nesting . And that was what was on the mind of this Great Tit I found on a path , collecting dogs hairs , no doubt to line it's nest . Along the sheltered hedgerows , large number of St.Mark's Fly-
Bibionidae marci , were swarming . They are the ones you see at this time of year , flying with their legs trailing below them . So called , because they appear round about St.Mark's day , April 25th. , and if you wondered what they did when they are not feeding on Wayfarer flowers , 
They're making more St.Mark's Flies . I am still searching for my first sighting of the Spotted Bee Fly , but every one I examine turns out to be Bombylius major , the common one , here seen
feeding on Bugle . Another insect found on the same bush was this Hawthorn Shield Bug-
Acanthosoma haemorrhoidale , perhaps it hasn't learnt to identify Hawthorn yet . Now is a good time to check out if there are any Wych Elms around , as at this time of year , they tend to drop 
large quantities of their leaves and seeds , forming a carpet beneath the tree . Well worth a look later in the year for White Letter Hairstreak butterflies , which use them as their food plant , especially since the demise of the English Elm from Dutch Elm Disease . The Wych Elm has not been so badly affected as it tends to grow in woodland , surrounded by other trees , but the English Elm tended to grow on it's own outside woodland , and was thus more susceptible to the disease . Also along a path , I found a Lords and Ladies-Arum maculatum plant that had been munched , probably by slugs , but it shows the fruit which will be orange/red later , but now cream , right at the base
of the plant , requiring insects to pass right down the throat of the flower , in order to pollinate the female flowers . The top of the spadix , which attracts the insects has also been eaten away . The first Bird's Foot Trefoil , also know as Bacon and Eggs , has come into flower , so Summer 
can't be that far away , can it ? After looking again for signs of Bird's Nest Orchid and finding nothing , the biggest surprise of the afternoon was finding my first Fly Orchid-Ophrys insectifera
of the year , just by the side of the path on the Orchid Bank . I have never managed to photograph it 
myself , but male insects really think it is a female , and attempt to mate with it .
myself , but male insects really think it is a female , and attempt to mate with it .
interspersed with two Tree Pipits , my first of the year . Blackcap ( pictured ) and Chiffchaff joined in , and in the distance a Cuckoo . It gradually worked it's way towards me and I was ready with the camera , but then it went off in another direction . Other birds seen/heard included Coal , Blue and Great Tit , Bullfinch and Chaffinch ,Wren , Robin , Pheasant , Song Thrush , Nuthatch , Jay , Carrion Crow , Sparrowhawk , Swallow and Pheasant . On previous year's visits , I have been treated to views and song of Dartford Warbler , but it wasn't to be today .
-Cicindela campestris , scuttling around on the open areas , and flying off as soon as I got too close . By 1130 , and with no sightings of Sand Lizard , I changed my attention to the rare 
Smooth Snake . I was luckier with this species , finding one after about half an hour of looking . As can be seen from this shot , it does not have the zig-zag back pattern of the Afdder , or the yellow collar of the Grass Snake . It is also a smaller animal than either of the other two snakes .
pupil of the Adder . He stayed posing for so long , then made his way off . I found two Smooth Snakes and whilst looking , came across two female Adders , this being one of them .
Geotropes stercorarius , making several unsuccessful attempts to take off from the Heather . Eventually , after a long struggle , it made it into the air , and I was lucky enough to capture that 
moment , as the wing covers were lifted and the wings deployed . All over the site Billberry is finishing flowering , and the small fruits are starting to form .
I mentioned the other day that I recorded good numbers of Brimstone butterflies at Salt Box 
Hill , but this site was incredible for the species . I only walked a small part , but would estimate seeing 50+ Brimstones , and not a surprise really , as I passed a small copse that was made up completely of Buckthorn , their food plant . I can honestly say , I have never seen so much Buckthorn in one place . Other species seen were , Orange Tip (2) , Large White (2) , Peacock (3) and Speckled Wood (2) .
turned out to be a Roe Buck getting up onto it's feet . It could well have been the same one , but I couldn't be positive . As I made my way back to the car , I found this on the ground .
