Hobby today

While looking for silver studded blue, I saw my first hobby of the year at old lodge.

No ssb though.  Lots of grass, gatekeepers and meadow Brown's.

Martin

Young cuckoo

Keith now reckons that a bird he saw on Tuesday last week was a young cuckoo

The adults will have flown but the young will still be around

There has been thoughts that it could have been a nightjar

I don't recall seeing any young before, and the obvious question would what the host species might be.  There are rarely any meadow pipits. Dunnocks or tree pipits would be my guess, though as we know redstart possible.

Martin

Occasional notes

Yellowhammers are only occasional birds on the reserve.

This year I have seen one looking territorial just above chestnut choose above the crossroads, and another singing near the tree on south heath

Not sure what they need to be more successful.

They seem to roost on the Ashdown forest, but not too keen to breed.  Do they need grain crops?

Plant some barley and oats on the cricket field?

Martin

Occasional jottings

Nice weather for a change today.

A party of young woodlark near the roller stand was the highlight.  There were at least 9 and maybe more. Parents have been busy, and maybe are having another brood before summer is over

Found some flowers of dodder along the road in the usual place

Quite a lot of meadow Brown's, but few other species

Martin