Sunday 14th. April 2013

A catch up on two morning visits up on the Common this weekend . The juvenile Common Buzzard is still in the horse field , but yesterday morning it was down the bottom of the field and the local

Corvids , especially the nesting Rooks were dive-bombing it non stop . Eventually , it got the message and retreated back up to the top of the field . Arriving at the heathland area of the Common ,

the mobile Chiffchaff was still calling , but I did manage the odd distant shot . I'm sure there was a female about too , but she kept low in the Gorse , contact calling back to the male . Whilst watching

the two of them , a low fast moving bird turned out to be my first Swallow of the Summer . I just about managed to focus on the bird before it was out of sight . At the Long Tailed Tit nest , the

building work finished , the pair were busy 'soft furnishings' , to make their nest as warm and comfortable as possible .
A sunnier but windy visit this morning , found three Common Buzzards , low over the heathland area . As I watched them , one broke off from the other two and cruised quite close to where I was

standing , allowing me to get a good sequence of in flight shots . But as soon as it realised that I was there , it veered off and quickly gained height , but it was enjoyable while it lasted . Also seen on the

visit was a male Brimstone and this Comma , looking a bit tatty , but after the Winter we've just had , it's a miracle that anything can survive . Several Buff-tailed Bumble Bees were also on the wing , and

a Seven Spot Ladybird was found warming up on the Gorse . Back home in the garden , things were

definitely friendly in the pond , and whilst I was barbecuing this afternoon , a male and female Brimstone were chasing around the garden .