ away in several places, with Nuthatch, Great Spotted & Green Woodpecker heard too. A Linnet overhead was fairly unusual – I don’t see these often in the village. Buzzard, Blackcap and Chiffchaff were more expected.
Interesting too to notice tiny Toads on the move – once we had chanced across one in the leaf-litter beside the road, we kept seeing more. Makes you wonder how many hundreds – thousands? – are moving from their birthing ponds into the valley.
Image credit: Silver-washed Fritillary by Flickr user andre wind
