Sweet Raptors

I went up to Wykeham on Sunday morning for some Raptor watching, despite it being ideal conditions it was rather slow going, a couple of juv Goshawks showed early on and there were plenty of common Buzzard and Kestrel sightings, a Honey Buzzard eventually put in an appearance mid morning although it was fairly distant, it was on show for 10-15 mins or more, even did a bit of wing clapping, also of interest a Turtle Dove flew through and there were a few Crossbills about. Early afternoon I dropped down to my other site down in the valley but I only added Sparrowhawk and a couple more common Buzzards, I then took a steady drive back through Troutsdale, Spotted Flycatcher and Grey Wagtail at Hilla Green were about the best of it. I ended up at Fen Bog late afternoon but it had clouded over a bit so the hoped for Butterfly session didn’t happen, there were a handful kicking about though including a couple of Small Pearl Bordered Fritillaries and also a Golden Ringed Dragonfly zipping around.

a "small" number of Butterflies at Fen Bog, Small Heath

Small Skipper

and Small Pearl Bordered Fritillary

Fen Bog