Sparrowhawks

I like sparrowhawks as much as the next man but I resented the presence of a family of sparrowhawks which hung around for a couple of weeks. The main problem was that they were predating moorhens which had just built their numbers up after last winter's 'fox on the ice' incident. All the normal songbirds just made themselves scarce once the fledgling sparrowhawks and their industrious parent set themselves up in the trees around the moat but the moorhens had to stay. The sparrowhawks were also predating other birds but I know they took at least five moorhens. The adult sparrowhawk would return from a hunting trip, prey in its talons and would call out the young who would fly out from the trees. In an aerial ballet the adult would then hover and release the prey for the youngster to catch it in mid air. Pretty impressive stuff except for the thought that the prey might be a moorhen. I probably should have been taking award winning photographs of their activity but instead I just climbed trees and made noise to try and frighten them away. It didn't work but having been away for a few days I finds that peace has broken out and the sparrowhawks seem to have moved on.

Butterflies

Definitely not as numerous as last year but I am encouraged by the recent positive ID of an Essex Skipper. Whereas I saw 16 species in one day at the end of July last year I have probably seen 10 or so species in the few days over the end of July and beginning of August. They include Large White, Common Blue (pictured), Small Copper, Comma, Peacock, Essex Skipper, Brown Argus, Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper and Red Admiral.

New Species - Essex Skipper

It is always a red-letter day for me to confirm a new butterfly species. The identification of the Essex Skipper makes it 21 species now for the site and makes up somewhat for the at best average season overall for butterflies this year.

I have suspected we have had the Essex Skipper but until now I have not got the photograph to prove it, showing the underside of the antennae. The Essex Skipper is very similar to the Small Skipper but has black undersides to the tip of the antennae.

QED