May 4th 2011

The wind had died for awhile in the night producing Cabbage Moth and Heart and Dart but also sub zero temperatures at first light with a moderate south east wind which accounted for 14 Swift flying north over the garden.
Bob managed to hobble to farborough spit, Draycote Water but all we could find in the hour we were there were 7 Black Tern, 4 Common Tern, adult Little Gull, Ringed Plover, 300 Swift, 4 Wheatear, 4 Buzzard, 200 Swallow and 100 House Martin.
Rest of day checking on butterflies in the more warmer sheltered areas of the valley finding Dingy Skipper 2, Grizzled Skipper 10, Common Blue 8, Small Copper, Green Hairstreak, Comma 8, Red Admiral 2, Brimstone 8, Speckled Wood 11, Green-Veined White 3, Large White 7, Orange-tip 7.

Broad-bodied Chaser by Bob Hazell

Also seen were Small Yellow Underwing, Pyrausta aurata, 4 Cinnabar, Broad-bodied Chaser and White-legged Damselfly plus numbers of Whitethroat, a showy Garden Warbler and a Chiffchaff that had added a few descending chaff notes towards the end of its song.

Richard