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

Fledgling crow

I took this picture yesterday of what I think must be a fledgling crow. I was attracted first by a noise and saw one of our resident crows seeing a sparrowhawk off the premises. I then noticed this bird which I assume is a fledgling crow although I have never seen a crow with white feathers before. I don't know whether this is just white that will grow out with time or a colour abnormality.

New Species - Sloe Shield Bug

I have seen Shield Bugs before but I don't think I have seen this particular one. It took me a while to identify because it is not the adult but is a nymph and looks significantly different to the adult. I found it resting on the field shelter I was painting and I had to move it as it showed no signs of going under its own steam.

Update on ducklings and moorhen chicks

The three main sets of ducklings that are on the moat this year exhibit quite different parenting styles. The first brood to be born - a set of twelve were given lots of freedom from the off and they spread themselves around the moat foraging far from their mother at an early age. The second brood of ten born a week or so later have been very much under close control. They can be seen swimming in formation behind their mum and keeping close to her at most times. The picture above is of this brood resting on the exposed mud at the side of the moat (it has been very dry this year so far). A third brood of four ducklings is under an even closer regime. They are younger it is true but they are to be found sleeping under the outstretched wings of the mother rather than in a pile beside her. She also takes issue with the older ducklings who might stray too close to her four.

Meanwhile the moorhen chicks are doing OK. There seem to be around five or so spread around the moat. They need a good survival rate this summer to build up the numbers as a good group of moorhens provides entertainment all year round.

And now moorhen chicks

The first moorhen chicks for this year have been born. There are three in the brood and one was right in the centre of the moat - a bit reckless if you ask me. The other two were keeping well hidden in the reeds. Unlike ducklings who immediately start swimmming strongly and feeding, moorhen chicks seem much more helpless in their first few days and are fed by the parents.

Bunch of ducklings

I always enjoy seeing a brood of ducklings in a pile on the lawn - here's a picture from yesterday.

More ducklings

Hatched today I think. There's ten of these which added to the previous brood of twelve makes a running total of 22. The record was I think 52 in 2007 but that would take some beating. In any case twenty odd ducklings is about the most the moat can sustain at any one time. These ten are keeping close to mum whilst the original twelve are whizzing about the moat feeding.