Sunday 15 May 2011

NO BREAD &NO CHEESE

Only one pair of yellowhammers are on the cliff top this year between Dover and St Margarets and for the first spring ever I have`nt heard the little bit of bread and no cheese song so reminiscent of past times, does a single male need to advertise his presence I wonder?.When I began bird watching some forty years ago it seemed that every hawthorn had either a yllowhammer or a linnet singing from it,a gradual decline has led to todays sad state of affairs,modern farming methods, loss of habitat, climate change, all contribute to the demise of our bread and cheese heritage!
LAST OF THE YELLOWHAMMERS?
COCK YELLOWHAMMER AT FAN BAY
On a happier note the Ravens are moving around the cliffs all five were present in Langdon Hole on Friday morning.
Butterflies are enjoying the dry warm weather and small heaths are doing well in Fan Bay bottom with a dozen or more on the wing.

SMALL HEATH

COMMON BLUE

ADULT RAVEN LANGDON HOLE.
Away from the cliffs another  trip to Stodmarsh failed to improve my hobby photos but good views of sedge and reed warblers were had, and I actually caught a Cettis warbler throwing his head up and giving vent to his strident song,before he had seen me,very unusual.Common terns feeding  and a Turtle Dove in the alder wood were other high points.
COMMON TERN

SEDGE WARBLER

REED WARBLER

TURTLE DOVE

MARSH FROG the noisiest creature at Stodmarsh?

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