May 30th 2015

Birds being somewhat thin in the air and on the ground I had decided several days earlier that my next trip would be the first of the year to Chambers Farm Wood near Bardney, Lincolnshire. In particular I hoped to see my first ever marsh fritillaries.

En route I called at Alkborough Flats hoping for a bearded tit. No chance! Saw some skylarks singing from dead plant stems.

Skylark

Co-operative sort of butterfly the marsh frit: doesn't fly about like a lunatic! Likes to pose on a leaf or spend an hour or so locked together with its mate. Here they are. Roughly 5 different specimens in the photos.

Marsh Fritillary

Marsh Fritillary Marsh Fritillary Marsh Fritillary Marsh Fritillary Marsh Fritillary Marsh Fritillary Marsh Fritillary

Back at the car park after a fairly long walk I suddenly realised a buzzard was drifting past overhead.

Buzzard Buzzard With a little time to spare I called at Adwick [part of the RSPB Dearne Valley complex] and went along the river bank where I had seen a banded demoiselle the previous year. They are still there.

Banded Demoiselle Banded Demoiselle

Saw a nice cluster of both corn buntings and grey partridge [225 2015] at Hale yesterday but failed to see the resident corncrake...

...oh well, there'll be others maybe!