Saturday 4th June 2016

A damp grey and very misty day, with brief sunny interlude which prompted the appearance of several butterfly species including Painted Lady, Green Hairstreak and Brown Argus. Birds of note included a reeling Grasshopper Warbler and a pair of Med Gulls. A Cetti's Warbler was singing regularly in front of the Obs, a sound clip is available below. Click the play button to hear the song, a Common Whitethroat, Reed Warbler and Black-headed Gull can also be heard.

Singing Cetti's Warbler - Holme Bird Obs, June 2016

A very murky morning at Walsey Hills gave way to bright sunshine in the afternoon. The female Red-backed Shrike present since Thursday was again seen to the south of Snipe's Marsh and on the reserve, with a constant stream of other species mobbing it. The best of the rest included a Red Kite and a Mediterranean Gull high over.

Interest otherwise was drawn to the migrant Lepidoptera on show with several thousand Diamond-back Moths present around the reserve and surrounding field edges; 22 Silver Ys and 2 Painted Lady butterflies also of note. Resident species present included 2 Wall Browns, 2 Speckled Woods and a Holly Blue.