Butterflies and Peregrines

Dengemarsh  0900hrs - warm, dry and sunny, sw 2 - We spent the morning at Dengemarsh in balmy spring-like weather with a warm airflow coming all the way from the Azores, apparently. Walked the gully where a pair of Peregrines showed well, calling to each other, atop pylons and a Kingfisher flashed up and down the sewer. Overhead a steady passage of Mipits, Goldfinches and Skylarks, plus 20 coasting Swallows, while in the scrub a scattering of Robins, Dunnocks, Great Tits, 10 Reed Buntings, four Song Thrushes, three Chiffchaffs and a Ring Ouzel.
More Swallows drifted over as we grilled a large mixed flock of some 200 Mipits, Reed Buntings and Linnets in the arable field by Springfield Bridge. Checked the hayfields and flood noting only Bearded Tits along the way. Two Great White Egrets flew over Hookers and the obligatory Marsh Harriers, Kestrels and a Sparrowhawk were in action.
Most noteworthy through the morning was the number of Red Admiral butterflies on the move with a steady southward stream heading towards the sea, plus several Clouded Yellows and a Common Blue at the bottom of the gully.
We rattled up 106 species during the week with the highlights for the guests being a trio of egrets, Woodlark, Yellow-browed Warbler and the Ring Ouzels.

                                Meadow Pipits, Dengemarsh Flood

                                Peregrine, Dengemarsh Gully