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| Ringlet, Aphantopus hyperantus |
Yesterday I visited Ashdown Forest in the hope of
seeing the Short-toed Eagle which has been in residence for the past week. It
has previously been seen in Somerset and Hampshire and it could move on at any time
when the local supply of snakes dries up (its other name is Short-toed Snake Eagle)!
According to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Short-toed_snake_eagle
it is normally found throughout the Mediterranean basin, into Russia and the
Middle East and parts of Asia. The Mediterranean birds migrate mainly to
sub-Saharan Africa, leaving in September/October and returning in April/May. In
the Middle and Far East the populations are resident. In Europe it is most
numerous in Spain where it is fairly common but elsewhere it is rare in many
parts of its range.
At the Gills Lap car park I found many scopes lying idle at 11am as
the eagle had flown away at 9am. I went for a stroll and found Small
Tortoiseshell and Large Skipper. I then visited the Butterfly Conservation
reserve at Rowland Wood / Park Corner Heath. Here I found Ringlets, Large
Skippers, a beautiful female Broad-bodied Chaser plus Clouded Border and Brown Silver-line moths. The swathe of Foxgloves
and Yorkshire Fog in the large cleared area provided an impressive view.
I then returned to Gills Lap and the eagle arrived at 4:15,
soaring high and low and perching at the top of three trees in the valley. It
was too far away for decent photography, but it was wonderful to watch this
magnificent eagle hunting.
Gills Lap:
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| butterfly walk |
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| Large Skipper, Ochlodes sylvanus |
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| views across the valley where the eagle hunted |
Rowland Wood / Park Corner Heath:
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| female Broad-bodied Chaser, Libellula depressa |
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| Brown Silver-line, Petrophora chlorosata |
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| Clouded Border, Lomaspilis marginata |
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| Foxgloves, Digitalis purpurea and Yorkshire Fog, Holcus, lanatus |
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| Foxgloves, Digitalis purpurea |
Gills Lap:
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| the dot at the top of the middle tree is an eagle! |
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| ditto |
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| Short-toed Eagle, Circaetus gallicus |
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| Short-toed Eagle, Circaetus gallicus |
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