Weekend Sightings

Saturday 30th April - Monday 2nd May 2011

A good morning today on the high tide at Fretherne, making up for missing a Skua yesterday - my own fault for sleeping-in; although a Kingfisher on Court Lake was a year tick for this apparent rarity. Back to this morning, migration is in full swing on the river with loads of waders looking fantastic in the sun, including 300+ Bar-tailed Godwits (below), c50 Knot, plus Grey Plover, Sanderlings, Turnstones and Greenshanks; after it had dislodged the waders from the mud, the tide then produced a number of good birds, with Black Terns, Artic Terns, Common Terns and a Kittiwake, also at least one Merlin - the full haul is on the Gloster Birder - thanks guys as ever for the entertaining banter!
On Saturday I made a butterfly excursion to the Bill Smyllie reserve at Prestbury Hill, with 10+ Duke of Burgundy (next three photos), three Green Hairstreaks (bottom), two Small Blues (top photo, mating) and two Small Heaths being the highlights.



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