Starlings

Lade  - warm, dry, sunny, sw 2 - Throughout the past week scores of Starling families have descended upon the garden to plunder the fat balls, feed their young and use the bird bath, which has to be filled up several times in the day as the juvs splash about in the water. At least two have fallen to Sparrowhawk attack with more being rescued from the clutches of Mrs PT`s cat, Ginger Jim.
I must admit to having a soft spot for the Starling; a common bird I know, but over recent days they`ve given us great entertainment, and the adults are real smart birds in the sunshine.

                                Starlings, Plovers garden

                                Ginger Jim
                  

Walland Marsh - A walk out from the Woolpack end along the bund to the second double bend delivered the expected host of wetland birds, including several pairs of Yellow Wagtails, Marsh Harriers, Lapwings and a Reed Warbler with a highly variable song bordering on a Marsh Warbler. Several painted lady butterflies were on the wing, plus my first common blue of the summer.

                                Southern marsh orchid, ARC

ARC - Pretty quiet here with just a few Hobbys over Tower Pits and the first southern marsh orchids in flower. Couldn`t find yesterdays Spotted Flycatchers, despite searching down to the pines and along the railway track where two Red-legged Partridges were flushed. 
A Spoonbill was present out back at Scotney first thing (CP).