Tuesday 1st April 2014 - Hillditch Pool

Today I decided once again to take advantage of the good weather and head over to Hillditch Pool in my seemingly on-going quest for all things invertebrate.

On arrival at the pool I was soon greeted by 2 stunning ♂ Brimstone butterflies that came chasing past.  The butterflies didn't stop there though as I also recorded 11 Peacock, 6 Small Tortoiseshell and a Comma within the area. 

Peacock on Blackthorn blossom

Other inverts of interest during this visit included a queen Common Carder Bee (busily feeding on the Dandelion flowers) and lots of mating Bloody-nosed Beetles.

Common Carder Bee (Bombus pascuorum)

Bloody-nosed Beetles (Timarcha tenebricosa)

Things were certainly picking up birdwise too with a pair of Blackcaps in the adjacent hedgerow, the ♂ of which was busy singing.  Also of interest was a Willow Warbler that was singing occasionally, my first for the year.

Other birds of interest at the site included 2 Common Buzzards, a ♀ Great Spotted Woodpecker, a Green Woodpecker and a Raven who was busy 'kronking' away.

Around the wooded pool there were many clumps of Marsh Marigold in bloom.

Marsh Marigold (Caltha palustris)