Shenstone Birder: Sunday 13th April 2014

This afternoon I undertook a quick whistle-stop tour of 'the patch'. It was a lovely sunny day and a number of butterflies were active including Green-veined Whites, Peacocks and Small Tortoiseshells. The butterfly highlight though was a stunning ♂ Orange Tip, my first on patch this year.

The day's highlight came in the form of a bird when a Hobby came through over Heath Lane heading WNW. Also of note birdwise were a pair of Swallows that were flying around the stables/paddocks at Stanklyn Lane. Many Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps were also now in and busy singing away. Two Corn Buntings were perched up on the wires at Heath Lane, one of which was in good voice.

Another species of interest today was a Queen Red-tailed Bumblebee that I noted just off Witch Lane. Along Heath Lane there was a fair amount of Shining Cranesbill in bloom

Red-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus lapidaries)