10th April - A hummingbird in Baconsthorpe

A lovely hot and sunny day which encouraged many butterflies to take flight.   Those seen were:
Speckled wood x2 ( 1st of year )
Holly blue x6
Peacock x4
Small tortoiseshell x3
Comma x2
Large white x1 (1st of year )

Sighting of the day for me however was a very brief encounter with a Hummingbird hawkmoth opposite the old post office.  Usually their flight season is May - September so it was great to see one early.

Dandelion gone to seed

Close up

Birdwatching today produced the following:
Little egret x1
Tufted duck x2
Red kite x1
Common buzzard x9
Blackcap x3
Chiffchaff x7
Green woodpecker x1
Yellowhammer x2

Bluebell

Also today finally got round to getting a Swift box installed underneath our eaves.  Swift populations in the UK have declined dramatically in the last 25 years with breeding pairs estimated to be 60% down.  Some of this decrease is down to the loss of suitable nest sites.  So hopefully when Swifts return to our village in the next few weeks they will make use of this new des-res.

Swift box

Lambs enjoying the  sunshine