A couple of hours spent on the allotment wasn't as productive as it should have been as I spent at least half my time looking at butterflies and birds. Butterflies that graced the plot included Red admiral, Brimstone, Comma, Holly blue and a lovely Small copper - the first of year for me and one of my personal favourites.
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| Comma |
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| Holly blue |
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| Small copper |
Overhead in a cloudless blue sky a regular stream of raptors provided extra distractions to actual work: Common buzzard, Red kites, Kestrels and a single Sparrowhawk were seen.
A large hatch of St Mark's flies has also occurred over the last few days. They have a distinctive profile when flying with long legs dangling beneath their black bodies. They are so called as the adults usually emerge around St Marks day 25th April.
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| St Mark's fly |
