Birds, butterflies and flowers

I have seen some newly arrived summer migrant birds in the last few days such as Whitethroats, which I have found at three different sites for within ten minutes or so from the centre of Combe. I could be wrong, but this seems to be more than in previous years.

This one looks like he/she has some nest building material in its beak so they are wasting no time in setting up home.

I have also heard a garden warbler singing in its rather breathless way near Sticklepath, but try as I might, I couldn't get a picture as it seemed to be skulking in the centre of a bush! I did record its song but it is a video which is too big to upload!

Speckled wood butterflies are beginning to appear now, as are holly blue butterflies, but apologies for the photos, they don't stay still for long, like many of  the other species I've already mentioned in earlier posts.

A flower that doesn't seem to thrive in many places around the village area is the White Campion, so I was pleased to see this patch along the main road at the top of Stantway. This is not a route I would usually walk but the current lack of traffic makes it quite possible without the usual fear of being run down!









One flower that is in abundance at the moment though is Ramsons. The flowers are really pretty, but don't be tempted to pick them for a floral arrangement or you will find the house reeks, as this is of course wild garlic!

The last flower I will mention today is Yellow Flag which is now in bloom in the Underway Meade pond. It is just a small patch but a welcome sight anyway.