Sunday 19th June 2011 - Shenstone

Today I popped back to Butts Lane with TS to listen too, and hopefully record, the Quail singing. 

After about 10 minutes the Quail started singing and continued to do so every few minutes whilst we were stood there.  I tried to record the bird but the wind was that strong it was really buffeting the mic.  I have uploaded a sound clip in this post which I have cleaned up the best that I can using Audacity
 
After enjoying the aural delights of the Quail we undertook an isect walk along Butts Lane.  During the walk we saw a variety of butterflies including the first 2 Ringlets of the year.   Also recorded were 4 Meadow Browns, 4 Large Skippers, 6 Small Whites, 1 Small Tortoiseshell and a Speckled Wood.  2 Six-spot Burnett, 1 Narrow-boredered Five-spot Burnett and 4 Cinnabar Moths were seen.  2 Cinnabar Moth Larvae were also recorded.  Other insects present included 1 ♂ Broad-bodied Chaser, 2 Blue-tailed Damselflies and a Black Soldier Fly. 

As we were walking back we could hear the Quail calling from quite close by.  It must have moved across the field as we were undertaking the butterfly walk.  I headed back there and it called again just a few metres away.  I started setting up my sound recorder on a fence post with the intetion of finally getting a good recording.  I dint, instead the bird flew up from about 3-4 metres away and flew low over the cereal before dropping down in the middle of the field and continuing to sing. This is the first Quail I have actually seen (I have heard a fair few!)...it is a curious bird in flight - a small dumpy bird with down turned wings flapping frantically...its cryptic plumage reminiscint of a Common Snipe.  What a bird...what a day!

Anyway..here is the sound recording...you may need to turn up the speakers.

Quail - Shenstone, 19th June 2011 by Shenstone Birder

Ringlet

Large Skipper 

Six-spot Burnett Moth

Cinnabar Moth Larvae