Hi

Today was spent in the north of the county in an effort to see some butterflies and other wildlife in addition to birds.  Seven species of raptor was a real treat but for much of the day birds took something of a back seat in the very welcome if brief sunshine.

Our first venue was Fineshade Wood and thanks to Chris Andrews we managed to see Great Butterfly, Pyramidal and Common Spotted Orchid.  Butterflies were rather scarce but at least three Silver-washed Fritillaries showed well. Three sunning Common Lizards were located on log piles.  A couple of Siskins were mobile and a few Crossbills were heard calling at one stage.  Spotted Flycatchers were present behind the caravan park.

Silver-washed Fritillary

Fermyn Wood was our next venue in an effort to see Purple Emperor et al.  Butterflies were in very short supply and we wandered on to Lady Wood.  Eventually we managed to see a few White Admirals and a single Purple Hairstreak but they stayed mostly high in the canopy or mobile.  A single Purple Emperor was seen by many in Lady Wood but we managed to miss it!  Other insects included Hornet, Southern Hawker and Brown Hawker.  Birds in this area included a Raven, several Siskins and a family party of Spotted Flycatchers.  A couple of Grass Snakes were basking in secluded areas between the Country Park and Fermyn Wood itself.

However on our way back a freshly-emerged Purple Emperor was located in Fermyn Wood and it showed well to many visitors.

A scan at Blatherwycke Lake provided a Kingfisher, a Little Egret, a Common Sandpiper, a Grey Wagtail and a gathering of over 200 Lapwings.

Regards

N & E