CONFIDING COPPER AND CETTI'S

Another day of sunshine on the Island on Monday 28th and this small copper was enjoying the morning's warmth on a sheltered patch of bare ground at the country park. This bright little butterfly with its striking orangey/copper-coloured wings, has been seen only sporadically around the park recently but maybe its been missed because of its small size. If the weather stays sunny into October, there should be a few more sightings to come.
Near this basking small copper was an adder also enjoying the sun.

This dead elm tree has now become an ivy bush and is currently the best place on the park to admire insects as they feed on the ivy flowers. This is the best time of year to see the real value of ivy to wildlife. Six red admirals and 3 commas enjoyed this bush in the morning sun. Lots of honey bees, one queen wasp, lots of flies and hoverflies were all buzzing around the flowers. A speckled wood butterfly basked on nettles nearby.

Looking along the dyke towards the Cetti's warbler corner, where the bird performed for the second day here at the park. Even from a distance of about 100 metres, the loud song could be heard before I got near the site. In the morning sunshine the bird was being surprisingly confiding, hopping slowly around at the base of a bramble bush, providing some clear views as I watched from the top of the seawall. It had also showed well to Martin Cock a short while earlier, calling loudly and singing as it moved about.

Other birds noted were 6 siskins, lesser redpoll, swallow, grey wagtail passing over the park. In the bushes were 10 chiffchaffs with the tit flock and a lesser whitethroat was also noted. One of the two sparrowhawks seen was a nicely coloured male, flushed from the top of the seawall as I walked along. On the grazing fields 13 wigeon, snipe, 60 goldfinch and 8 skylarks were seen. At the park pond 2 female pintail was an uncommon record for the site.

Along the beach at the Point are some eyecatching clumps of sea mayweed with their large daisy-type flowers. The shingle and sand here provide ideal conditions for the plants to flourish, although the increasing coastal erosion may prove a threat here.

Also seen from the Point feeding on the nearby mud were sanderling, bar-tailed godwit, 16 avocets and 100 golden plover. The four wheatears were present again along the beach and seawall.