Gatekeepers on guard

This morning along the river - a very warm, fine morning with wrens singing - each in its own territory - the only birds competing were goldfinches in a willow and two skylarks over the field, their songs carrying far in the breeze. A distant hobby was hunting over the river and a kestrel hovering overhead. Suddenly a grey wagtail appeared flying close and low over the river, down into its nest site under an overhanging tree. A beautiful view of the male bird in flight with strong yellow, grey and black plumage.

GATEKEEPER butterfly

Gatekeeper butterflies were out in force this morning for the first time - at least 40 along the field margin, feeding on flowering brambles and chasing, hardly ever still. Other butterflies about included Holly Blue,  Common Blue, Comma, Red Admiral, Meadow Brown, Small Heath, Small Copper, Green-veined White and Large White. Beautiful Demoiselle and Banded Demoiselle damselflies were out on the river bank nettles and brambles together with hundreds of hover flies and bees, including many honeybees.