More butterflies out

The sunshine today brought out three species for the first time this year - Large Whites, Speckled Woods and a Holly Blue (pictured). Previously I have seen Small Tortoiseshells and Orange Tips. Orange Tips are more numerous this year which may in part be due to the increasing numbers of Cuckoo Flower here. As ever just a little helpful management can lead to significant increases in numbers of a particular species. It would be good to have a proper butterfly season this year- the last two years have not been good.

Badger - on camera at last

I have been trying to capture badgers on camera for a while. I have seen a badger once running across the field and found a carcass a couple of years ago but was never sure whether some of the diggings were badgers or not. Last time I put a trail camera down by some diggings a fox appeared on camera. This time however the diggings were extensive and I was pretty sure it was badgers. A trail camera captured this badger on successive nights at the site of the crime.

Spring Sedge

Definitely on the increase here is the delightful Spring Sedge. One of many unimproved grassland species that has declined nationally in the last 50+ years along with the decline in unimproved grassland.

Deer back

There seem to be a couple of Fallow Deer hanging round or at least visiting daily based on sightings and spraint. Today I got some photos but they did manage to eat a globe artichoke I had planted an hour previously. They seem to be very catholic in their eating - at times just grazing on the sward but also browsing various shrubs and trees and even leaves from branches I have cut down and left in piles (and globe artichokes).

Goshawk - in one of our trees

I have seen very occasionally what I thought must be a peregrine flying over our fields. Yesterday I saw one much lower and then watched it settle high up in a Beech tree. That gave the opportunity to get a good look at it (and take a quick snap) and confirm that it was indeed not a peregrine but a female Goshawk. I guess it might be a bit too developed for it to nest hereabouts but we do have plenty of pigeons for it to eat....