3 Days in Hampshire

Beautiful Demoisel

Two Butterflies and a Gropper

Okay so this is another post featuring exactly zero birds but it is summer and so butterflies can't help but take centre stage for a while! I hadn't been out birding (butterflying) for a while so decided to go for a summer stroll with my girlfriend around Rutland Water. After introducing her to her first Grass Snake we spotted what turned out to be a Large Skipper, the first lifer of the day. I then got a suprise as I heard a Grasshopper Warbler reeling away just the other side of a bush. I eventually managed to get good, albiet short views of the bird- a nice yearer! On the way back I picked up my second butterfly lifer in the form of a Speckled Wood. All in all, a very nice day. This butterflying is addictive!

(Strange looking bug. No idea what it is but there were loads of them so obviously nothing rare)

Blue Tit Baby!

Just as I was leaving to go back to Uni, I noticed this fledgling Blue Tit on my driveway. It's the offspring of the two Blue Tits that I've been watching from my window throughout Easter. It's really nice to know that they've been successful! I quickly took these pics of the little guy without getting too close and watched to see the parents return to it throughout the day with grubs and bugs. I knew they'd make great parents!