a Crab Spider , sitting , waiting for an insect to come and feed on the Bugle , so it could feed on the said insect . But with the conditions , I think it was going to have to wait for it's meal . These spiders come in a variety of colours , and some have contrasing dots on their abdomen . A bit further along the path I found the first of the Early Purple Orchids , a very robust plant 
compared to most that I have seen . This one must have stood about 25cms. high and the spotted leaves were really leathery . All were the usual colour , except one , being of the pink 
variation , which is reasonably common , none being the deep purple / violet , like the ones Warren found on his patch . Also on the edge of the woods , Wood Spurge , a member of the 
Euphorbia family , is in full flower . As I got half way along the site , Otford , sitting in the dip , 
was getting the first of many showers passing through , only a mater of time till one gets me I thought . As I got towards the far end of the site , I started turning tins , but with the conditions , did not expect to find much . Sure enough , just the 17 Slow Worms were found in odd ones and twos , mostly under felt , which tends to retain it's heat longer than the corrugated sheet . The 
wetter conditions suited the large Roman Snails which are abundant on the site , and lots were seen out feeding . I passed by the plant that Steve/Kingsdowner and I looked at when he visited the site , and as it was not yet in flower , I changed my mind twice on it's identification from the 
leaves . My final thought was Sainfoin , and today the flower heads were showing , and a tinge of pink from the flower spike confirmed my thoughts . Soon after , the threatened shower arrived , and I was still some distance from the car . The very last pair of refugia , produced the only 
Adder of the day , a good sized female under the corrugated sheet . Also noticed today was that
the Ash has started to burst bud into leaf . No butterflies were recorded today , in fact , come to think of it , with the exception of the Crab Spider , I do not remember seeing any othe insects . Birds did better with singing males including Yellowhammer , Common Whitethroat , Chiffchaff , Blackcap , Blackbird , Song Thrush , Wren and Woodpigeon , all trying to attract a partner or letting others know that this was their patch , on what was turning into a miserable afternoon . About the only ones not bothered were these two 
lambs , just worried about their next meal . Rather bedraggled , I reached the car and the dry .
short while , battle damage is already visible , either combat with another male or a bird strike . This shot does give the chance to see the colour of the topside of the wing , a mid brown , not usually seen , as they always land and close their wings immediately . Although I did not see a pair together , they obviously have been , because already , females are egg laying on the 
favoured food plant , Bird's Foot Trefoil . Once again , when the eating machine hatches , the supermarket door is wide open in front if it . The single Dingy Skipper that I found last visit is no longer alone , as I recorded 8 in total , including a couple of females .
Kent , but , when I chased it down , it turned out to be a male Holly Blue . My attention was drawn to a whitish butterfly , flying around what I thought to be a dead tree , but on closer 
inspection , it turned out to be a female Brimstone , egg laying . Being higher there than on the Common , the Buckthorn trees are only just bursting bud . Strange , because I was talking to one of the Rangers on my last visit about the possibility of planting a few Buckthorn trees for the Brimstones , no need now . Still very little flower colour , but the Wild Strawberry is doing it's 
best to cheer things up . Also , just starting to flower is the Salad Burnett . Eventually , the whole
shot of female Large White of the year . She is the largest of the white butterflies that we see .
the name of Pyrausta purpualis . By the time I left , it was getting very warm and sightings were dropping off . I watched one male Brimstone , fly slowly along a fenceline , then disappear from 
sight . When I looked , he was suspended under a leaf , using it as a parasol .
and this specimen was no different , before the camera could focus , it was off . In the same area , I posted the first Bluebell in flower this year , now every plant is in flower , producing a raft of 
colour . In amongst the Bluebells , Red Campion is also coming in to flower .
upper wing . By the side of one of the lakes , a pair of Grey Lag Geese were very protective of 
their six offspring , keep a good distance from the camera . Also close to the lake was another
stand of white Cuckoo Flower or Ladies Smock , normally lilac in colour .
better than last year's young , none of which survived . Talking youngsters , we had the first youngsters under the feeders this morning , two speckled breasted Robins , being fed by their parents . They did not nest in our garden , but chose two doors down , but used our feeders constantly .
survived all that has been thrown at it , and , hopefully , it will emerge into one of the adult butterflies that I hope to photograph there , this Summer . The egg is the small sea urchin shaped spot in the middle of the frame , between two buds .
