Light Nights...

As the title says, these long summer evenings are a real barrier to blogging. Instead of sitting here writing about not very much, I have stayed out there seeing not very much. Over the weekend the weather has been excellent, with Saturday in particular nice and sunny, if a little cool. The good weather has encouraged us to go for a wander in the evening so each night I haven't been getting in until after 10pm, hence the shortage of posts on here...

So whats been seen this weekend? Well, the time has been spent largely within half a mile of home, either in the garden or wandering the estate and coastal path.

A seawatch for an hour yesterday morning brought typical summer fayre with 15 Razorbills and 8 Puffins identifiable in the hordes of distant auks, 1 summer adult Red throated Diver N, a few Arctic and Sandwich Terns, 150+ Gannets per hour North, 11 Common Scoter N, plus the usual Fulmars and Kitts.

In the garden, 3 Painted Lady brightened the day briefly, a pair of Yellowhammers at the feeders with a pair of Sparrowhawks in attendance too.

Down at the pond field, a Grasshopper Warbler was reeling on both days, but remained unseen. The meadow though is a real stunner ( below) with masses of Norhern Marsh Orchids, many hybrid orchids and the first Common Spotted Orchids, Salad Burnet, Great Burnet, Hawkweed, Pignut, Birds foot Trefoil, Ragged Robin, Sheeps Sorrel etc. As many as 30+ Chimney Sweeper moths lifted as a strolled through.



Above - Pond Field in all its glory. Click on the picture to get a better look.



Above - Salad Burnet, a scarce plant up here.

Best thing though has been the presence of a hunting Barn Owl at dusk from our kitchen window. On Sunday night I was outside and it flew to within 10 yards before it back pedalled. Tonight it was out in full daylight hunting the rough grass on the back field before leaving along the back hedgerow...