** Halling Today, a Short Report.**

On such a beautiful day  there was no way that I was going to stay in so I took a stroll down to the river. I stopped on the way as usual on the cemetery bridge that goes over the A228 by-pass, and I saw exactly what I expected to see Common Buzzards, there was only one pair showing today but it was enough to keep me occupied because they was riding the thermals displaying, at one point they went so high it was very difficult to see them. Shortly afterwards while scanning the skies again, I spotted 2 Sparrowhawks over one of the old disused quarries
 After taking a rest outside the cemetery gates something caught my eye, it was bright yellow, small and flying non stop , it was my first butterfly of the year, a male BRIMSTONE. I was hoping that it would settle so that I get a photo of it to put on here but it stayed on the wing, it did about 2 circuits around the cemetery area and then disappeared, still I wasn't at all disappointed, a great butterfly for a years first.
Birds on the river was virtually the same as usual, Mallard(7), Shelduck(2), Teal(5), Cormorant(2), Grey Heron(1) Canada Geese(2) Greylag Geese(17 flying over), Gulls was made up of Black Headed-Common-Herring, and 2 L/B/B/Gulls, Lapwing(2) Redshank(2).
Below is one of the Black Headed Gulls that was quite happy to stay put and take in the views.

From here I cut across to Marsh Rd (it is not a nice walk along the Common at the moment because it it far to muddy, well churned up) Once I got there I walked down to the gate that leads into the cattle field which has dried out a lot, and started to scan. The first species I saw was the Moorhens that are always skulking in the shallow flood just in front of the trees, today there was 5 of them, 1 male Kestrel, C/Crows probing around, Then I saw the bird that I have come across now and again feeding in the small stream that splits the field into two, the KINGFISHER. I was moving from bush to bush but never any closer, but I still attempted to get a record shot. I know that it is not a good picture, at that distance I didn't think I would even be able to see what it is bit I could...just.

 

 

Today I am having a "Butterfly of the Day", my ** BRIMSTONE.**