Pond and Ryton Woods

Early morning walk at the pond produced 2 Little Ringed Plover, 5 Yellow-legged Gull, Common Tern, 45 Mute Swan and 68 Greylags, 3 young Great-crested Grebes hitching a ride off their parents and 2 broods of Yellow Wagtail totalling 9 birds. A long walk around Ryton Woods added 11 Silver-washed Fritillary and 16 White Admiral to this year’s list amongst 14 species of butterfly seen plus my first Southern Hawker Dragonfly and Brown Silver-line moths of the year. Birds included family parties of Chiffchaff, Garden Warbler, Nuthatch and Long-tailed Tit. A second visit to the pond mid-afternoon for the Little Egret found by Bob yesterday produced 2 individuals and a Hobby.