After failing to catch up with a singing Quail a couple of weeks ago (it shut up about half an hour before I could get there), it was great to get a call from Nick that he had found another. After a dash up to Steep Down, 40 minutes later I could just hear a Quail singing its “wet my lips” call, just audible over my gasping for breath. Number 158 on the walking bird list for the year. Despite following the call and getting to within a few feet of it, it wasn’t going to let us see it.
Today we walked to the Dover via Cissbury Ring and Clapham Woods. The birdlife was as quiet as expected, but the main target was butterflies. We saw 20 species, including 2 Fritillary species and our first White Admirals of the year.
Not rare, but this Nutmeg shows its camouflage.
Karen goes for camouflage in the poppy field. (The Quail is in the green field behind.)
Grumpy!
Junior has a rest between flying lessons.
Dark Green Fritillary
Ringlet
White Admiral
Silver-washed Fritillary
She likes walking through corn fields and would make a hopeless prime minister…