Last week had very mixed weather. Easter Sunday was sunny and warm (a hint that summer isn’t far away) replaced by snow showers and frost on Monday and Tuesday; eventually cold days with occasional sunny spells remained.
I took advantage of the glorious weather last Sunday and went for a walk around my local woodland park. More Brimstone (Gonepteryx rhamni) butterflies were flitting about, along with one Comma (Polygonia c-album) and several Peacock (Aglais io) butterflies too.
Blackthorn was still blossoming in earnest, attracting these butterflies as well as bees and hoverflies.
Pollinators weren’t the only wildlife noticeable; lots of Squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis) were running between and up the surrounding trees while birds were singing.
I even noticed a couple of Blackcaps (Sylvi atricapilla). I’m not sure if these birds are resident to the woodland or migrated from Europe or northern Africa. Since the 1960’s records of these Warblers remaining in the UK all year round exhist and since then numbers have increased. Those not living the UK full time visit from April or May and remain until September or October.
It is the first time I have ever seen Blackcaps (presumably a pair given how they were interacting with each other).
As they were so high up in the tree, completely unaware I was watching from below, I was unable to actually see their caps (males have black caps while females have a chestnut colouration to the top of their head) however I was able to identify them from their bird song. An example of this can be heard on the RSPB website.
This wasn’t the only amazing experience I had with a bird last week. On the following Tuesday I was privileged to witness a Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes) flying around me as I worked, singing as it did so. At one point it landed on a shrub within a few feet from me; I remained as still as I possibly could, watching this amazing spectacle. Usually remaining near cover Wrens are usually heard but not seen so this was lovely to see; plus I managed to obtain footage.
Bee in the Moment 